A research-intensive master's program at the University of Tübingen's Kepler Center, combining astrophysics and particle physics in a single coherent curriculum — spanning topics from quantum field theory and neutrino physics to cosmology, exoplanets, and relativistic astrophysics.
The M.Sc. in Astro and Particle Physics at the University of Tübingen is offered through the Kepler Center for Astro and Particle Physics, a dedicated research hub within the Faculty of Science. The program is designed to train physicists at the intersection of two closely related disciplines — astrophysics and particle physics — providing rigorous theoretical, experimental, and computational training within a unified academic framework.
In the first two semesters, students build a solid shared foundation through compulsory courses in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Particle Physics, supplemented by hands-on laboratory work and a seminar series on modern research topics in both fields. Nuclear and particle physics is also covered as a compulsory component. From this common base, students begin shaping their individual academic profile by selecting elective modules from a broad specialisation pool worth 24 ECTS in total.
The elective curriculum covers an unusually wide thematic range. On the astrophysics side, options include Theoretical Astrophysics, Stellar Physics, General Relativity, Relativistic Astrophysics, Star and Planet Formation/Exoplanets, High Energy Astrophysics, Cosmology, Extragalactic Astrophysics and Structure Formation, Space Physics and Astrophysics, and Computational Methods in Physics/Astrophysics. On the particle physics side, students may choose Neutrino Physics, Experimental Astroparticle Physics, Quantum Field Theory, and Advanced Quantum Field Theory. A module from a neighbouring scientific discipline further broadens the academic horizon.
The third semester is dedicated to scientific specialisation and preparation for the master's thesis — students select a research topic and develop their methodological and project-planning skills. The fourth semester is devoted entirely to the master's thesis, a substantial piece of original research (30 ECTS) concluded with a colloquium. The thesis is supervised within the active research groups of the Kepler Center, whose work spans theoretical quantum field theory, general relativity, computational astrophysics, experimental neutrino physics, cosmology, extragalactic astrophysics, relativistic astrophysics, and star and planet formation.
