A research-oriented master's program at TU Braunschweig focusing on the formation and physics of planetary bodies, solar-terrestrial relations, and space plasma environments — developed in close collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, DLR, and ESA.
The Master's program in Solar System Physics at Technische Universität Braunschweig offers a rigorous, research-oriented curriculum designed to prepare graduates for careers in space science and planetary research. The program is taught entirely in English and is structured around two major study phases: an intensive subject-specific deepening phase and a substantial research phase.
During the deepening phase, students build expertise across three interconnected compulsory areas: the physics of planetary bodies — covering planetary formation, internal structure, atmospheres, and magnetospheres; the solar system as a whole — including the Sun, heliosphere, and the evolution of planetary systems; and a hands-on laboratory component where students gain direct experience in observational astronomy, experimental solar system physics, and computational data analysis and simulation.
Beyond the compulsory core, students select elective modules from a rich catalog spanning computational fluid dynamics, space plasma physics, general relativity, planetary magnetism and dynamo theory, stellar astrophysics, extrasolar planetary systems, signal and data analysis, comets and trans-Neptunian objects, asteroids, solar system space missions, and astroparticle physics. This breadth allows students to tailor their program toward a specific research direction.
The research phase accounts for half the total credit load and encompasses scientific key qualifications, a structured literature research component, a dedicated research internship, and the master's thesis. The internship component is integrated into the curriculum and provides direct exposure to active research environments.
The program is embedded within a strong network of non-university research institutions. Students benefit from close ties with the Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (MPS) in Göttingen, the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), and the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as industrial partners in the space sector. These partnerships shape both the elective curriculum and the internship and thesis opportunities available to students.
