Master's Programme in Physics – Astronomy and Space Physics

The first one and a half years are spent taking courses on a wide range of topics and you can tailor your Master's programme by either choosing a broad syllabus or by specialising in an area of your choice. Except for the five-month thesis work in the last semester, no specific astronomy course is compulsory. However, we recommend taking the four 10-credit courses (The Physics of Planetary Systems, The Physics of Stars, The Physics of Galaxies, and Cosmology) for a good overview of contemporary research in astronomy and space physics.

You can complement the courses with research projects (5, 10, 15 and 30 credits) which you design together with your chosen supervisor. The final semester is spent conducting a thesis project in one of the several research groups at the Division. Be part of a research group and get to know frontline research. This is the best way to prepare yourself for a PhD position.

Courses within the programme

See the programme outline for courses within the specialisation.

During the two-year programme, you will apply your background in physics to the field of the cosmos. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required and you choose from a wide range of courses according to your interests and career plan.

Our teachers are active researchers and the courses closely follow current developments in astrophysics.

During a typical week, you will have about 8-10 hours of scheduled classroom time. The majority of time is thus spent studying on your own or in a study group outside the classroom. You can also choose to conduct research projects. They are a lot like thesis work, only shorter in duration, and are an excellent way into a new research field and research group.

Classes are typically small, ranging from a few students up to about 20. This gives you close contact with the teachers as well as your fellow students. Our teaching is in English as the student group is international.

Instruction consists of lectures, teacher-supervised tuition, and guidance in conjunction with laboratory work. The forms of examination vary depending on the course content and design. Final exams are more common for theoretical courses, although many tutors have continuous examinations during the course, such as group discussions and hand-in exercises.

The programme takes place in Uppsala.

With our Master's degree in Physics, you will be qualified for PhD studies in physics. Many of our physics Master's students continue as PhD students, at Uppsala University or elsewhere in the world. You will also be able to work with research and development (R&D) at various companies and public authorities.

Our previous graduates work at companies or government agencies like ABB, the Swedish National Defence Research Institute (FOI) and insurance companies, as group leaders in research and development, data analysts and consultants.

Even if you do not continue to pursue a career in academia, your qualifications (in such as numerical modelling and data mining) will make you an attractive recruit for a wide range of professions. As an astrophysicist/space physicist who graduated from Uppsala University, you can definitely expect above-average employability.

Your mathematical competence and analytical problem-solving skills also make you an attractive employee. Depending on the courses you take and the specialisation you choose, there are many individual career opportunities in special areas, both within and outside the field of physics. For example, you may find employment as a company consultant, project manager in R&D, or a specialist in banking, insurance or research organisations.

Career support

During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career.