Future Students

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Modern astronomers have a wide variety of windows on the Universe, including most parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (optical, radio, infrared, X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy) as well as more exotic probes such as neutrino astronomy.

Many open problems remain, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which seem to dominate the Universe.

The major includes a strong grounding in mathematics and physics, essential tools for a modern astronomer or astrophysicist.

Level 1 and 2
In addition to an introduction to astronomy and astrophysics, the first two Levels include a thorough grounding in topics in modern physics and mathematics that form the cornerstones of current astromical and astrophysical research.

These include quantum mechanics, particle physics, nuclear physics, electromagnetic theory, relativity, and advanced classical mechanics. The focus shifts strongly to astronomy and astrophysics at Level 3.

Level 3 includes study in:

• cosmology
• galaxies and their evolution
• black holes and active galaxies
• stellar birth and evolution
• neutron stars and supernovae
• planetary astronomy
• space electrodynamics
• Astronomical techniques

Students are encouraged to consider a Bachelor of Science with a double major (Astronomy and Astrophysics and Mathematics or Computer Science) or a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering combined course with a science major in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Career opportunities

By the end of this course you will have an understanding of the origins, evolution and structure of the universe, with an emphasis on planet Earth. You will have experienced the benefits of multi-disciplinary teaching, as your course is co-ordinated by staff from Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, and Mathematics and Statistics. This is a course that will benefit you, whatever your future career.