To be formally approved by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research
Level: Master
Field of study: LM-17 Physics and LM-51 Sciences of the Universe
Degree awarded: Master of Science in Astrophysics and Cosmology
Start date: October 2019
Location: Padova
Available places: European and Non-European candidates residing in Italy: unlimited; non-European candidates residing outside Italy: 10 places (2 for candidates joining the Marco Polo Project)
The master degree in Astrophysics and Cosmology aims at providing students with a comprehensive, up-to-date view of the main fields of modern astrophysics, including astronomical detectors and techniques, black holes and neutron stars, cosmology, gravitational physics, planets, stars and galaxies. Particular emphasis is placed on a solid background in physics and on the growing ties among astrophysics and different branches of physics (theoretical and experimental particle physics, detector physics, nuclear physics) in the coming era of multi-messenger observations.
Master graduates in Astrophysics and Cosmology will gain a detailed working knowledge of astrophysics both on the theoretical and observational sides. The final thesis (42 ECTS, approximately six months full time) will put the student in direct contact with an advanced research topic, enhancing his/her ability to carry out autonomous work. This will be key for either a successful continuation to a PhD in Astrophysics or in Physics, or to a job in the industrial or service sectors based on novel technologies.
The master degree in Astrophysics and Cosmology is organized in two curricula:
All course units are on a 6 ECTS (48 h lectures) basis. The first semester of the first year aims at providing students with the basis of modern physics/astrophysics and applied mathematics. Mandatory courses include: General Relativity, Mathematical and Numerical Methods, Astrophysics Lab, Fundamentals of Modern Physics or Fundamentals of Astrophysics and Cosmology (depending on the student background at the Bachelor level). These are supplemented by a specific course according to the chosen curriculum. During the second semester the student will take a total of five courses, two chosen in list of three for each curriculum, two from a broader list plus an entirely free option. This will ensure that in constructing the his/her own study plan, the student has enough freedom to follow at best his/her interests and inclinations. In the final year all courses are placed in the first semester and the second is entirely devoted to the master thesis. One course, different for the two curricula, is mandatory, another one is to be picked up from a suggested list and the remaining one is a free option. Students are required to pass a final examination at the end of each course, usually in the form of an interview. The final thesis consists in a written essay which must contain original contributions in a research field chosen by the student among those suggested by researchers at Department of Physics and Astronomy or at affiliated research institutions.
List of Course units:
First year
First semester
Second semester
Two course units among:
Second year
One course unit among:
One free-choice course unit
Master Thesis (42 CFU-ECTS)
Job opportunities for graduates in Astrophysics and Cosmology include:
Admission to the Master course requires a few criteria are met, namey: good knowledge of classical physics and basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and statistics; mastery of the main mathematical tools (mathematical analysis and geometry); experience in physics laboratory.
Entry requirements are quantified as follows:
For candidates with a foreign degree, the academic requirements are verified by an admission committee that checks the congruence of bachelor studies and assesses the merit. The evaluation of the applicant's curriculum studiorum may be integrated by an interview (remote connection), if needed.
English knowledge: B2 level reading and listening
For general information on application procedures, please check How to apply.
Please read carefully the Call for Applications before applying online. Guidelines for application are available below.
The payment of the application fee (€30,00) is a compulsory step to complete your application. The application fee is non-refundable. If you wish to apply for more than one programme, you need to pay the application fee for each course you are applying for. Guidelines are available below.
Information on 2019/20 fees is not yet available, but the amounts will be more or less be the same of 2018/19. Please check: www.unipd.it/en/tuition-fees.
The total amount (€2600,00 for a.y. 2018/19) can be significantly waived based on your “Equivalent Economic Status Index – ISEE”. For further information on how to obtain your ISEE and other income-based reductions, see Funding and fees > Key Documents.
Applicants receiving an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, will be asked to pay a tuition fee deposit of €185,00 within 30 days to secure their place on the programme.
The University of Padova offers different types of scholarships and fee-waivers to international students.
For detailed information:
Academic coordinators: Prof. Roberto Turolla: (roberto.turolla(at)unipd.it) - Prof. Paola Marigo (paola.marigo(at)unipd.it)
Info: Alessandra Zorzi (segreteriadidattica.astronomia(at)unipd.it)
