How to become an Astrophysicist in India?

Do you want to work in Astrophysics?

Do you wonder about the scope of career of an Astrophysicist in India?

Is it possible for you to join ISRO or NASA?

Do you want to become an Astronaut?

Do you want to explore more about galaxies, stars, and the universe?

If you have any or many of these questions in mind, let’s answer them all at once!

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• It is compulsory to have Physics and Mathematics in class 11th and 12th to become an Astrophysicist. You can take Biology with Physics and Mathematics if you like but only if you are able to manage it with Mathematics.
• You should have scored a minimum aggregate of more than 50% in classes 11th and 12th.

Who is an Astrophysicist?

An Astrophysicist is a scientist having done his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree as well as Ph.D in Astrophysics.

Colleges & Exams for Astrophysics

You can opt for relevant courses from colleges like IISER, NISER, IITs, IAST, Delhi University, Osmania University, etc.

In order to get admission into these colleges, you will have to clear relevant entrance exams like IISER Aptitude Test, NEST Exam, and CUET for Delhi University. There are different exams for different institutes.

Note – If you do your bachelor and masters from institutes like IISER, NISER, IASD, IASC, etc. then you will get better research and lab exposure as compared to other institutions.

Top Astrophysics Institutes in India:

1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bangalore (for masters/Ph.D.)
2. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram (only institute with direct relations with ISRO. If you score 8+ CGPA in your masters, you can interview directly for ISRO)
3. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai (Has one of the best astrophysics research going on throughout the world).
4. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
5. Raman Research Institute (RRI) Bangalore (one of the oldest research institutes in India established by Dr. CV Raman)
6. Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune

Fees Structure:

The fees in the top research institutes can range from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 5,00,000 based on your eligibility for scholarships, etc.

Career Opportunities:

• You can opt for becoming a professor in top institutes after doing postdoctoral in this field.
• You can also become an independent researcher
• You can also get a job in the top organisations like ISRO, NASA, IUCAA, etc.

Salary of an Astrophysicist

• The basic salary of an Astrophysicist starts from Rs. 50,000 a month
• It can go up to 8-10 lakhs per annum based on your educational background and stature of working organisations.
• If you have done your Ph.D. from MIT or Stanford, your packages can also cross Rs. 1 Cr per annum.

Courses to Consider:

Bachelor –

B.Sc in Astronomy

B.Sc in Astrophysics

B.Tech in Relevant Engineering

Masters –

M.Tech in Astronomy and Space Engineering

M.Sc in Astronomy

 

Ph.D. –

Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science & Astrophysics

Ph.D. in Astronomy

Ph.D. in Astrophysics

Ph.D. in Astronomy & Astrophysics 

Syllabus

Syllabus can vary from institute to institute but the general syllabus is as follows –

• Astrophysics
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Properties of Matter
• Laboratory Work
• Special Relativity
• Stars & Planets, Galaxies & Universe
• Oscillations and Waves
• Quantum Mechanics
• Cosmology
• Thermal Physics
• Electromagnetism
• Practical Laboratory
• High Energy Astrophysics
• Optics and Quantum Mechanics

More career options:

• Observational Research in Astrophysics
• Theoretical Research in Astrophysics
• Jobs in institutes like BARC, TIFAC, IUCAA, etc.
• Lecturer
• Astronomer
• Astronaut
• Research Scientist

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