M.Sc Astrophysics: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹5K - 5 LPA
Lisha Gupta
Lisha Gupta

Updated on - Jan 4, 2023

M.Sc Astrophysics is a two-year-long postgraduate program that deals with the study of evolutions, human societies, human cultures, and more. Some of the most important jobs related to Msc Astrophysics are that of an Astronomer, Teacher, Research Trainee, Observational Astronomer, Astrophysicist e.t.c.

M.Sc Astrophysics Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Science in Astrophysics
Duration 2 Years
Age No age limit
Subjects Required Physics, Chemistry as a Graduation Degree
Minimum Percentage 50%
Average Fees ₹5K - 5 LPA
Similar Options of Study MBA, M.Phil, PhD
Average Salary INR 3 - 10 LPA
Employment Roles Teacher, Research Assistant, Astronomer, Lecturer, Observational Astronomer, etc.
Top Recruiters Indian Institue of Astrophysics, IUCAA, DEFENCEPUR, etc.

About M.Sc Astrophysics

M.Sc Astrophysics course is composed of many artistic disciplines and offers various subject combinations to candidates to choose from apart from compulsory subjects. M.Sc Astrophysics course details covers all the related topics for the field and gives rigorous training to the students. 

M.Sc course stands for Master of Science. According to Wikipedia, "Masters of Science is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. The Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering, and medicine and is usually for programs that are more focused on scientific and mathematical subjects”

Table of Contents

Eligibility Criteria for M.Sc Astrophysics

For M.Sc Astrophysics course admission, the students need to know the eligibility criteria and all the M.Sc Astrophysics course details. M.Sc Astrophysics course eligibility includes students having an aggregate of 50%in the bachelor’s degree and successfully passing higher secondary or an equivalent course from a recognized board in the science stream.

In addition, many colleges and universities conduct entrance exams for students to be eligible for M.Sc Astrophysics Admission. They must have a bachelor’s degree in science with an aggregate of 50%.

How To Get Admission for M.Sc Astrophysics?

M.Sc Astrophysics admission is possible through both entrance examination and merit-based selection. Many universities have the choice of direct and entrance-based admission to the M.Sc Astrophysics course. Students applying for the course should have their results from the respective entrance exams boards required by the university one is opting for. 

Though the admission process varies from college to college, below are the steps that one should generally go through to get admission.

How to Apply?

The M.Sc Astrophysics degree applications are available either online from the University website or offline by visiting the university's admissions office. In addition, some colleges may conduct interviews before admissions to check if students have good communication skills. 

Candidates applying for the M.Sc Astrophysics program should check the colleges available and fill up the application forms. Moreover, they should check all the required documents before the entrance test, such as Id verification, Class 12, and undergraduate results.

Selection Process

The selection process for the courses under M.Sc Astrophysics in India is usually the same irrespective of the specialisation. Generally, once the application for the course is received, colleges decide on the final selection of the candidates based on the marks obtained by them in the entrance exams. Additionally, the merit obtained by the candidates in their undergraduate degrees also plays an important role.

Who Should Pursue an M.Sc Astrophysics?

The M.sc Astrophysics course is for those who aspire to set up a career in astrology and human sciences Aspirants can set up their careers in the domain of their preferences, such as Astronomy, Physical Behaviour, and Chemical Structure e.t.c. Those that want to pursue a career in humanities and social sciences research can enrol in the M.Sc Astrophysics course.

When To Do M.Sc Astrophysics?

Typically, it makes sense for M.Sc Astrophysics aspirants to apply for their respective courses after completing a bachelor's degree in a science-related field. However, students can apply even after a break. 

Types of M.Sc Astrophysics 

Aspirants can pursue the M.Sc Astrophysics course in the full-time or part-time mode. Below are the types of M.Sc Astrophysics courses in detail:

Full-Time M.Sc Astrophysics

The full-time M.Sc Astrophysics program is typically for 2 years, where students will have to attend classes in person, submit assignments, and write their exams on-campus. The advantage of a full-time M.Sc Astrophysics course is that students will gain a lot more exposure, experience, and knowledge through direct interaction with their peers and faculty.

Part-Time M.Sc Astrophysics

The part-time M.Sc Astrophysics course is designed for students who cannot attend regular classes. Part-time courses either entail weekend or night classes or online classes, depending on the type of course. 

