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M.Sc. (Physics) Optional Papers in A & A - Sample Syllabus

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
These are sample syllabi for three special/optional papers in M.Sc. (Physics). Any two papers may be adopted.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper I

Module I: Solar System and Stars

1. The solar system 5 lectures
 
  • Celestial mechanics
  • Elliptical orbits
  • Kepler's laws
  • Virial theorem
 2
 
  • Earth-moon system
  • Tidal forces
  • Precession of earth's axis
  • Interiors
  • Atmospheres
 2
 
  • Planets
  • Terrestrial planets
  • Jovian planets
 1
2. Observational tools 6 lectures
 
  • Blackbody radiation
  • Specific intensity and flux density
 1
 
  • Stellar parallax
  • Magnitudes
  • Colour index
 1
 
  • Basic optics and optical telescopes
 1
 
  • Radio telescopes
 1
 
  • Infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray telescopes
 1
 
  • Coordinates and time
 1
3. Sta 7 lectures
 
  • Classification
  • Formation of spectral lines
  • Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
 2
 
  • Atmosphere
  • Description of the radiation field
  • Opacities
  • Radiative transfer
  • Structure of spectral lines
 5
4. Sun 5 lectures
 
  • Interior
  • Atmosphere
  • Solar activity
  • Helioseismology
  

Module II: Stellar Structure and Evolution

1. Stellar interiors 7 lectures
 
  • Hydrostatic equilibrium
  • Pressure equation of state
  • Energy sources
  • Energy transport and convection
  • Model building
  • Main sequence
  
2. Binary stars 5 lectures
 
  • Classification
  • Mass determination
  • Accretion disks in close binaries
  • White dwarfs, neutron stars
  • and black holes in binaries
  
3. Star formation 3 lectures
 
  • Interstellar dust and gas
  • Formation of protostars
  • Pre-main sequence evolution
  
4. Post main sequence evolution 3 lectures
 
  • Evolution on the main sequence
  • Late stages of evolution
  • Fate of massive stars, supernovae
  
5. Degenerate remnants of stars 4 lectures
 
  • White dwarfs
  • Chandrasekhar limit
  • Neutron stars
  • Pulsars
  

Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Laboratory Experiments:

  1. 1. Polar aligning a telescope and measuring declination of Polaris.
  2. Measuring distance to Moon by parallax method.
  3. Measuring limb-darkening of Sun.
  4. Finding rotation period of Sun by measuring motion of sun-spots.
  5. Measuring relative sensitivity of B, V, and R bands of a photometer with Sun and using this to find temperature of filament of a lamp.
  6. Measuring colour of a star by differential photometry.
  7. Measuring extinction of the atmosphere in B, V, and R bands.
  8. Characterising a CCD camera for gain, read-noise, linearity, and flat field.
  9. Estimating atmospheric seeing by measuring differential motion.
  10. Measuring stellar scintillations for different zenith angles and comparing it with scintillations for planets.

Text books:

  1. Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
  2. Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th Edition, Saunders College Publishing.
  3. Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol II:Stars and Stellar Systems, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.

Other books:

  1. The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
  2. Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
  3. The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper II

Module I : High Energy Astrophysics

1. Radiative processes in astrophysics 10 lectures
 
  • Synchrotron emission
    - for a single particle
    - for an ensemble of electrons
  • Energy loss and electron spectrum
  • Compton scattering
  • Multiple Compton scattering
  • Bremsstrahlung
  • Thermal bremsstrahlung
  
2. Binary stars 7 lectures
 
  • White dwarf binaries
  • Neutron star and black hole binaries
  • HulseTaylor binary pulsar
  
3. Accretion discs 5 lectures
 
  • Thin accretion discs
  • Thick accretion discs
  • Accretion discs in binaries
  • Accretion discs in galactic nuclei
  

Module II: Galaxies

1. The Milky Way Galaxy 5 lectures
 
  • Distribution of stars
  • Morphology
  • Kinematics
  • Interstellar medium
  • Galactic Centre
  
2. Nature of galaxies 4 lectures
 
  • Hubble sequence
  • Spirals and irregular galaxies
  • Spiral structure
  • Elliptical galaxies
  
3. Galactic evolution 4 lectures
 
  • Interaction of galaxies
  • Formation of galaxies
  
4. Structure of the universe 5 lectures
 
  • Extragalactic distance scale
  • Expansion of the universe
  • Clusters of galaxies
  
5. Active galaxies and quasi-stellar objects 5 lectures
 
  • Observations
  • Unified model
  • Radio lobes and jets
  • Using QSOs to probe the universe
  • Gamma ray bursts
  

Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Text books:

  1. Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei, A. K. Kembhavi and J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.
  2. Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
  3. Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th edition, Saunders College Publishing.
  4. Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol I:Astrophysical Processes, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.

Other books:

  1. The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
  2. Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
  3. The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.
  4. Introduction to Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press.
  5. Structure Formation in the Universe, T. Padmanabhan,Cambridge University Press.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper III

Module I: General Relativity (GR)

1. Overview of special relativity 4 lectures
 
  • Principles of special relativity
  • Line interval
  • Proper time
  • Lorentz transformation
  • Minkowski spacetime
  • Lightcones
  • Relativistic momentum
  • 4-vectors
  • Lorentz transformation of electromagnetic field
  
2. Conceptual foundations of GR and curved spacetime 12 lectures
 
  • Principle of equivalence
  • Connection between gravity and geometry
  • Form of metric in Newtonian limit
  • Metric tensor and its properties
  • Concept of curved spaces and spacetimes
  • Tangent space and four vectors
  • Tensor algebra
  • Tensor calculus
  • Covariant differentiation
  • Parallel transport
  • Riemann curvature tensor
  • Geodesics
  • Particle trajectories in gravitational field
  
