Structure, content and study tracks

The scope of the Master’s Programme in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences is 120 credits (ECTS), which can be completed in two years.

It comprises 90 credits of advanced studies (incl. a Master’s thesis of 30 credits) and 30 credits of other studies.

The programme includes two study tracks: Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmology and Astrophysical Sciences. You can find more information about the study tracks and their course packages below.

You can find the preliminary syllabus for the academic year 2025-2026 . The final syllabus will be published in Sisu by the end of June. Please note, that some courses are not lectured every academic year.

Choosing your specialisation (study track)

The Master’s Programme in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences includes two study tracks:

  • Elementary particle physics and cosmology
  • Astrophysical sciences

The study track in elementary particle physics and cosmology focuses on experimental or theoretical particle physics or cosmology. The theories that form our current understanding of these issues must be continuously re-evaluated in the light of new experimental results. In addition to analytical computational skills, this requires thorough mastery of numerical analysis methods. In experimental particle physics, the main challenges pertain to the management and processing of continuously amassing data.

The study track in astrophysical sciences focuses on observational or theoretical astronomy or space physics. Our understanding of space, ranging from Earth’s near space all the way to universal structures, is being continuously redefined because of improved experimental equipment located both in space and on the Earth’s surface. Several probes are also carrying out direct measurements of planets, moons and interplanetary plasma in our solar system. Another key discipline is theoretical astrophysics which, with the help of increasingly efficient supercomputers, enables us to create in-depth models of various phenomena in the universe in general and the field of space physics in particular. Finally, plasma physics is an important tool in both space physics and astronomical research.

The courses typically include lectures, exercises, group work and research literature and end in examinations and/or final assignments. In addition, some studies can be completed as book examinations.

Study track: Particle Phys­ics and Cos­mo­logy

Ad­vanced stud­ies (90-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (35 cr)

Seminar in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences (5 cr) (including individual study plan)
Master's thesis (30 cr)
Maturity test (0 cr)
 

Compulsory core courses (5-10 cr)

Select either

  • PAP326 Cosmology II (5 cr)
    or
  • Introduction to Particle Physics I (5 cr) and Introduction to Particle physics II (5 cr)
     

Optional advanced courses (complete at least 45 cr)

Quantum physics

Quantum mechanics IIa (5 cr)
Quantum mechanics IIb (5 cr)
Mathematical methods of physics IIIa (5 cr)
Mathematical methods of physics IIIb (5 cr)

Instrumentation of particle physics

Gaseous radiation detectors and scintillators (5 cr)
Semiconductor radiation detectors (5 cr)
Physics of positrons in solids and defects (5 cr)
Physics of semiconductor devices (5 cr)
Laboratory course on instrumentation (5 cr)

Experimental methods in particle physics

Particle physics phenomenology (5 cr)
Particle physics experiments (5 cr)
Computing methods in high energy physics (5 cr)
Statistical methods (5 cr)
Basics of Monte Carlo simulations (5 cr)

Particle physics

Introduction to Particle Physics I (5 cr)
Introduction to Particle physics II (5 cr)
Quantum Field Theory I (5 cr)
Quantum Field Theory II (5 cr)
Quantum Field Theory III (5 cr)
Quantum Field Theory IV (5 cr)
Introduction to the Physics of Neutrinos (5 cr)
Path Integral Quantization of Gauge Field Theories (5 cr)
Theories beyond the standard model (5 cr)

Cosmology

Cosmology II (5 cr)
General relativity I (5 cr)
General relativity II (5 cr)
Galaxy Survey Cosmology (5 cr)
Gravitational Lensing (5 cr)
 

Courses of Astrophysical Sciences Study Track

You can select courses of Astrophysical Sciences Study Track as agreed with your Academic supervisor.
 

Data Science Package (0-15 cr)

 Tools of High Performance Computing (5 cr)
 Bayesian Data Analysis (5 cr)
 Introduction to Data Science (5 cr)
 Introduction to Machine Learning (5 cr)
 Advanced Course in Machine Learning (5 cr)
 Network Analysis (5 cr)
 Neural Networks and Deep Learning (5 cr)
 Computational statistics (5 cr)
 

Other stud­ies (0-30 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

 

Study track: As­tro­phys­ical Sci­ences

Ad­vanced stud­ies (90-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (35 cr)

Seminar in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences (5 cr) (including individual study plan)
Master's thesis (30 cr)
Maturity test (0 cr)
 

Compulsory core courses (10-15 cr)

Complete at least two of these courses.

Open problems in modern astrophysics (5 cr)
Statistical Inverse Methods (5 cr)
Plasma Physics (5 cr)
 

Optional advanced courses (complete at least 40 cr)

Observational astronomy

Advanced Course in Observational Astronomy I (5 cr)
Advanced Course in Observational Astronomy II (5 cr)
Special Course in Observational Astronomy (5 cr)
Interstellar Matter (5 cr)
Small Bodies in the Solar System (5 cr)
Time Series Analysis in Astronomy (5 cr)
Variable Stars (5 cr)
Stellar magnetic activity (5 cr)

Theoretical astronomy

Introduction to light scattering (5 cr)
Computational light scattering (5 cr)
Astrophysical light scattering problems (5 cr)
Galactic Dynamics (5 cr)
Galaxy formation and evolution (5 cr)
High Energy Astrophysics (5 cr)
Radiative Transfer (5 cr)

Space physics

Space Applications of Plasma Physics (5 cr)
Solar Physics (5 cr)
Advanced Space Plasma Physics (10 cr)
Numerical methods in scientific computing (10 cr)
Numerical space physics (5 cr)
Basics of Monte Carlo simulations (5 cr) 
Space and Astrophysical Plasma Turbulence (5 cr)
 

Courses of Particle Physics and Cosmology Study Track

You can select courses of Particle Physics and Cosmology study track as agreed with your PSP supervisor.
 

Data Science Package (0-15 cr)

 Tools of High Performance Computing (5 cr)
 Bayesian Data Analysis (5 cr)
 Introduction to Data Science (5 cr)
 Introduction to Machine Learning (5 cr)
 Advanced Course in Machine Learning (5 cr)
 Network Analysis (5 cr)
 Neural Networks and Deep Learning (5 cr)
 Computational statistics (5 cr)
 

Other stud­ies (0-30 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

More about the programme