The advantage of the part-time M.Sc Astrophysics course is that students can pursue this course while simultaneously being engaged in employment, research, etc.

Distance M.Sc Astrophysics

Many universities and colleges in India offer the M.Sc Astrophysics course. The course is designed keeping the Distance Education methodology in mind. This course is designed for students who cannot afford to attend classes on-campus or those engaged in some form of employment and cannot take time out to pursue a full-time course.M.Sc Astrophysics IGNOU is a popular option for distance education.

Entrance exams are a common and popular means for some colleges to have a screening to decide which student must be admitted to the course. Many popular colleges around the country have made a name for themselves by conducting internationally acclaimed research projects. 

These colleges often conduct entrance exams, as the demand to enter these colleges is higher than the number of seats available. Listed below are some of the popular exams:

A Quick Glance at the M.Sc Astrophysics Entrance Exams

Students can access the M.Sc Astrophysics course details by going to the college's official website to which they are interested in applying. The specialisation plays a vital role in the college's approach to the entrance exam. Below listed are some of the general guidelines of the M.Sc Astrophysics entrance examinations: 

  • The exam pattern includes English, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Thinking, and subject-specific questions according to the specialisation.
  • The papers are objective and MCQ-based.
  • The syllabus, mode of examination, and question pattern may change according to a university/conducting body.

Study M.Sc Astrophysics in India

Some of India's M.Sc. astrophysics colleges are located here. Aspirants have numerous options for the best M.Sc Astrophysics course based on their preferences.

Candidates who meet the Eligibility for M.Sc Astrophysics must make the appropriate choice based on the type of M.Sc Astrophysics programmes offered. The following are some of the best colleges in India that offer M.Sc Astrophysics programmes:

Top 10 M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in India

Below is the list of the 10 best M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in India:

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in India
Sl.No Name of the College
1 Indian Institute of Astrophysics
2 Andhra University
3 Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
4 TIFR, Mumbai
5 Raman Research Centre 
6 Harish-Chandra Research Institute
7 Physical Research Laboratory
8 National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in New Delhi

India’s capital city is home to some of the best institutions for M.Sc Astrophysics in India. Check the table below for the top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in New Delhi:

Sl.No Institution
1 Hindu College
2 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College
3 Rajdhani College
4 Miranda House College
5 IIT Delhi

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Chennai

Tamil Nadu’s capital city is home to some of the premier institutions for BA in India. Check the table below for the best M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in Chennai:

Sl.No Institution
1 Presidency College
2 Sai University
3 Madras Christian College
4 Loyola College
5 Stella Maris College

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Bangalore

The capital city of Karnataka is renowned around the country for colleges offering top BA programs. Check the table below for the best M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in Bangalore:

Sl.No Institution
1 Alliance University
2 Indian Institute Of Astrophysics
3 Atria University
4 The Oxford College of Science
5 Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Mumbai 

Mumbai has some of the best colleges for M.Sc Astrophysics courses in India. Check the table below for the best M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in Mumbai:

Sl.No Institution
1 IIT Bombay
2 St. Xavier’s College
3 ICT
4 Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai
5 The Institute of Science 

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Kerala

Kerala also has some of the best institutions for M.Sc Astrophysics in India. Check the table below for the top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in Kerala:

Sl.No Institution
1 St Teresa's College
2 St. Thomas College
3 NIT
4 Sacred Heart College
5 MG University

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has some premier institutions in the country for M.Sc Astrophysics courses in India. Check the table below for the top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in TamilNadu:

Sl.No Institution
1 PSG College of Arts & Science
2 Karpagam Academy of Higher Education
3 SASTRA Deemed University
4 Sri Krishna Arts and Science College
5 Alagappa University

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Government Colleges

There are several top Government Colleges offering quality M.Sc Astrophysics programs across the country. Check the table below for the top M.Sc Astrophysics government colleges in India:

Government Colleges Offering M.Sc in Astrophysics
Sl.No Institution
1 Rajdhani College
2 IIT Bombay
3 IIT Delhi
4 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College
5 Hindu College

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Private Colleges

India has seen significant growth in the number of quality M.Sc Astrophysics private colleges that offer some of the best programs in the country. Check the table below for the top M.Sc Astrophysics private colleges in India:

Private College Offering M.Sc in Astrophysics
Sl.No Institution
1 IGNOU
2 Amity University, Noida
3 Raman Research Institute

