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M.Sc. Courses at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)

IUCAA M.Sc. Teaching

IUCAA offers neither a B.Sc. in Astronomy nor an M.Sc. in Astronomy. However, IUCAA faculty are involved in teaching the Astronomy and Astrophysics, Papers I and II of the third and fourth semesters of the M.Sc. programme in Physics at the University of Pune. Astronomy and Astrophysics is an optional course for M.Sc. (Physics) students. Normally, about 10 students are admitted to this course. (Admission to the course is done by the Department of Physics, University of Pune) The syllabus for these courses is given below.

Astronomy and Astrophysics I

  • Module 1: 3 credits (30 lectures, 15 T/S/D)
    • Overview of the universe
    • Physics of astrophysics
      • gravity
      • adiative processe
      • gas dynamic
  • Module 2: 1 credit (10 lectures, 5 T/S/D)
    • Stellar physics
  • Module 3: 1 credit (10 lectures, 5 T/S/D)
    • Galactic physics

Astronomy and Astrophysics II

  • Module 1: 3 credits (30 lectures, 15 T/S/D)
    • General relativity
      • principles of relativity
      • geometrical framework of general relativity
      • solutions to Einstein's equations and their properties
  • Module 2: 2 credits (20 lectures, 10 T/S/D)
    • Cosmology
      • cosmological models
      • physical cosmology and the early universe

Experiments for Astronomy and Astrophysics I and II

(total 5 credits, 120 lab hours)

  1. Temperature of artificial star by photometry
  2. Characteristics of a CCD camera
  3. Solar limb darkening effect
  4. Polar alignment of an astronomical telescope
  5. Estimating the relative magnitude of a group of stars by a CCD camera
  6. Atmospheric extinction for different colours
  7. Differential photometry of a programme star versus a standard star
  8. Effective temperature of a star by B-V photometry
  9. Night sky brightness with a photometer
  10. Distance to the moon by parallax
  11. Calibration of a 1420 MHz radio receiver and spectrometer
  12. Detection of the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen from our galaxy
  13. Distance to a Cepheid variable
  14. Variability of delta Scuti type stars
  15. Variability of RS CVn binaries
  16. Polarization of day/moon light

Any 10 of these experiments will be covered (5 each in semesters III and IV)

IUCAA-NCRA Graduate School

The IUCAA-NCRA Graduate School (conducted jointly with the TIFR-National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune) is meant for the Ph.D. students of IUCAA and NCRA. Coursework is divided into two semesters spread over one year. Each semester is of roughly fifteen weeks’ duration split into two halves. Students are taught courses in astronomy and astrophysics.

The course structure can be found here.

* Please note that not all elective courses may be offered in a given academic year.

+  Project work will be undertaken in the last two months of the second semester.

Syllabus

The courses are designed, emphasizing the aspects which are directly relevant to Astronomy and Astrophysics. It is assumed that unnecessary repetition of material which is already taught at M.Sc. is avoided. While selecting students for IUCAA/NCRA we usually ensure that the student is familiar with physics at the level of M.Sc. and there is no need for routine material to be repeated in the graduate course.

The syllabus provides enough avenues for topics which are of "local interest" to be included in the graduate school. This is necessary so that graduate students coming out of IUCAA/NCRA not only have a comprehensive grasp of Astronomy and Astrophysics but are also aware of the key research areas in which these two institutions are concentrating at present.

The detailed syllabus for each course can be found here.

Grading System :

Marks out of 100
< 41 1 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 - 100
C B Minus B B Plus A Minus A A Plus
 
  1. Any Research Scholar getting less than 41 % marks (grade C) fails the course.
  2. Any Research Scholar can get only two Cs (less than 41 % marks) overall.
  3. If any Research Scholar gets three or more Cs overall, then he/she will be asked to leave the Graduate School.
  4. At the end of the Graduate School, the overall performance should be B+ (65%) or above.
  5. Any Research Scholar satisfactorily fulfils all the above norms is said to clear the Graduate School successfully.
  6. All Research Scholars must clear all core Graduate School courses before they submit their thesis to the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
  7. All Research Scholars must complete at least 2 elective credits (usually one course) by the end of the second year.
  8. All Indian Research Scholars should pass the CSIR/UGC NET JRF (or at least Lecturership (LS)) within two years of joining IUCAA.

