Programme description

Are you fascinated by the mysteries of the sky - either blue or starry? Did you look for shooting stars and Big or Small Dipper as a child? Or maybe you just like to point out mistakes you spot in the movies about space and cosmonauts? Astronomy is then for you! It is the oldest of the natural sciences. It has accompanied humanity from the dawn, being a motor for science and technological evolution. The Astronomy study programme allows to obtain a profound knowledge from various areas of general astronomy and observational astrophysics and provides in-depth knowledge in the basic areas of mathematics, physics, and computer science. You will learn how to mathematically describe physical and astrophysical phenomena/processes and abstract understanding of problems from the area of astronomy.

👉  Read more about this study programme

Information regarding Faculty

The Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science is one of the most modern such units in Poland. It has the A+ scientific category awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and is a part of the Krakow Scientific Consortium named after Marian Smoluchowski with the KNOW (2013–2017) status. Programmes conducted at the Faculty lead in rankings prepared by the Education Foundation “Perspektywy,” also talented Faculty students participate in the prestigious Diamond Grant programme.

The Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science main premises are located on the Campus of the 600th Anniversary of the JU Revival, Astronomy classes are delivered in the Astronomical Institute and Observatory 'Fort Skała', located at Orla 171 Street. The Observatory has the ability to conduct optical and radio astronomical observations through the available telescopes. Moreover, it has direct access to observations and professional data from other observatories worldwide and satellite missions. The Observatory employees use the most modern scientific methods offered by physics and new technologies in space exploration conducted at the highest world level. The Faculty cooperates with many companies by conducting joint classes, research projects, and master's thesis works.

👉  Virtual walk through the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science

Rankings, distinctions, accreditations

• Positive evaluation of the study programme rating awarded by the Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA)
• 2nd place between 2019 and 2022 in the Ranking of Study Programmes prepared by the ‘Perspektywy’ Education Foundation
• Category A+ granted to the Faculty by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• Status of the Leading National Research Centre (KNOW) between 2013 and 2017

Curriculum overview

Programme curriculum consists of information regarding classes in which you will take part while studying at this field of study. The programme provides data on classes in particular semesters, which of them are compulsory or optional, which of them end with an exam, and which do not. Each class has its own syllabus – a description of contents of the class.

Student’s life

Time spent at the university is not all about education and class participation; it is also an excellent opportunity to develop hobbies and interests. Many research societies and student organizations work at the Jagiellonian University, including faculty- and university-wide ones. These societies allow students to spend their free time actively, gain knowledge, develop their talents, participate in engaging, unconventional projects, go on research and team-building trips, participate in conferences and meet fellow students outside the lecture halls. There are many student associations at the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science, f.e. Students of Astronomy Research Group, young scientists can apply for the Frank Wilczek Prize funded by the Faculty and the Kosciuszko Foundation, or for a scholarship and tutoring as part of the SciMat project.

Students interested in the international dimension of studying can participate in a wide variety of exchange programmes such as Erasmus+, Utrecht Network, exchange programmes within Bilateral Agreements or European university Una Europa, or participate in a domestic mobility programme called MOST.

More than just studies

• SciMat—scholarship programme
• Frank Wilczek Prize—for outstanding young researchers
• Student Government of the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science

Admission to studies

Admission at the Jagiellonian University is conducted electronically in the Online Application System (IRK): irk.uj.edu.pl. Admissions Office is responsible for the admission process at the Jagiellonian University. In case of questions regarding admission, contact the Office directly or visit websites: welcome.uj.edu.pl and irk.uj.edu.pl.

Information regarding admission to this study programme, including qualification rules, admission and tuition fee, schedule, required documents and information on final result calculation, are available on the Online Application System (IRK): irk.uj.edu.pl

Transfer from other university or study programme

Transfer from other university or other study programme is possible, with the consent of the dean: after finishing a first year of studies and fulfilling additional conditions described by the Faculty Council. In case of questions regarding a transfer, contact the unit in charge of study programme directly.

Graduates

A graduate of Astronomy has a chance to work in observatories, astrophysical and meteorological institutes, satellite observations teams, and scientific groups engaged in international research programmes in Poland and abroad. Students acquire practical knowledge in laboratories equipped with modern equipment, such as research and measurement equipment and specialized software, which is important due to further research work and participation in scientific projects, as well as careers in other professions. Teaching section classes are an additional option, the completion of which allows working as a school teacher after graduation. Moreover, Astronomy graduates are prepared to work in institutions promoting science (planetariums, science centres), enterprises where statistical data processing, digital image processing, computer modelling, and analytical thinking skills are applied.

Further education possibilities

• Second-cycle programmes
• Doctoral School, f.e. Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences
• Post diploma programmes

Offer for school

The following events are conducted in Polish – to find out about the offer for English-speaking audience, please get in touch with the organizer directly. Additionally, due to the current pandemic, some faculty and university events may be canceled or conducted in a form other than that described below.

The Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science offers the following events:

• laboratory classes based on simple experiments from the scope of mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, and optics performed by students on their own under the supervision of experienced academics and doctoral students
• workshops in physics—for students interested in physics in the scope exceeding their school's curriculum. The programme consists of solving problems concerning physics in the form of multi-level theoretical tasks, classes in the physics workshop, and individual meetings of workshop participants with the Institute of Physics academics
• evenings with stars organized at the Astronomical Observatory—include popular science lecture, the exhibition of meteorites, a visit to the observatory domes, observation using a 35cm Maksutov telescope (if the weather is right)
• 'Women to science!' campaign; astronomy for everyone; physics high-school mock exam, and much more. 

More information about the evens is available on the Faculty's website.

We invite all schools to a series of meetings, "University Closer to you – trips to the Jagiellonian University." The purpose of the sessions as part of the tours is to familiarize students with our university's history through a broad educational offer (lectures, workshops, laboratory classes, etc.). The current program of the event is available on the organizer's website - Centre for Communications and Marketing.

The Jagiellonian Library allows you to visit the old and new parts of the building. The tour program includes presentations of information about the history of the Library and the building itself and a tour of the Warehouse Department. The offer of Collegium Maius consists of the "Traces of science" and "Traces of history and art" lessons as well as interactive online classes. We also invite you to familiarize yourself with the educational offer of: the Botanic Garden, the Nature Education Center, the Confucius Institute, and the Museum of the Department of Anatomy UJ CM.

Contact

The study programme is conducted at the Astronomical Institute and Observatory, a unit of the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science. The Observatory is located at the west end of Kraków. For more information, please contact:

sekr@oa.uj.edu.pl

ul. Orla 171
30-244 Kraków, Poland
Phone: (+48) 12 623 86 29

www.oa.uj.edu.pl
fais.uj.edu.pl

Other programmes that may interest you

• Astrophysics and Cosmology (Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science) – programme in Polish
• Physics (Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science) – programme in Polish
• Studies in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences (Centre for Interdisiciplinary Studies in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences) – programme in Polish