MA/MS in Astronomy: Astronomy and Cosmology

Cosmology searches for scientific answers to some of the most basic questions that can be asked: where the universe came from, how it began, and how it has evolved. Modern cosmology is a complex, multidisciplinary field, drawing together observations gathered from telescopes on Earth and from space-based instruments, supercomputer simulations tracing how cosmic structure first formed, and theoretical physics covering the hot Big Bang, cosmic expansion, and inflation, which together build a consistent picture of the universe, one that remains accurate yet still leaves room for undiscovered physics. Because the field moves quickly, staying current with today's theoretical ideas and holding a working grasp of the data is important, and the programme trains students for research in this area, ideally through a combined master's and PhD track in cosmology. It suits students with a theoretical bent who want to explore the full range of modern astrophysics — observation, interpretation, simulation, and theory — and is built around combined research spanning astronomy and physics.