Joint Masters Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Published by Gorica

Deadline: 30 Noveber 2015
Open to: students from all over the world (EU and Non-EU)
Scholarship: participation costs, contribution to travel, visa, installation, monthly allowance

Description

AstroMundus is a 2-years Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree programme in Astronomy and Astrophysics (120 ECTS). The programme was initiated in 2009 as an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course  and is now continuing within the framework of the new Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The Masters Course is offered by a consortium of 5 partner universities in Austria, Italy, Germany, and Serbia, with the participation of 4 research institutions as associated partners in Italy, Serbia, and Germany.

AstroMundus students carry out their master studies in at least 2 and up to four of these countries, in a stimulating and scientifically excellent international environment.

AstroMundus offers an excellent educational level in all branches of Astrophysics, as insured by the wide variety of expertise in the field covered by this international partnership. The main topics covered by the Master programme are:

  • Galactic Astrophysics (the Sun and the Solar system, the Milky Way, stellar astrophysics and evolution, the interstellar medium);
  • Solar Astrophysics and Space Weather;
  • Extrasolar Planetsl;
  • Extragalactic Astrophysics (galaxies, galaxy evolution, galaxy clusters, intra-cluster medium, star formation);
  • Active Galactic Nuclei (including accretion theory, relativistic jets, modelling);
  • Cosmology (including observational cosmology, galaxy surveys, gravitational lensing, very early universe);
  • Particle Cosmology;
  • Astroparticle Physics;
  • Gravitational Waves;
  • Observational astrophysics from the ground and from space;
  • Computational astrophysics (N-body simulations, magneto-hydrodynamic simulations).

Eligibility

This program is open for students from all over the world divided into two categories:

  • Category A is open to students who are not nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Norway or Lichtenstein. Students cannot be residents of these countries nor have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of these countries;
  • Category B is available to all applicants that do not meet the criteria for Category A (this includes all nationals of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein, as well as, people who have spent more than a total of 12 months in the EU over the last five years).

All students must meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a Bachelor degree in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Mathematics (or a recognized Degree that certifies an equivalent amount of learning in the same field, quantified as 3 years of previous studies corresponding to at least 180 credits in the European Credit Transfer System) or expect to obtain it latest by August of the starting year of the Masters Course (i.e. by August 2015 for the course starting in September 2015);
  • Have a good and certified knowledge of the English language (the certification is not necessary for native speakers).

Scholarship

The European Commission will provide scholarships to the best applicants on the basis of academic ability. Two scholarship packages are available depending on a student’s background:

Category A

  • Participation costs incl. insurance (fully covered);
  • Contribution to travel, visa, installation etc. EUR 2,000-3,000 per year;
  • Monthly allowance EUR 1,000 per month.

Category B

  • Participation costs incl. insurance (fully covered);
  • Contribution to travel, visa, installation etc. EUR 1,000 per year;
  • Monthly allowance EUR 500 per month.

The best master thesis will receive award of EUR 1,000.

Application

Together with the completed application form, applicants should submit the following documents in English language:

  • Detailed and up-to-date CV;
  • Degree certificate;
  • Electronic copies of academic records;
  • Two letters of recommendation. These must be uploaded directly by the referees and should address the questions provided in the online referee form;
  • List of publications;
  • Record of the teaching experience at graduate level;
  • Document certifying English language ability (if not obvious from the CV);
  • Scanned copy of the passport;
  • Partner-Country candidates who whish to apply for an Erasmus+: EMJMD scholarship, need to present a valid proof of their place of residence, issued within 12 months before the application deadline, for the purposes of calculation of the scholarship amount (see the section “finance”), should a scholarship be assigned to them.

All documents should be send to astromundus@uibk.ac.at. Deadline for applying is 30 November 2015.

For more information please visit the official website

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