What is the program duration of Astrophysics?

For Bachelor’s level, the program duration is usually 3-4 years. For master’s, it is usually 1-2 years and for doctorate level, it is 4-7 years depending on the university.

What is the best country to study astrophysics from?

The USA, UK, Germany, Japan, China, Switzerland, etc are some of the best countries to study Astrophysics. These countries have the top-ranking universities in the world for astrophysics.

In what sector do astrophysics graduates work?

Apart from the space science sector, they also work in education, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, etc. The skills learned while studying astrophysics are widely useful in other areas as well.

Do I need to take an English language proficiency test to study astrophysics?

Some universities require the candidates to take IELTS or TOEFL even for studying astrophysics. It depends on the university.

Best Astrophysics Universities in 2022-2023

Best global colleges and universities for Astrophysics in the world

About Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the study of astronomical objects through the principles of physics. Astrophysicists try to comprehend the complexities of our universe by examining things like the sun, solar system, dark matter, black holes, exoplanets, the interstellar medium, and other relevant parts of our cosmology. With years of research in space science, but we still know only a minuscule fraction of it. Therefore, the demand for people in astrophysics is now higher than ever.

Studying Astrophysics will develop your understanding of the physics of astronomy, covering all related topics from black holes to extrasolar planets. Courses are usually highly interactive where you learn through modern observation technology and research facilities offered by the top Universities for Astrophysics in the world.

Areas of Study under Astrophysics

Quantum physics and electromagnetism
Quantum mechanics and relativity
Particle and atomic physics
Big bang cosmology
Mathematics for physics including calculus
Thermal properties of matter
thermodynamics
Statistical mechanics
Electromagnetism

Popular degrees under Astrophysics

Other than the most popular degrees of Bachelor and Master in Astrophysics, there are several other degrees available for interested students to look into.

Astrophysics and Astronomy are mostly clubbed together in one program for a holistic understanding of the subject matter. Cosmology and Space studies are other popular courses. Different universities offer different programs in astrophysics.

For Bachelor Level

Bachelor in Astrophysics
Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astrophysics
Bachelor in Astrophysics and Atmospheric Sciences

For Master Level

MSc in Astrophysics
MSc in Cosmology
Master in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences
Master in Space Studies
Master of Science in Astrophysical Sciences and Technology

Duration of Programs in Astrophysics

Country	Bachelor’s level	Master’s level
United States	4 years	2 years
United Kingdom	3-4 years	1-2 years
Australia	3 years	2 years
Canada	4 years	1-3 years

Top 50 global universities for Astrophysics based on popular rankings

QS Rank	THE Rank	University	Country	Bachelor	Master
1	4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
2	1	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
4	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
5	6	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
6	3	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
7	8	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
8	7	Princeton University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
9	9	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland	Click Here	Click Here
10	34	The University of Tokyo	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
11	NA	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here
12	13	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
13	16	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
14	11	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
15	27	Columbia University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
16	19	EPFL	Switzerland	Click Here	Click Here
16	22	Technical University of Munich	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
18	10	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore	Click Here	Click Here
19	41	University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
20	25	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	USA	Click Here	Click Here
20	26	University of Toronto	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
22	15	Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)	Singapore	Click Here	Click Here
23	24	Cornell University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
24	17	Tsinghua University	China	Click Here	Click Here
25	85	Université PSL	France	Click Here	Click Here
26	12	Peking University	China	Click Here	Click Here
27	58	Kyoto University	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
28	NA	Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
29	NA	Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
30	126-150	Universit Paris-Saclay	france	Click Here	Click Here
31	20	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	US	Click Here	Click Here
32	46	Seoul National University	South Korea	Click Here	Click Here
33	23	University of Texas at Austin	USA	Click Here	Click Here
34	201-250	Lomonosov Moscow State University	Russia	Click Here	Click Here
35	93	The Australian National University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
36	201-250	Sapienza University of Rome	Rome	Click Here	Click Here
36	77	Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
36	36	UCL	UK	Click Here	Click Here
39	NA	University of Amsterdam	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
40	101-125	Institut Polytechnique de Paris	france	Click Here	Click Here
41	401-500	Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT / Moscow Phystech)	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
42	NA	Sorbonne University	France	Click Here	Click Here
42	89	The University of Edinburgh	UK	Click Here	Click Here
44	49	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
44	88	University of Maryland, College Park	USA	Click Here	Click Here
46	44	The University of Manchester	UK	Click Here	Click Here
47	14	Georgia Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
48	21	Delft University of Technology	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
48	56	KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
50	28	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Hong Kong	Click Here	Click Here

