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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Europe: 2-years Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (AstroMundus) in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Overview

AstroMundus is a 2-years Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (120 ECTS) in Astronomy and Astrophysics offered by a consortium of 5 partner universities in 4 different countries: Austria, Italy, Germany, and Serbia. Its main objective is to provide top-ranked students with an excellent background in Astrophysics, to introduce them to the world of modern astrophysical research, and foster their future career in this field. At the same time, in the spirit of the Erasmus Mundus programmes, we promote cultural exchanges between Third Country and European students and academics.


AstroMundus students carry out their master studies in at least 2 and up to four of these countries, in a stimulating and scientifically excellent international environment.

The official language of the course is English, but students are given the possibility to learn the languages of the host countries by attending language courses at the partner universities.

Successful students will be awarded a Joint Master Degree by all partner universities they have visited during the Master studies. In addition they will obtain a Diploma Supplement to facilitate the recognition of their degree in other universities/countries. At the end of each 2-years cycle of the Master Programme the best master thesis of the cycle will be awarded a prize.


Programme content

AstroMundus offers an excellent educational level in all branches of Astrophysics, as insured by the wide variety of expertise in the field covered by this international partnership. The main topics covered by the Master programme are:

• Galactic Astrophysics (the Sun and the Solar system, the Milky Way, stellar evolution, the interstellar medium)
• Extrasolar planets
• Extragalactic Astrophysics (galaxies, galaxy evolution, galaxy clusters, intra-cluster medium, star formation)
• Active Galactic Nuclei (including accretion theory, relativistic jets, modelling)
• Cosmology (including observational cosmology, galaxy surveys, gravitational lensing, very early universe)
• Particle Cosmology
• Astroparticle Physics
• Gravitational waves
• Observational astrophysics from the ground and from space
• Computational astrophysics (N-body simulations, magneto-hydrodynamic simulations)

Final degree given

Students who successfully complete the requirements of the programme will be awarded a Joint Master Degree by the Consortium universities where they accomplished the various parts of their Master studies. In addition they will receive a Diploma Supplement.

Eligible Candidate

Eligibility: Students

The "Astrophysics" Erasmus Mundus Masters Course is open to students of all nationalities that fulfill these minimum requirements:

• Hold a Bachelor degree in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Mathematics (or a certified equivalent amount of learning in the same field, quantified as 3 years of previous studies corresponding to at least 180 credits in the European Credit Transfer System) or expect to obtain it latest by August of the starting year of the Masters Course (i.e. by August 2010 for the course starting in September 2010);
• Have a good and certified knowledge of the English language (the certification is not necessary for native speakers).

All students that come from a country of the European Union or an EEA-EFTA State (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or students that either are residents or have carried out their main activity (study, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last 5 years in one of these countries can apply in the category "European students".

All other students, including students coming from Switzerland, Turkey, and Western Balkan Countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244-99, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) can apply in the category "Third Country students".


Eligibility: Academics

The "Astrophysics" Erasmus Mundus Masters Course invites Third Country academics of all nationalities to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship to carry out activities of teaching and/or research at one of our four European consortium universities in the framework of the Masters Course for short periods that range from a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months.

European academics are eligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarships only if they are members of one of the four European consortium universities and wish to spend a period at the University of Belgrade (our Third Country partner).

Applicants should bear in mind that English is the official language of the Masters Course.

The minimum requirements for eligibility are:

• Holding a PhD
• Having a certified experience of teaching at graduate level

The call for applications to the AstroMundus Masters Course starting in September 2010 is now open.

Selection of Students

We aim at enrolling top-ranked students, therefore the selection of students will be primarily based on excellence. In particular during the selection process the following points will be carefully considered by the nominated Selection Committee:
- full academic background incorporating the list of courses followed
- testified examination marks/obtained grades
- language skills
- individual content in the letter of motivation
- relevant (astronomy/astrophysics related) extracurricular activities
- content of the reference letters

In order to apply, students must submit in electronic form all documents listed below. These documents should be combined together with a signed copy of the application form in a single pdf file before upload to this web-site.

List of required documents


Eligible applicants must provide in electronic form the following documents in English language. For all documents whose originals are not in English language, we require a certified English translation. Scanned copies of the documents are accepted. Admitted students will be requested to present the originals (or certified copies) of all documents they have transmitted electronically at application time.

•Completed and signed Application Form in all its parts including the list of all attended courses with credits and brief summary of the course contents, and a letter of motivation (max 1 page). Please, do not delete any part of the Application Form!

•Bachelor's Degree in either Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or Mathematics or recognized equivalent level of learning in the same field, quantified as 3 years of studies corresponding to 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Since the first course will start in Sept. 2010, we request that the students either hold already their Bachelor or they expect to obtain it latest by August 2010. In the latter case students should provide a certification stating the expected date for the Bachelor's degree and the list of courses that are still in progress. The Bachelor's certificate and the grades obtained in the courses currently in progress must be uploaded to this site as soon as they are available.

