Master of Science (Advanced) in Astronomy and Astrophysics

at Australian National University

Program Structure

The Masters of Science (Advanced) in Astronomy & Astrophysics requires the completion of 96 units, of which:

48 units must come from completion of the coursework component

48 units must come from completion of the research component

A minimum of 48 units must come from completion of 8000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
 

• ASTR6002 Galaxies and Cosmology (6 units)

• ASTR6007 Stars (6 units)

• ASTR6013 Astrophysical Processes (6 units)

A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses Astronomy & Astrophysics courses from the following list:
 

• ASTR8002 Astrophysical Gas Dynamics (6 units)

• ASTR8003 High Energy Astrophysics (6 units)

• ASTR8004 Astronomical Computing (6 units)

• ASTR8005 Stellar Atmospheres and Spectroscopy (6 units)

• ASTR8006 Galaxies (6 units)

• ASTR8007 Diffuse Matter in the Universe (6 units)

• ASTR8008 Star Formation (6 units)

• ASTR8011 Observational Techniques (6 units)

• ASTR8016 Optical Instrumentation (6 units)

A maximum of 6 units from completion of Complementary Science courses from the following list:
 

• COMP6464 High Performance Scientific Computing (6 units)

• COMP6730 Programming for Scientists (6 units)

• COMP8300 Parallel Systems (6 units)

• COMP8410 Data Mining (6 units)

• COMP8600 Statistical Machine Learning (6 units)

• EMSC6022 Planetary Science (6 units)

• MATH6103 Scientific and Industrial Modelling (6 units)

• MATH6111 Scientific Computing (6 units)

• MATH6201 Topics in Computational Mathematics (6 units)

• MATH6202 Theory of Partial Differential Equations (6 units)

• PHYS6101 Advanced Quantum Mechanics (6 units)

• PHYS8015 Photonics Laboratory (6 units)

• PHYS8721 Advanced Imaging Methods and Systems (6 units)

• STAT6038 Regression Modelling (6 units)

• STAT6039 Principles of Mathematical Statistics (6 units)

• STAT7001 Applied Statistics (6 units)

• STAT7016 Introduction to Bayesian Data Analysis (6 units)

12 units from completion of Science and Society Courses from the following list:
 

• SCOM6003 Science in Popular Fiction (6 units)

• SCOM6015 Speaking of Science (6 units)

• SCOM6501 Strategies in Science Communication (6 units)

• SCOM8014 Communicating Science with the Public (6 units)

• SCNC8000 Science Internship (6 units)

• VCPG6003 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World (6 units)

48 units from completion of the following research component:
 

•  ASTR8010 Astrophysics Research Project, which must be undertaken three times, in consecutive periods

Students must achieve a minimum 70% Weighted Average Mark in the first 24 units of coursework and have the approval of the supervisor for the research project to remain enrolled in the Master of Science (Advanced) Astronomy & Astrophysics and continue to the research component. A condition of supervisor approval is that the research project is feasible and it should be noted that the majority of research projects will require on campus attendance.

If the total number of units attempted exceeds 24 in the in the same teaching period in which the 24th unit is attempted, exactly 24 units will be used in the calculation of the weighted average mark with units from the course with the highest mark applied first followed by further units from course in descending order of marks.

Students who do not achieve a minimum 70% Weighted Average Mark or do not have approval of an identified supervisor will be transferred to the Master of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics or the Graduate Diploma of Science.

Master Research

Masters (Advanced) program that meets this requirement through the substantial research-based project

Master Research Training

A student enrolled in the MScAA(Adv) program will take the ASTR8010, Astrophysics Research Project, course three times throughout the degree. This corresponds to 48 units of research training. The research component provides the opportunity to enhance and develop detailed knowledge and skills in a specific area of astronomy and astrophysics. It may include the acquisition and analysis of telescope data, the development of theoretical models, or the development and testing of new astronomical instrumentation.

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent
 

• with a minimum GPA of at least 5.5/7.0

• with at least 8 courses in a cognate discipline, which must also have a minimum GPA of 5.5/7.0.

• with a minimum of 2 courses of undergraduate second year Physics; and a minimum of 2 courses of undergraduate second year Mathematics.

• with completion of a short research project equivalent to ANU ASTR3005 Astrophysics Research Topic.

The GPA requirement for this program must be met by both the program as a whole, as well as by the 8 courses in a cognate discipline. Where more than 8 cognate courses have been completed by the applicant, ANU will take the best 8 courses when assessing the cognate GPA.

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.5/7.0. 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. 

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of: 
 

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency. 

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Annual indicative fee for international students

$48,802