Erasmus Mundus Master Scholarships in Astronomy and Astrophysics, AstroMundus, Europe

AstroMundus is a 2-years Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (120 ECTS) in Astronomy and Astrophysics offered by a consortium of 5 partner universities (University of Innsbruck, University of Belgrade, University of Goettingen, University of Padova & University of Rome Tor Vergata) 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.

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)

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. Also, a student can apply for a maximum of 3 different Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses starting in the same academic year. Students that apply for more than 3 EM Courses will be excluded from the selection for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
There are two categories of scholarships:

1. 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).
2. 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 € (this contribution is provided only to students that will have a mobility period at the university of Belgrade), and a monthly allowance of 500 €/month for the whole duration of the Masters Course (22 months).

Pre-selected candidates might be interviewed by video-conference (or teleconference if not otherwise possible). Deadline for both non-European and European students: Nov 30th 2010
Official website: www.astromundus.eu