Europe : Erasmus Mundus Masters Course ( 120 ECTS) in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Europe : Erasmus Mundus Masters Course ( 120 ECTS) in Astronomy and Astrophysics

AstroMundus is a 2-years Erasmus Mundus Masters Course ( 120 ECTS) in Astronomy and Astrophysics offered by a consortium of 5 partner universities in 4 different countries: Austria, Italy, Germany, and Serbia.
Its main objective is to provide top-ranked students with an excellent background in Astrophysics, to introduce them to the world of modern astrophysical research, and foster their future career in this field. At the same time, in the spirit of the Erasmus Mundus programmes, we promote cultural exchanges between Third Country and European students and academics.


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.

The official language of the course is English, but students are given the possibility to learn the languages of the host countries by attending language courses at the partner universities.

Successful students will be awarded a Joint Master Degree by all partner universities they have visited during the Master studies.
In addition they will obtain a Diploma Supplement to facilitate the recognition of their degree in other universities/countries.
At the end of each 2-years cycle of the Master Programme the best master thesis of the cycle will be awarded a prize.
Please, download the AstroMundus Brochure and the AstroMundus Poster from http://ping.fm/ZcFom

Main topics


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 evolution, the interstellar medium)

Extrasolar planets

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)
How to apply
Applications are now accepted for the AstroMundus Masters Course edition starting in September 2011. Submission deadline: November 30th, 2010 at midnight (CET).
Selection of Students

We aim at enrolling top-ranked students, therefore the selection of students will be primarily based on excellence. In particular during the selection process the following points will be carefully considered by the nominated Selection Committee:
- full academic background incorporating the list of courses followed
- testified examination marks/obtained grades
- language skills
- individual content in the letter of motivation
- relevant (astronomy/astrophysics related) extracurricular activities
- content of the reference letters

In order to apply, students must submit in electronic form all documents listed below. These documents should be combined together with a signed copy of the application form in a single pdf file before upload to this web-site.
List of required documents


Eligible applicants must provide in electronic form the following documents in English language. For all documents whose originals are not in English language, we require a certified English translation. Scanned copies of the documents are accepted. In order to be admitted, selected students will be requested to present the originals (or certified copies) of all documents they have transmitted electronically at application time and any additional document required by the admission department of the University of Innsbruck according to the general Guidelines for International Students (with the exception of the proof of knowledge of German language, which is replaced by knowledge of English language for Erasmus Mundus students).
Completed and signed Application Form in all its parts including the list of all attended courses with credits and brief summary of the course contents, and a letter of motivation (max 1 page). Please, do not delete any part of the Application Form!
Bachelor's Degree in either Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or Mathematics or recognized equivalent level of learning in the same field, quantified as 3 years of studies corresponding to 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Since the first course will start in Sept. 2010, we request that the students either hold already their Bachelor or they expect to obtain it latest by August 2010. In the latter case students should provide a certification stating the expected date for the Bachelor's degree and the list of courses that are still in progress. The Bachelor's certificate and the grades obtained in the courses currently in progress must be uploaded to this site as soon as they are available.
Important note for Chinese students: Chinese students need to obtain a certification through the "Akademische Prüfstelle" in Peking. The relevant information is available at the APS web site.
Electronic copies of academic records.
Proof of proficiency in English language. Accepted tests and scores are the following:
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English;
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English;
"International English Language Testing System" (IELTS), minimum "Band 6";
Paper-based "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL) with minimum score 550 points;
Computer-based TOEFL with minimum score 220 points;
Internet-based TOEFL with minimum score 83 points;
UNIcert level "III";
C1 according to the Common European Framework (CEF).

Native English speakers are exempted from providing such a proof. Transcript of TOEFL / IELTS scores or equivalent should have been obtained not more than 2 years before application time. For application purposes students can submit scanned copies of their transcripts. Students that have been selected for admission must ask ETS for sending the TOEFL transcripts directly to the AstroMundus coordinating institution (University of Innsbruck).
An up-to-date curriculum vitae (resumé) including a brief summary of the Bachelor's thesis, a description of relevant extracurricular activities that are related to Astronomy/Astrophysics and skills acquired (e.g. computer/programming skills), and the list of publications (if any).
Two letters of recommendation to be sent electronically by the referees by addressing the questions provided in the online referee form.
Scanned copy of a valid passport.
Pre-selected candidates might be interviewed by video-conference (or teleconference if not otherwiese possible).
Deadline for both non-European and European students: Nov. 30th 2010

Selection of Third Country and European Scholars


A number of scholarships will be offered to Third Country academics and European academics (the latter only if they are members of one of the consortium partner universities) who wish to carry out short periods (at least two weeks and up to three months) of teaching and/or research activities in the framework of the AstroMundus EMMC programme. Third Country academics are eligible to carry out their activities at the four European Universities that are member of the consortium, while European academics, provided they come from one of the consortium universities, are eligible to carry out their activities at the University of Belgrade, the Third Country member of the consortium.
Top-level academics will be selected by the nominated Selection Committee based on excellence and on consortium needs according to the specific topic of expertise.
The official language of the AstroMundus Masters Course is English.
Applications in electronic form are invited with deadline November 30th 2010 for both non-European and European academics.
As a minimum requirement for eligibility, applicants should hold a PhD in either Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Physics or an equivalent amount of research experience and have a long-standing experience of teaching at graduate level.
Together with the completed Application Form, applicants should submit the following documents in English language:
a detailed and up-to-date CV
a list of publications
a record of the teaching experience at graduate level
a document certifying English language ability (if not obvious from the CV)
a scanned copy of the passport.

Enquiries can be directed via e-mail to the following address:
astromundus AT uibk.ac.at
Who can apply

Eligibility: Students


The "Astrophysics" Erasmus Mundus Masters Course is open to students of all nationalities that fulfill these minimum requirements:
Hold a Bachelor degree in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Mathematics (or a certified 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 2010 for the course starting in September 2010);
Have a good and certified knowledge of the English language (the certification is not necessary for native speakers).

All students that come from a country of the European Union or an EEA-EFTA State (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or students that either are residents or have carried out their main activity (study, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last 5 years in one of these countries can apply in the category "European students".
All other students, including students coming from Switzerland, Turkey, and Western Balkan Countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244-99, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) can apply in the category "Third Country students".

Eligibility: Academics


The "Astrophysics" Erasmus Mundus Masters Course invites Third Country academics of all nationalities to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship to carry out activities of teaching and/or research at one of our four European consortium universities in the framework of the Masters Course for short periods that range from a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months.
European academics are eligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarships only if they are members of one of the four European consortium universities and wish to spend a period at the University of Belgrade (our Third Country partner).
Applicants should bear in mind that English is the official language of the Masters Course.
The minimum requirements for eligibility are:
Holding a PhD or equivalent
Having a long-standing experience of teaching at graduate level
The same definitions of "European" and "Third Country" given above for students apply for academics as well.
Application Deadline : 30 November 2010
Homepage: http://ping.fm/0vOz8