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.
The
main objective of the programme 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 non-European 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.
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 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)
Eligibility: Students
The “Astrophysics” Erasmus+: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 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). Check the list of accepted tests and scores (see: How to apply).
All students that come from a country of the European Union or an EEA-EFTA State (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein), students coming from Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey,
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 (as of the application deadline) in one of these countries
(
“12-months-rule”) can apply for a scholarship in the category
“Programme Country” (i.e.
European students, old Category B).
All other students, including students coming from Switzerland and Western Balkan Countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244-99, Montenegro and Serbia) can apply for a scholarship in the category
“Partner Country students” (i.e. old Third Country/Category A).
Students who fulfill the requirements of
both categories (e.g. students with a double nationality)
must select one of the two categories for the scholarship application!
Eligibility: Academics
The “Astrophysics” Erasmus+:Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree
programme can invite Partner-Country and Programme-Country (see
definition above) academics to apply for an Erasmus+:Erasmus Mundus
scholarship to carry out activities of teaching and/or research
at any of our five Consortium Universities in the framework of the
AstroMundus Masters Course for short periods that range from a minimum
of 1 week to a maximum of 3 months.
The minimum requirements for eligibility are:
- Holding a PhD or equivalent
- Having a long-standing experience of teaching at graduate level
- Having an excellent knowledge of English, which is the official language of the Masters Course.
The
same definitions of “Programme Country”/”European” and “Partner
Country”/”Third Country” given above for students apply for academics as
well.
Application
Call for applications – AstroMundus Master Course Edition 7 starting in September 2016:
Applications
are accepted in the period from August 1st, 2015 to November 30th,
2015. Students will be notified about the results of the selection
process and the award of scholarships by mid-April, 2016.
