General description

This Master’s minor study program in Astronomy and Astrobiology (30 ECTS credits) provides students with a broad education on the fascinating topics of our universe and the life it contains. Astrobiology is the interdisciplinary study of the origin and nature of life on earth and possible life ‘out there’.
This minor program has no pre-requisites and is open to any student of the University. Students take the introductory core courses in Astronomy/Astrophysics and Astrobiology. The remaining ECTS credits can be obtained from a wide selection of lecture courses and practicums from biology, chemistry, geophysics and astronomy.

Admission requirements

The following academic degrees exempt the holder from having to pass any further examinations for admission to the a Master’s degree course: -A Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Science of the University of Zurich, whereby the Faculty determines which types of the Bachelor's degree are required for admission to the respective Master's degree courses. - Corresponding degrees of Swiss and foreign universities which are generally recognized by the Faculty, or recognized by subject. In terms of paragraph 1, such degrees are reviewed according to the stipulations of § 3 of the Bologna guideline of the Swiss University Conference. Further possibilities for admission to a Master’s degree course: the Faculty assesses all other qualifications, in particular those from universities of applied sciences, according to its own criteria, whereby. The principle of equal treatment applies to assessing the equivalence of Bachelor's degrees The Faculty can require the fulfillment of additional conditions in form of evidence of academic achievement. The Faculty decides about the acceptance of academic achievements and credit points which were obtained elsewhere.

Educational goals

Graduates from the Master's minor study program in Astronomy and Astrobiology have gained
insight into the formation of planets, stars and life, as well as the evolution of the universe. In addition, they have received an introduction to biological processes, Geoscience or Physical Geography, depending on their selected concentration. In completing this minor study program, students majoring at other faculties will have gained insight into the diversity and methods of the Natural Sciences

ECTS credits

30 ECTS Credits

Examination and assessment regulations

The student's achievement is assessed at the end of each module.
Achievements are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, whereby 6 denotes the highest grade of achievement and 1 the lowest. A grade below 4 is insufficient.
Achievements can also be graded with 'passed' or 'failed'.

Language of instruction

German, English