Study M.Sc Astrophysics Abroad

Students can opt to study a course of M.Sc in Astrophysics abroad if they can afford it. The M.Sc Astrophysics course abroad is for 3 - 4 years, depending on the type of course, college, and country. The benefits of studying an M.Sc Astrophysics course abroad are access to some of the best resources, facilities, and faculties, apart from worldwide exposure in terms of subject matter and other cultures. In addition, M.Sc Astrophysics is one of the best courses to study abroad because of its diversity. Below are some of the top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges abroad and the relevant fees structure:

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges Abroad

The table below contains the list of some of the best colleges abroad for M.Sc Astrophysics:

M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges Abroad
Institution Fees
Michigan State University AUD 66,313 
Lowa State University USD 41,070
San Diego State University USD 25,047 
Cardiff University GBP23,750
Queen’s University CAD 24,960
University of British Columbia CAD 13,697 

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in the USA

The USA is home to some of the best universities and colleges offering top-notch M.Sc Astrophysics programs in the world. The table below contains the list of top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in the USA:

Sl.No Institution
1 Princeton University
2 Harvard University
3 University Of Chicago
4 California Institute of Technology
5 Leiden University

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in the UK

The UK has institutions that date back to the 13th century. The UK is one of the best destinations for pursuing an M.Sc in Astrophysics. The table below shows the top colleges in the UK for M.Sc Astrophysics:

Sl.No Institution
1 Liverpool John Moores University
2 Queen Mary, University of London
3 University of Glasgow
4 Cardiff University
5 University of Sheffield

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Canada

Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for M.Sc Astrophysics programs in the world:

Sl.No Institution
1 University of Toronto
2 Queen's University
3 McGill University
4 University of Calgary
5 University of British Columbia

Top M.Sc Astrophysics Colleges in Australia

Australia has emerged as one of the top destinations for higher studies for many students. The list of top M.Sc Astrophysics colleges in Australia is as follows:

Sl.No Institution
1 Macquarie University
2 University of Sydney
3 Swinburne University of Technology
4 University of New South Wales
5 University of Western Australia

Fee Structure for M.Sc Astrophysics

The M.Sc Astrophysics fees are not fixed and depend on many factors. Some of the factors which affect the M.Sc Astrophysics duration, and fees include location, faculty, demand, infrastructure, and the facilities available to the students. The average M.Sc Astrophysics course fee in India is around INR 5,000 - 5 LPA.

Fee Structure for M.Sc Astrophysics
Sl.No. Name of the College Total Fee Structure
1. Andhra University, College of Science and Technology INR 10,000 Per Annum 
2. Punjabi University INR 10,210 Per Annum
3. NIIT Rourkela INR 2.2 LPA 
4. Andhra University INR 20,000 Per Annum

Syllabus and Subjects for M.Sc Astrophysics 

The course syllabi included in the curriculum of M.Sc Astrophysics courses are listed below. The basic structure of the syllabus is maintained by most colleges and universities across the nation, although minor changes may be observed in a few universities. Listed below are some subjects that the students get a chance to study in their 2-years of study:

  • Quantum Mechanism 
  • Digital Electronics 
  • Stellar Atmosphere, Structure and Evolution
  •  Electromagnetic waves & Radiating Systems

Read More: M.Sc Astrophysics Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose M.Sc Astrophysics?

When students decide to pursue the M.Sc Astrophysics qualification, they should research M.Sc Astrophysics course details to ensure that they know the course they are enrolled in. Some of the common queries that students encounter are, "What is M.Sc Astrophysics" and "Why M.Sc Astrophysics?". To understand the answer to these questions, we can make it simpler by breaking it down into the following three short questions:

What is M.Sc Astrophysics All About?

An M.Sc Astrophysics degree or a Master in Science Astrophysics course is a postgraduate science degree that is awarded to students, usually in the field of Science and Technology. The M.Sc Astrophysics degree is one of the oldest and most popular programs globally. 

M.Sc Astrophysics degree is a mix of many genres that allows candidates to adapt to the changes in the astronomical field and behaviour. The M.Sc Astrophysics course enhances the candidate's research and analytical skills.

What Does an M.Sc Astrophysics Graduate Do?

Students can select the subjects of their choice depending on their interest in job prospects available in the field. Since graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree possess skills in various subjects, there are career opportunities available in multiple fields for them. In addition, there are many responsibilities that graduates of this role have to undertake, which makes the role very productive.

