Astronomy and Instrumentation (MSc)
Career prospects
The broad scope of the Astronomy and Instrumentation specialisation provides you with an MSc level training highly sought after by employers, not only in astronomical instrumentation, but also in other areas of high-tech instrumentation development.
Acquired skills and competence
After graduation, you will have obtained in-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art approaches to developing hightech instruments. You will be prepared to work with highly skilled engineers on instrument-development and you are able to bridge the gap between engineering and science.
Career
Most graduates holding a MSc degree in Astronomy from Leiden University find work in many different capacities, including:
- Research: universities, observatories, research institutes
- Industry and consultancy: ICT, R&D, telecom, high technology, aerospace
- Finance: banking, insurance, pension funds
- Public sector: governments, policy makers, high schools
- Science communication: journalism, popular writing, museums
Typical jobs for Astronomy graduates include:
- Scientific researcher (postdoc, research fellow, professor)
- R&D engineer
- Consultant
- Data scientist, statistician
- Policy advisor, public information officer (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- High school physics teacher
- Scientific editor for magazines, newspapers and other media
Research at Leiden Observatory
If you want to get more deeply involved in research after graduating in Astronomy, consider pursuing a PhD at Leiden Observatory. If you have completed the Leiden master’s degree programme in Astronomy, you are directly eligible for admission to our PhD programme. Read more.