3. Dynamics of gravitational field 4 lectures
 
  • Einstein's field equations
  • Definition of the stress tensor
  • Bianchi identities and conservation of the stress tensor
  • Einstein's equations for weak gravitational fields
  • The Newtonian limit
  
4. Schwarzschild metric and related topics 5 lectures
 
  • Derivation of Schwarzschild metric
  • Basic properties of Schwarzschild metric coordinate-
  • systems and nature of R=2M surface
  • Effective potential for particle orbits in Schwarzschild metric,
  • general properties
  • Precession of perihelion
  • Deflection of ultra relativistic particles
  • Gravitational red-shift
  

Module II: Applications of GR

1. Gravitational waves 5 lectures
 
  • Wave equation in linearised theory
  • Plane waves
  • Transverse traceless gauge
  • Effect on test particles
  • Principles of detection and generation of gravitational waves
  • Types of detectors
  • Landau-Lifshitz formula
  • Hulse Taylor binary pulsar
  
2. Cosmology 15 lectures
  Models of the universe
  • Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models
  • Hubble's law
  • Angular size
  • Source counts
  • Cosmological constant
  • Horizons
 5
 
Relics of the big bang
  • The early universe
  • Thermodynamics of the early universe
  • Primordial neutrinos
  • Helium synthesis and other nuclei
  • Microwave background
3
 
Formation of large scale structure
  • Jeans mass in the expanding universe
  • Growth in the postrecombination era
  • Observational constraints
  • Elementary ideas on structure formation
3
 
Observations of the cosmological significance
  • Measurement of Hubble's constant
  • Anisotropy of large-scale velocity fields
  • Age of the universe
  • Abundance of light nuclei
  • Dark matter
  • Microwave background
  • Gravitational wave stochastic background
4
Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Text Books:

  1. General Relativity and Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar Delhi: Macmillan company of India Ltd.
  2. General Relativity, I. R. Kenyon, Oxford university press.
  3. Classical Theory of Fields, Vol. 2, L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Oxford : Pergamon Press.
  4. First course in general relativity, B. F. Schutz Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
  5. Introduction to Cosmology, 3rd Edition, J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.

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
  

Important Points for Coursework:


  1. A Research Scholar getting less than 41 % marks (grade C) fails the course.
  2. A Research Scholar getting more than two C grades (less than 41% marks) during the coursework will be disqualified from the programme.
  3. An overall performance of 65% or higher is required to meet the Graduate School's requirements.
  4. A Research Scholar must clear all core Graduate School courses before they submit their thesis proposal to the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
  5. A Research Scholar must complete at least 2 elective credits (usually one course) by the end of the second year.
 
 Important Points Post Coursework:

A Research Scholar must submit a progress report to their RAC every six months.

  1. The grades assigned by the RAC should be understood to have the following meanings:
    A- or higher: The student is performing well.
    B+: The student is performing below par, but the supervisor and RAC feel that the student can improve with some effort. This grade is then intended to be a warning signal to the student.
    B or lower: The student has not performed well despite an earlier B+ grade, and the supervisor and RAC are concerned that the Ph.D. may not be completed to their satisfaction.
    A grade of B or lower will trigger the sequential process listed in 2 below.
  2. A grade of B or lower in any evaluation must necessarily be based on both a presentation and a written report by the student to the RAC, regardless of whether the evaluation stage is mid-year, end-year or mid-semester. For subsequent evaluation, a grade of B or lower may be assigned only if the grade in the previous evaluation was B+ or lower, and should be accompanied with a detailed justification. If a student is awarded a grade of B or lower in a particular six-monthly evaluation, the next evaluation must take place three months later, i.e. mid-semester. This mid-semester evaluation must necessarily consist of both a presentation by the student to the RAC and a written report, regardless of the grade eventually assigned. If the grade in this mid-semester evaluation is again B or lower, then in the subsequent mid-year or end-year evaluation, as the case may be, the Chair, TPC shall attend the evaluation presentation as an observer. If the assigned grade is again B or lower, the next evaluation will again be three months later, i.e., mid-semester, with Chair, TPC and Dean, CAP both attending the presentation as observers.
  3. Starting from the evaluation at the time of submission of Thesis Proposal, if a student gets four consecutive B or lower grades in the evaluation, the RAC may decide to recommend the cancellation of Ph.D. registration and fellowship of the student to TPC. This is in compliance with Clause 11.4 of the JNU ordinance received on May 22, 2024 in effect retrospectively from the Academic Year 2022-23 onwards. This timeline will ensure that the underperforming student will not be dismissed abruptly but rather have a span of one year (i.e. Four quarterly evaluations) to demonstrate sustained improvement.
  4. The evaluation grade assigned by the RAC in each cycle will be conveyed along with the written feedback from the RAC to each student, regardless of the grade assigned, by the Dean CAP’s office.
  5. The above policy will be enforced from the August 2024 semester for all Ph.D. students enrolled at IUCAA
  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 stop accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme through IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT-2026).

>> Please click here for more details

We are now accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme 2026.
(For those who have qualified in JEST-2025/JEST-2026 and/or CSIR-UGC NET for JRF (Physics) 2024 & 2025)

>> Click here to apply.
>> [ The Deadline for receipt of applications: May 28, 2026 ]

 

We have now stopped accepting applications for IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme 2026.

Please "click here" to view the list of candidates shortlisted for Ph.D. Interviews based on INAT-2026 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.  

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-2026: https://inat.iucaa.in
    • Application deadline: November 24, 2025
    • Last date for online submission of Assessment forms: November 26, 2025
    • Admission (Written) test: January 18, 2026
    • 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.