MSc Astrophysics Syllabus and Subjects 2024

Lisha Gupta

M.Sc Astrophysics syllabus can differ somewhat based on the college in which the students decide to pursue the course but the basic course structure resembles the same. M.Sc Astrophysics subjects are divided into four semesters. The M.Sc Astrophysics subjects are designed to give the student's better understanding of the course structure.

Semester Wise M.Sc Astrophysics Syllabus

The subject list remains almost the same with minor differences in some colleges or Universities. The M.Sc Astrophysics syllabus for the first year primarily focuses on the foundational subjects related to the field of physics and astronomy

Hence, the M.Sc Astrophysics first-year syllabus doesn’t change that much. The M.Sc Astrophysics course teaches students all the vital information they need. Listed below are the syllabi of M, Sc Astrophysics according to the semester which are core subjects and therefore, tends to be the same across the board.

M.Sc Astrophysics First Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of M.Sc Astrophysics subjects in the first year:

First Yead M.Sc Astrophysics Syllabus
Semester I	Semester II
Applied Mathematics	Celestial And Fluid Mechanics
Classical Mechanics	Space Physics
Positional Astronomy	Quantum Mechanics
Analog Electronics	Digital Electronics

M.Sc Astrophysics Second Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of M.Sc Astrophysics subjects in the second year:

Second Year M.Sc Syllabus for Astro-Physics
Semester III	Semester IV
Stellar Atmosphere	Stellar Structure
Astronomical Techniques	Galactic System & Cosmology
Advanced Electronics	Lasers And Applications
Radiating Systems	Plasma Physics
Electromagnetic Waves	Evolution

M.Sc Astrophysics Subjects

M.Sc Astrophysics subjects are based on the main course objectives. M.Sc Astrophysics subjects are decided based on the core topics in physics, Astrology, and research, as well as the topics in the specialisation.

M.Sc Astrophysics subjects are divided into core and elective subjects. The elective subjects are optional subjects that make the course more knowledgeable and powerful.

M.Sc Astrophysics Core Subjects

The core M.Sc Astrophysics subjects list contains essential subjects that all M.Sc Astrophysics students study irrespective of their choices. Some of the core subjects are as follows:

Special Relativity
Practical Physics
Galaxies
Oscillation of waves
Astrophysics
Thermal Physics

M.Sc Astrophysics Elective Subjects

The elective subjects are choice-based and can be selected by the student according to their learning preference. Some of which are:

Gas Dynamics
Physics of the sun
Radiation Hydrodynamics
Formation of Stars and Planets

M.Sc Astrophysics Course Structure

The M.Sc Astrophysics course structure consists of both core and elective subjects. The course is a two-year-long postgraduate course, divided into four semesters. From the first semester onwards, students are introduced to specific subjects related to their specialisation. The course structure is:

IV Semesters
Core Subjects
Elective Subjects
Undergraduate Course
Research Project

M.Sc Astrophysics Teaching Methodology and Techniques

M.Sc Astrophysics teaching methodology and techniques encompass traditional lecture-based training. The traditional classroom teaching methods allow the students to ask the queries they might have and get answers to them. The course has teaching methodologies and techniques designed to ensure that the students pursuing this course have access to all the infrastructure and facilities available. Listed below are the teaching methodology and strategies in general:

Lectures
Practical Sessions
Research Papers
Workshops
Group Discussions
Research Projects

M.Sc Astrophysics Course Projects

When pursuing an M.Sc Astrophysics Course, research projects are an integral part of the studies. These projects are assessed by the professors to judge the student's understanding of the subjects. Students can choose their project topics based on the specialisation they choose to pursue. Some of the popular research projects are listed below:

Stellar Populations
Distances to the Remnants of Recent Supernova Explosions in the Milky Way
Uncovering Powerful Obscured Quasars
Computational Stellar Evolution
Fundamental Astronomy of Cataclysmic Binaries
The Most Extreme Starburst Galaxies in the Universe

M.Sc Astrophysics Course Books

When pursuing a book can be a great investment for the students as it can really help them learn about their specialisation in great detail. Books can be a source of information for the students about the topics of their interest. Students can rent out the reference books from libraries, download them online or purchase them. Listed below are some of the popular M.Sc Astrophysics course books that the students can invest in:

Reference Books For M.Sc Astrophysics
Name of Book	Authors
Astrophysical Applications of Gravitational Lensing	Mediavilla et al
Cosmic Discovery	Harwit
Cosmic Magnetic Fields	Kronberg
Probability on Graphs	Grimmett
Relative Kinetic Theory	Vereshchagin /Aksenov
Fundamentals of Stability Theory	Baldwin