•Electronic copies of academic records.

•Proof of proficiency in English language (e.g. transcript of TOEFL / IELTS scores or equivalent, obtained not more than 2 years ago). Students who carried out their previous studies at universities having English as the main language of instruction can provide an official statement by their University instead of the transcripts of an English test. Native English speakers are exempted from providing such a proof.

•An up-to-date curriculum vitae (resumé) including a brief summary of the Bachelor's thesis, a description of relevant extracurricular activities that are related to Astronomy/Astrophysics and skills acquired (e.g. computer/programming skills), and the list of publications (if any).

•Two letters of recommendation to be sent electronically by the referees by addressing the questions provided in the online referee form.

•Scanned copy of a valid passport.

Pre-selected candidates will be interviewed by video-conference (or teleconference if not otherwiese possible).

Deadlines are Dec. 31st 2009 for non-European students and April 30th 2010 for European students.


Selection of Third Country and European Scholars

A number of scholarships will be offered to Third Country academics and European academics (the latter only if they are members of one of the consortium partner universities) who wish to carry out short periods (at least two weeks and up to three months) of teaching and/or research activities in the framework of the AstroMundus EMMC programme. Third Country academics are eligible to carry out their activities at the four European Universities that are member of the consortium, while European academics, provided they come from one of the consortium universities, are eligible to carry out their activities at the University of Belgrade, the Third Country member of the consortium.

Top-level academics will be selected by the nominated Selection Committee based on excellence and on consortium needs according to the specific topic of expertise.
The official language of the AstroMundus Masters Course is English.
Applications in electronic form are now invited with deadline April 30th for both non-European and European academics.

As a minimum requirement for eligibility, applicants should hold a PhD in either Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Physics and have certified experience of teaching at graduate level.
Together with the completed Application Form, applicants should submit the following documents in English language:

•CV and publication list
•Proof of teaching experience at graduate level

Application Form

Enquiries can be directed via e-mail to the following address:

astromundus AT uibk.ac.at
---------------------------
Student Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships will be funded by the Erasmus Mundus 2009 - 2013 cooperation and mobility programme, under Action 1.

Applicants that wish to apply also for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship will have to state so in the application form. No additional application is required. Students that already received in the past an "Erasmus Mundus" scholarship are not eligible for a new one.

There are two categories of scholarships:

•Category A: They are intended as full scholarships and are reserved to Third Country students. Category A scholarships cover the registration fees (including the insurance), include a contribution to travel, installation and any other type of costs of 8000 €, and a monthly allowance of 1000 €/month for the whole duration of the Masters Course (22 months).

•Category B: They are intended as a financial contribution for European students or for students that have carried out their main activity in one of the European or associated countries for more than 12 months during the last 5 years. Category B scholarships cover the registration fees (including the insurance), include a contribution to travel, installation and any other type of costs of 3000 €, and a monthly allowance of 500 €/month for the whole duration of the Masters Course (22 months).



Student Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships will be funded by the Erasmus Mundus 2009 - 2013 cooperation and mobility programme, under Action 1.

Applicants that wish to apply also for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship will have to state so in the application form. No additional application is required. Students that already received in the past an "Erasmus Mundus" scholarship are not eligible for a new one.

Holders of Erasmus Mundus scholarships are subject to special regulations.

In particular, holders of category A scholarships can spend a maximum of 3 months (or the equivalent of 15 ECTS) at the University of Belgrade (provided Serbia is not their country of origin), since this is a Third Country partner of the Astromundus consortium.
Periods in excess of this duration are not covered by the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

Holders of a category B scholarships can spend a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 2 semesters at the Third Country partner university (i.e. the University of Belgrade). Periods in excess of this duration are not covered by the scholarship.

Because of the limited number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships, we strongly recommend that prospective students seek and apply for other scholarships that might be funded, e.g., by their own Country and/or Institution of origin or by other organizations.

Additional scholarships

•European students can apply for the EU Erasmus mobility grant oriented to promote studies abroad. The student's home university will give information and support on how to apply for these scholarships.

Contact

University of Innsbruck

Institute of Astro- and Particle Physics
Technikerstrasse 25
A-6020 Innsbruck
Please send your inquiries via e-mail!
E-mail: astromundus (at) uibk.ac.at
Secretary:
Phone: +43 512 5076031
Fax: +43 512 5072923

Source: http://www.astromundus.eu/


Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship


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Scholarship Team: Ph.D Scholar Krisstofferson Joniel Scholarship Adviser, PhD Scholar Chea Vitom Scholarship Adviser and Senior Lecturer, PhD Scholar Rebecca T. Dalisay Scholarship Adviser, Ph.D Student Jiao Wang Scholarship Coordinator, MSc Student Dennise Maricel Scholarship Coordinator