Colleges and programs to study astronomy in India—a career in space science

Physics

College and subjects towards space science in India

A reddit discussion on the colleges and programs to study astronomy in India inspired this post.

To study astronomy in the college after completing the high school, there are different paths in India at the broad level. One, BSc in Physics—a 3 years graduate program, with electives in astronomy, astrophysics, and then doing specialization in MSc and Phd. Two, doing engineering in aerospace and related sciences. Three, doing an integrated 4 years program in BS (Research) such as by IISc, Bangalore. 

Here is a quick list of a few such programs.

  • The B Tech programme in Aerospace Engineering at IIST (link)
  • B Tech in Avionics) at IIST (link)
  • Five-year BS-MS dual degree in Physics, and research programs in astrophysics and cosmology, in IISER, Pune (link)
  • Physics major with astronomy or astrophysics courses, in IISER, Mohali
  • B Tech in Engineering Physics (with astrophysics or cosmology), in IIT Mumbai
  • And more IIT institutes that offer the Physics specific programs 

If you see the alumni of such institutes, most of them completed their higher studies and research at IUCAA, IIA, TIFR, NCRA (link), ARIES, in the IIT/IISc labs, and PhD programs in India or even in international institutes. 

For those who studied engineering, their career path often intersects with space missions projects, technology and instrumentation in their masters programs, which points to the common physics-to-astronomy path in India.

Steering shares students for their career aspirations to study astronomy in their college, as part of its guidance and counselling services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, and anywhere in India.

Astronomy is a vast field and there are many sub-disciplines and adjacent sciences within or related to astronomy. For example astrobiology is one of topics we often see in students counselling programs. In India, a few universities have advanced programs in astrobiology, such as MSc in Astrobiology & Space Sciences, by Amity University, Mumbai (link).

See a list of few degree programs and courses in astrobiology.

Not all the astronomy students want to go into research and doing programs and analysis in the labs. 

There are alternate careers that are equally exciting and rewarding such as working in planetariums, museums, doing workshops and demos for national and international guests, working in technology for apps that support these sciences.

Steering shares students for their career aspirations to study astronomy in their college, as part of its guidance and counselling services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, and anywhere in India.

Steering worked with a student who used Steering to find out what exactly she wants to study in astronomy. See a letter that Deepshika writes to her sister on why she wants to study astronomy.

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