Overview

The overall goal is to fully understand the physical principles and performance of astronomical instruments and to contribute to the development of new instrumentation technologies.

The Astronomy and Instrumentation MSc programme at Leiden University goes beyond astronomy and space applications of instrumentation technology. This enables you to use your knowledge and skills in adjacent areas of science and engineering, including the development of instrumentation for environmental and medical applications.

Do you want to contribute to the hightech world of astronomical instrumentation engineering? Do you have a bachelor’s background in Astronomy, Physics or equivalent degrees? Then the master’s specialisation Astronomy and Instrumentation is the right choice for you.

Career Opportunities

Most graduates holding a MSc degree in Astronomy from Leiden University find work in many different capacities, including:

Research: universities, observatories, research institutes

Industry and consultancy: ICT, R&D, telecom, high technology, aerospace

Finance: banking, insurance, pension funds

Public sector: governments, policy makers, high schools

Science communication: journalism, popular writing, museums

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments
Detection of Light a + b
Astronomy
Space Instrumentation
Galaxies: structure, dynamics and evolution
Gravitational Lensing

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2025-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-04-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2025-05-15 00:00:00 , EEA/EU
Starting 2026-02-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-15 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2025-11-15 00:00:00 , EEA/EU

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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TOEFL^® IBT

90

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Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Physics Astronomy & Space Sciences Educational Research View 8 other Masters in Educational Research in Netherlands

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

TOEFL^® IBT

90

Schedule TOEFL®

Pass IELTS with Swoosh English! Sign up for a free writing masterclass or claim your exclusive 25% Studyportals discount and accelerate your preparation by taking a course designed by experts to get you the results you need.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Leiden University and/or in Netherlands, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

If you have a bachelor’s degree in Astronomy or in an Astronomy-related programme from a foreign research university with a level similar to Dutch universities, you are eligible to apply under the condition that you have in-depth knowledge (comparable to undergraduate courses of the Leiden Astronomy curriculum) with:

a theoretical and mathematical emphasis, including quantum physics, electrodynamics, statistical physics, and complex analysis.
courses in the field of Astronomy.
and with proficiency in programming, preferably in the Python language.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

21100 EUR/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 21100 EUR per year during 24 months.
EU/EEA

2530 EUR/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 2530 EUR per year during 24 months.

Living costs for Leiden

850 - 1250 EUR /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Astronomy and Instrumentation.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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