Program Overview

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Astrophysics MSc

The University of Sheffield offers an MSc in Astrophysics, a one-year full-time program designed to equip students with the experience required for a successful career in research or industry. The program explores key topics at the cutting edge of modern astrophysics and develops practical skills used by professional astrophysicists.

Course Description

The MSc Astrophysics course covers the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the Universe itself. It is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and experience needed to pursue a career in research, either at a top university or a research facility. Students will also master problem-solving and analysis skills that employers value in various sectors, including computing, data science, and engineering.

Modules

The program includes a range of core and optional modules, such as:

• Star Formation and Evolution
• Galaxy Formation and Evolution
• Introduction to Cosmology
• Physics Research Skills
• Research project Optional modules include:
  • The Development of Particle Physics
  • Dark Matter and the Universe
  • Advanced Quantum Mechanics
  • An Introduction to General Relativity
  • Physics in an Enterprise Culture
  • Astrobiology
  • Origin of the Chemical Elements
  • Observational Astronomy with field trip

Field Trip

Students have the opportunity to go on a subsidized field trip to the international observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands. The island is home to world-leading telescopes, and students will be trained on how to perform astronomical observations using the university's 0.5m telescope.

Teaching and Assessment

Students will be taught through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and presentation skills training. A large portion of their time will also be spent working on an individual research project under the guidance of a supervisor who is an expert in their field. Assessment will be by examinations, coursework, essays, and other written work, as well as a dissertation and viva.

Career Prospects

Employers hire graduates from this program because of their ability to plan projects, analyze data, and solve complex problems, independently and as part of a team. The program is designed to give students the skills that will help them succeed in a range of careers, including research, industry, computing, data science, finance, and public administration.

School

The School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences is leading the way with groundbreaking research and innovative teaching. The school's physics and astronomy researchers are focusing on some of the biggest questions in science, such as how to build a quantum computer, how to detect dark matter, and how to distribute clean energy.

Facilities

Physics and astronomy students are based in the Hicks Building, which has classrooms, lecture theaters, computer rooms, and specialist laboratories and research facilities. The school is home to the UK's first Quantum Information Laboratory and has facilities for building super-resolution microscopes and analyzing 2D materials.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a 2:1 undergraduate honors degree in Physics or any degree where Physics is a named component, with relevant modules. International students must also meet the English language requirements, which are IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for the program are:

• Home (2026 annual fee): £12,680
• Overseas (2026 annual fee): £30,625 Students who choose to undertake the optional field trip to the observatory on La Palma will be required to pay half of the costs, which typically amounts to £350 to £400, with the school paying the rest.

Additional Costs

There are no additional costs associated with the program, except for the optional field trip. However, students may need to pay for transportation to and from the airport, and some food and drink on the first and last days of the trip.

Scholarships

Overseas fee-paying students joining in September 2026 will automatically receive a £3,000 tuition fee discount (subject to eligibility). Sheffield graduates may also be eligible for a discount of up to £2,500 on their postgraduate taught course fees.