Top Universities for Astrophysics in the USA

The United States of America boasts the highest number of top-ranking universities for astrophysics in the world. These universities are on the top of their games for quality education, renowned educators, exceptional research facilities, and equipment for astrophysics. To study in the USA, students can look into the following universities offering programs in astrophysics. Different top universities offer bachelor studies in astrophysics in USA for

QS Rank	THE Rank	University	Country	Bachelor	Master
1	4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
2	1	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
6	3	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
7	8	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
8	7	Princeton University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
11	NA	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here
13	16	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
14	11	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
15	27	Columbia University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
19	41	University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)	USA	Click Here	Click Here
20	25	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	USA	Click Here	Click Here
23	24	Cornell University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
31	20	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	USA	Click Here	Click Here
33	23	University of Texas at Austin	USA	Click Here	Click Here
44	88	University of Maryland, College Park	USA	Click Here	Click Here
47	14	Georgia Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here

Top Universities for Astrophysics in the UK

For students wishing to study astrophysics, studying in the UK might be a pristine choice. The UK has some of the best universities for astrophysics in the world. It is a top study destination for international students. UK universities have amazing student life, top-notch research facilities, exceptional educators and a great environment to learn and grow.

QS Rank	THE Rank	University	Country	Bachelor	Master
4	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
5	6	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
12	13	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
36	36	UCL	UK	Click Here	Click Here
42	89	The University of Edinburgh	UK	Click Here	Click Here
46	44	The University of Manchester	UK	Click Here	Click Here

Best Universities for Ph.D. in Astrophysics

Ph.D. in astrophysics normally takes about 4-7 years depending on the university chosen. Several funding options are available to candidates pursuing their Ph.D. given a strong academic background. Students are expected to engage in several research projects and training during their Ph.D. Some universities require Ph.D. students to serve as teaching assistants.

Institution	Location
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA
Princeton University	USA
University of California – Berkeley	USA
Harvard University	USA
California Institute of Technology	USA
Yale University	USA

Best countries to study Astrophysics

Many universities offer astrophysics education through Ph.D. programs in astrophysics and/or astronomy. Students enrolled in these doctoral programs will receive training in stellar systems, statistics, and cosmology, among other varied topics. Astrophysics is a program offered in many different countries. Some of the best astrophysics universities in the world are in the following countries.

USA
UK
Germany
Japan
Netherlands
Switzerland
France
Canada

Academic requirements for studying Astrophysics

The academic requirements for studying astrophysics vary from country to country and from university to university. No GRE tests are required for Bachelor’s level but most universities require applicants to take the GRE test for master’s. Entrance tests may be conducted by some universities for both bachelor’s and master’s studies.

For Bachelor Level

Previous qualification should be in a physics-, mathematics- or astronomy-based subject
IELTS score of 6 or above. TOEFL is also accepted.
Entrance tests are conducted by universities

For Master’s Level

Undergraduate degrees in physics, astrophysics, or any astronomy-based subject.
Three personal letters of recommendation
General GRE scores
Official transcripts from all universities attended.
IELTS or TOEFL scores

Career Scope in Astrophysics

All employers recognize that physics graduates have mastered problem-solving skills and the ability to think logically and critically about complex situations. The fact that they also have a high level of mathematical ability, IT proficiency, and communication skills provides graduates with opportunities in a diverse range of careers after studying Astrophysics.

Astrophysics graduates are sought after by many sectors, including

The space industries
Engineering
Manufacturing
Finance
Medicine
Energy

Average salary of Astrophysics Graduates

Graduates in graphic communication attract the following salaries in different countries. Salaries in this field are highly dependent on the relevant experience one has accumulated and the ability to research and stay updated on relevant trends in the industry.

Country	Average Annual Salary in USD*
United States	75,000
United Kingdom	54,172
Canada	83,655
Australia	64,417

*Note: Average annual salaries from countries except for the US, have been converted from their respective local currencies to USD at the current exchange rates. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.