Courses
Explore a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses at Australian National University (ANU), a world-leading institution. Discover programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in their future careers.
Honour courses
Note: Some courses may be given in alternate years. Please check Programs & Courses for course availability.
Syllabi can be found by clicking on the Programs and Courses website links below. Note that these are current from 2023 onwards -
ASTR6007: Stars (6 units)
Offered in: 1st Semester
ASTR6002: Galaxies and Cosmology (6 units)
Offered in: 2nd Semester
ASTR6013: Astrophysical Processes (6 units)
Offered in: 1st semester
ASTR4011: Observational Techniques - (6 units)
Offered in: 1st semester, every year.
ASTR4004: Astronomical Computing (6 units)
Offered in: 2nd semester, every year.
ASTR4006: Galaxies (6 units)
Offered in: 1st semester, even years.
ASTR4020: Diffuse Matter and Star Formation (6 units)
Offered in: 1st semester, odd years
ASTR4021: Astrophysical Processes II - (6 units)
Offered in: 2nd semester, even years
ASTR4023: Stars II and Exoplanets (6 units)
Offered in: 2nd semester, odd years
EMSC6022: Planetary Science - (6 units)
Offered in: 2nd semester
Important dates
While the Honours year commences at the end of January, courses will only be taught during the regular semester.
- Starting Date (1st Semester): Courses start at the beginning of Semester 1 with the thesis submission date at the end of Semester 2
- Starting Date (2nd Semester): Courses start at the beginning of Semester 2 with the thesis submission date at the end of Semester 1
Honours coursework rules
- 50 per cent of the honours assessment in astronomy and astrophysics is for a research project (ASTR4005).
- Students are required to do 24 units of coursework for the other 50 per cent of their honours assessment.
- Up to 24 units (6 units per course) are to be selected from the list below, generally with at least two ASTR4XXX subjects.
- ASTR6002, ASTR6007, ASTR6013 and EMSC6022 may be taken, unless students have taken them as third year subjects already (the equivalent third year subjects are ASTR3002, ASTR3007, ASTR3013 and EMSC3022).
- 6 units may be selected from suitable courses in physics or maths to approval by the astronomy & astrophysics honours convenor. Possible examples include: A unit from the physics honours program. One of the computational modelling units in the Bachelor of Computational Science honours program. One of the units in the mathematics honours program.
- For more information, see the Programs & Courses website, Astronomy & Astrophysics Honours.
Courses during PhD
While undertaking coursework as part of the PhD program is not compulsory, and the main focus is on research, it is recommended that students who have not completed the RSAA Honours or Masters program undertake at least some of these courses or at least parts thereof, in particular areas beneficial for their research topic and thesis projects may be useful. Courses taken during the PhD program will neither be assessed officially nor appear on a student's transcript.
Course availability information and syllabi can be found by searching Programs and Courses. Click on "Courses" and search for course codes starting with "ASTR" to find astronomy and astrophysics courses.