Astronomer: The job of an Astronomer is a mixture of physics and astronomy. Astronomers research astronomical objects such as planets, stars, moons, comets, and galaxies.

Reasons Why BA Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

M.Sc Astrophysics course is a very reflective and exciting stream of education. Students can gauge the intrinsic worth of an M.Sc Astrophysics course because it offers more avenues of employment opportunities than any other stream. Thus, the M.Sc Astrophysics job scope is forever widening and appealing.

Diversity in Job roles: There is a diverse range of job roles available for the graduates of this course. Since the specialisations available to the students are very flexible, it enables the students to pursue a wide range of roles in their careers.

Read More: M.Sc Astrophysics Jobs & Scope

M.Sc Astrophysics Course Comparison

M.Sc course is typically catered to students interested in and inclined towards science and technology. Below is a comparison of the M.Sc Astrophysics course with other courses:

M.Sc Astrophysics vs M.Sc Astronomy

The table below showcases the differences between and B.Tech:

Course Comparison: M.Sc Astrophysics vs Astronomy
Course M.Sc Astrophysics  M.Sc Astronomy 
Full-Form Masters of Science in Astrophysics  Masters of Science in Astronomy 
Stream Astronomy and Physics  Astronomy 
Course Duration 2 years 2 years
Eligibility Graduation in any science stream with a 50% aggregate  Graduation in any science stream with a 50% aggregate 
Entrance Exams AMIEE, AUCET, ARIES-JEST BITSAT,NCRA,IUCAA,IIT JEE 
Top Colleges Delhi University, Andhra University, Osmania University  Indian Institute of Science, Madurai Kamaraj University
Fees INR 5,000 to 5 LPA INR 2 - 12. LPA

Preparation Tips for M.Sc Astrophysics 

There are many tips that students must note when deciding to pursue an M.Sc Astrophysics degree. Some important preparation tips are listed below to ensure that the students crack the course and pass the exams without any hurdles. 

Improve Vocabulary: Improving vocabulary is very necessary as the M.Sc Astrophysics course deals with many writing and reading activities. So having excellent communication and writing skills are a plus for the student studying the M.Sc Astrophysics course.

Read and Practice More: Being up to date with the syllabus every day is very important. Practising and reading more will help the student be thorough with the syllabus and do well in the exams.

Have Intrinsic Knowledge and Interest in Subjects: Having intrinsic knowledge about the subject and having the same interest will keep the student motivated to learn more than what's in the syllabus.

Revise Methodically: Revising from time to time can be a key to scoring well in the final exam. Keep revising regularly and understand the subject properly. Revision is the key to scoring good marks.

Scope For Higher Education

Students can pursue many opportunities under M.Sc Astrophysics. There are also many higher study options available for graduate students after an M.Sc Astrophysics degree, which can help them understand the subject better. 

Gaining more education can help the students pursue a career in research if they are interested in it. Listed below are some of the popular higher education options available for the students:

Salary of an M.Sc Astrophysics Graduate

The M.Sc Astrophysics salary for the graduates can differ according to the career opportunity that the aspirants want to take into consideration. Other factors that affect M.Sc Astrophysics salary in India include the type of employment company, geographical area, and the industry they are working in. 

Graduates can increase the salary scope by doing internships as it would be a good addition to their experiences. The average M.Sc Astrophysics job salary for graduates is around INR 3 - 10 LPA [Source: PayScale].

Read More: M.Sc Astrophysics Salary

Career Options After M.Sc Astrophysics Graduation

There are plenty of jobs available for students looking for a career in the field of Astronomy and Physics. The job roles differ based on the career path that one wants to opt for. M.Sc Astrophysics graduates have a lot of job opportunities that aim to provide good salary packages that include the following fields:

  • Data Science 
  • Finance
  • Research & Development 
  • Medicine
  • Photonics
  • Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Technology 
  • Teaching 

Skills That Make You The Best M.Sc Astrophysics Graduate

There are many complex computer skills that M.Sc Astrophysics graduates need to possess to get successful in their careers. These are not the skills that students can get in a classroom setting. Instead, these skills are learned through experience. 

Therefore, students should always put in the extra effort to get out of their comfort zone and gain as much experience as possible. Some of these skills include:

  • Reporting 
  • Research Skills
  • Mathematical Skills
  • Problem-Solving 
  • Attention to detail 

M.Sc Astrophysics Fee Structure

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