IUCAA Ph.D. Programme

We are now accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme through IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT).
>> Please click here for more details

We are now accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme 2024.
(For those who have qualified in JEST-2024 and/or CSIR-UGC NET for JRF (Physics) 2022 & 2023)

>> Click here to apply.
>> [ The Deadline for receipt of applications: April 21, 2024 ]

We have now stopped accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme 2023.

Please click "here" to view the list of candidates shortlisted for Ph.D. Interviews based on INAT-2025 written examination

Applications are invited from eligible candidates for admission into the Ph.D. programme of the institute based on JEST 2025 or valid CSIR/UGC-JRF scores and two rounds of interviews.

 

Note: The application for admission to the Ph. D. programme has been closed. The interviews for JEST-2025 / CSIR-UGC NET(JRF) qualified candidates will be held on August 11 - 12, 2025 at IUCAA, Pune. The candidates shortlisted for interviews will be informed via email shortly.

Candidates applying solely based on the JEST-2025 score may do so by providing their Roll Number and other JEST-2025 application details. These candidates will be shortlisted for Ph.D. interviews, subject to the timely declaration of JEST-2025 results.

Candidates applying based on valid CSIR/UGC-JRF scores may also do so by using the application form below. These candidates will be shortlisted for the Ph.D. interviews based on the details of the valid CSIR/UGC-JRF scores provided by them in the application form.

Interested candidates may apply by clicking here. The further extended last date to apply is July 24, 2025.  
 
More details, including the eligibility criteria, are mentioned below.

The intake of students into IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme is through

  1. IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT)

    INAT is conducted by Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune. This test will be conducted on Third Sunday of January in various cities across the country in addition to Pune. The list of candidates shortlisted for two rounds of in-person interviews to be conducted at IUCAA, Pune will be published on our website tentatively after 15-20 working days of the written test.

    • Link to apply online for INAT-2025: https://inat.iucaa.in
    • Application deadline: November 18, 2024
    • Last date for online submission of Assessment forms: November 22, 2024
    • Admission (Written) test: January 19, 2025
    • Short-listed candidates will be interviewed on:To be announced

  2. Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST)

    JEST written test is conducted in February-March every year at more than 30 centres across the country. For more details about JEST, test syllabus, sample question papers, etc. please visit http://www.jest.org.in/

  3. CSIR-UGC NET for JRF (Physics)

    Only those who have qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the previous two years are eligible to apply. Those who have qualified for only Lecturership are NOT ELIGIBLE.

Eligibility:

The academic year at IUCAA begins in August every year. Students, who expect to complete their M.Sc. degree (in Physics, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Electronics, or Astronomy) or B.E./ B.Tech./ M.E./ M.Tech. degree (in any branch) with 55% marks or more by July are eligible to apply. In addition, talented final year B.Sc., 1st year M.Sc. (in Physics / Applied Physics / Electronics / Astronomy / Applied Mathematics), 2nd / 3rd year Integrated M.Sc. and 2nd / 3rd year B.E. / B.Tech. (any branch) students can also apply to be PRE-SELECTED for research scholarship (to do Ph.D.) at IUCAA.

A relaxation of 5% in the qualifying marks, from 55% to 50%, is applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL/ EWS or Person with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category.

We are looking for highly motivated students with consistently good academic record. Students who have already completed the above degrees can also apply. Selection to research scholarship is through a written test and interviews.

Application procedure, shortlisting of candidates and interviews:

  1. INAT: The application procedure is completely online. Offline applications are not accepted. No fee is charged for applying. Screening committees involving IUCAA faculty members evaluate the applications and shortlist students for the written test to be conducted in various cities across country. Candidates who qualify in the written test are invited via email to appear for two rounds of interviews at IUCAA, Pune. The dates of interviews will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates via registered email IDs.
  2. JEST: The application procedure is completely online. Offline applications are not accepted. An application fee is charged, details of which are available at https://www.jest.org.in/ This test is conducted at various cities throughout India. After the declaration of JEST results, students are required to apply online. Screening committees involving IUCAA faculty members evaluate the applications and shortlist students for interviews. All such shortlisted students are informed by email. Interviews are conducted either during May or June every year.
  3. CSIR-UGC NET for JRF (Physics): Students are required to apply online. Screening committees involving IUCAA faculty members evaluate the applications and shortlist students for interviews. All such shortlisted students are informed by email. Interviews are conducted either during May or June every year. Please note that the student has to produce a letter from the CSIR-UGC informing qualification as JRF at the time of interview.