Master of Science in Astrophysics / 
Master of Science in Astrophysik (M.Sc.)
Curriculum for the Master of Science Program in Astrophysics 
at the Faculty for Physics of the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich
| Prerequisites for Students | 
| 1.  | Qualified Bachelor’s Degree in Physics or Astrophysics 
  (equivalent to 6 semesters study of physics or astrophysics) | 
 
| 2.  | Proficiency in English Language | 
 
  | 
 
| Start | 
Winter Term or Summer Term | 
 
| Duration | 
4 semesters including a master thesis implemented during the last two semesters | 
 
| Total number of weekly hours (SWS) | 
1st Year: 22 SWS [(22+22)/2],  2nd Year: 22 SWS [(22 [ = 26 weeks work]+22)/2] | 
 
| Credits | 
The Degree “Master of Science in Astrophysics” comprises 120 ECTS-Credits | 
  
Schedule of Studies / Übersichtsplan:
| 1st Semester | 
2nd Semester | 
3rd and 4th Semester | 
 
| Courses of the Astrophysics Modules | 
Preparation for Master’s Thesis and Master’s Thesis | 
 
| AM: P1 | 
CP | 
AM: P4 | 
CP | 
AM: P5 | 
CP | 
 
| CLA Astrophysics L4 + SWS 2 | 
9 | 
ELA Astrophysics L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
ELA Astrophysics L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
 
| AM: P2 | 
CP | 
ELA Astrophysics L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
AM: WP3 . . . WP8 | 
CP | 
 
| P/E Laboratory I SWS 6 | 
9 | 
ELA Astrophysics L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
Attendant research seminar SWS 2+2
  Preparation project for TW SWS 4+4 | 
3
 
  9
 
  | 
 
| CLA Astrophysics L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
AM: WP1 or WP2 | 
CP | 
 
|   | 
P/E Laboratory II SWS 6 | 
9 | 
 
| S Advanced Seminar SWS 2+2 | 
3 | 
AM: WP9 . . . WP14 | 
CP | 
 
| Supplementary Courses / Elective Lectures | 
Methods and tools tutorial  SWS 4+4 | 
9 | 
 
| PM: P3 | 
CP | 
  | 
AM: P6 | 
CP | 
 
ELP/P/S Modern Physics (P4/P5/P6/P7) L2 + SWS 2 | 
6 | 
TW research project 26 weeks work
  Attendant research seminar SWS 2+2 | 
30
 
  3 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
30 | 
Total number of CP: | 
30 | 
Total number of CP: | 
60 | 
 
 
Notation: 
| CLA | 
= | 
Course Lecture Astrophysics | 
AM | 
= | 
Module of Astrophysics | 
 
| ELA | 
= | 
Elective Lecture Astrophysics | 
PM | 
= | 
Module of Physics | 
 
| ELP | 
= | 
Elective Lecture Physics/Mathematics | 
SWS | 
= | 
Number of weekly hours (the unit is 45 min) | 
 
| S | 
= | 
Seminar | 
L | 
= | 
Lecture Duration (the unit is 45 min) | 
 
| E | 
= | 
Exercises | 
CP | 
= | 
Credit Points based on the ECTS-system | 
 
| P | 
= | 
Practical Work (Laboratory) | 
TW | 
= | 
Thesis Work | 
  
Notes on astrophysics Modules in Semesters 1, 2, and 3:
| Courses of P1: Basic Astrophysics I | 
 
| 1st Semester | 
CP | 
 
| CLA | 
Astrophysics (Matter, Radiation, Hydrodynamics, Plasma, Stars, Planets,
ISM, Star Formation, Galaxies, Cosmology, Dark Matter) L 4 | 
9 | 
 
| E | 
Exercises SWS 2 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
9 | 
 
 | 
 
| Courses of P2: Tools of advanced Astrophysics | 
 
| 1st Semester | 
CP | 
 
| P/E | 
Astrophysical laboratory with exercises SWS 6 | 
9 | 
 
| CLA | 
Lecture group (Statistics, or applied Quantum Mechanics,
or Hydrodynamics, or Plasma Physics, or Observational Methods) L 2 | 
6 | 
 
| E/S | 
Exercises / Seminar SWS 2 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
15 | 
 
 | 
 
| Courses of P4: Advanced Astrophysics I | 
 
| 2nd Semester | 
CP | 
 
| ELA | 
Lecture group 2) L 2 | 
6 | 
 
| E/S | 
Exercises / Seminar SWS 2 | 
 
| ELA | 
Lecture group 2) L 2 | 
6 | 
 
| E/S | 
Exercises / Seminar SWS 2 | 
 
| ELA | 
Lecture group 2) L 2 | 
6 | 
 
| E/S | 
Exercises / Seminar SWS 2 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
18 | 
 
 | 
 
| Courses of P5: Advanced Astrophysics II | 
 
| 3rd Semester | 
CP | 
 
| ELA | 
Lecture group 2) L 2 | 
6 | 
 
| E/S | 
Exercises / Seminar SWS 2 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
6 | 
 
| 
  
 |  
| Courses of WP1: Theoretical Astrophysics | 
 
| 2nd Semester | 
CP | 
 
| P/E | 
Numerical laboratory with exercises SWS 6 | 
9 | 
 
| S | 
Advanced Seminar with colloquium (theoretically and numerically oriented) SWS 2 + SWS 2 | 
3 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
12 | 
 
 | 
 
| Courses of WP2: Experimental Astrophysics | 
 
| 2nd Semester | 
CP | 
 
| P/E | 
Instrumental laboratory with exercises SWS 5 | 
9 | 
 
| P | 
Field Study / Wendelstein Observatory SWS 1 | 
 
| S | 
Advanced Seminar with colloquium (experimentally and observationally oriented) SWS 2 + SWS 2 | 
3 | 
 
| Total number of CP: | 
12 | 
  
Overview of the final grades:
(for an obligatory documentation see:
Study and examination regulations). 
| Kind | 
Duration | 
Credits (CP) | 
gf | 
Weighted individual grades 1.0 . . . 4.0 × (gf / total gf) | 
 
| individual 1st year | 
individual | 
60 4) | 
20 | 
1.0 . . . 4.0 × 0.40 = 0.40 . . . 1.60 | 
 
| individual 2nd year | 
individual | 
30 4) | 
10 | 
1.0 . . . 4.0 × 0.20 = 0.20 . . . 0.80 | 
 
| TW | 
refereed | 
30 | 
20 | 
1.0 . . . 4.0 × 0.40 = 0.40 . . . 1.60 | 
 
| Total number of CP, total gf 5) | 
 | 
120 | 
50 | 
 | 
 
| Final grade = sum of weighted individual grades | 
1.0 . . . 4.0 | 
  
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