Instituto de Física y Astronomía

The Instituto de Física y Astronomía opened its Master's Program in Astrophysics in year 2011:

Program: Timetable: diurnal. Duration: 4 semesters/78 crédits SCT. Address: Facultad de Ciencias, Gran Bretaña 1111, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso. Vacancies: 5

APPLICATION PROCESS 2018

Find out all about application dates, inscriptions, cost, vacancies, etc.

Download the MASTERS STUDY PROGRAM

See the COURSES CONTENTS FOR THE MASTER´S PROGRAM

Steps for applying to the  Astrophysics Master Program:

1.- Preliminary Application  to the Program: this preliminary application is aimed at presenting the future student to the Postgraduate Department, and  to establish and maintain contact with them for future communications regarding their application. Once you have signed up in the system you will be kept informed of date when you have to send in your academic documentation, which you can upload via the same system.

2.- Final Application: The date for final applications  will be communicated by mail to the address specified  in the Preliminary Application. All associated documentation will have to uploaded to the system (which will give all necessary instructions) and must also be sent by mail to  Sergio Balbontín, in charge of applications to the Program (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with copy to Dr. Eduardo Ibar (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Director of the Astrophysics Masters Program.

Documents that will be required when making the Final Application.

1.- Cover and Motivation Letter, addressed to  Dr. Eduardo Ibar.
2.- Currículum Vitae
3.- Photocopied Title(s) Certificate(s)
4.- Two (2) letters of recommendation, addressed to Dr. Eduardo Ibar.
5.- A certified list of grades
6.- Photocopy of RUT or ID (identification) card.
7.- Any other document deemed of interest which may back up a better application.
8.- Please fill out the following form with all your information

Important Note: The Program will conditionally accept applicants that do not come from a scientific astronomy area, but they will required to take additional courses to qualify. These students must take all the necessary courses specified by the Academic Comittee of the Program, and achieve a minimum grading of 5.0 to qualify for the Master´s Program. If this is not achieved the student will be elliminated from the Program. 

3.- Entry Examination. Applicants to the Master in Astrophysics Program must sit an Entrance Exam in January (date to be informed every year) that covers  specific topics. You may download a .pdf file with the Topics and Bibliography for the examination.

Information on the Master´s Program in Astrophysics

Chile posesses a telescope and instrumentation infrastructure of world wide excellency. The need to prepare human resources prepared to use those telescopes and develop high level astronomy research  justifies the proposal of our  Masters Program in Astrophysics. On the other hand, postgraduate studies are an integral and fundamental part of the formation process of academics and scientists who aim to achieve excellency in their professional work. All this is contained in the Mision included in the Development Plan of the Faculty for Sciences of the University of Valparaíso

Aims of the Postgraduate Program

The Program aims, on an inmediate basis, to strengthen the basic formation of the Licenciado en Física y Astronomía or related sciences  in specialized areas of Astrophysics, with the purpose of advancing top level scientific research in Astronomy and related sciences, formed by an excellent academic group, characterized by high scientific productivity and strategic alliances with national and international institutions.

Student Profile

The prospective student has to be in possesion of a Bachelor of Sciences degree with mention in Astronomy or Physics or an academic degree or professional title that can be considered equivalent in level, content and duration, and who can certify a previous formation satisfactory enough for the aimis and requirements of the Program. Those applying must likewise demonstrate an adequate knowledge in the english language.

Academic Personnel


The Physics and Astronomy Department is composed of academics with a Phd degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics (as well as  academics with PhD in Physics) who are currently doing first level research in their respective areas in the Astrophysics Center of Valparaíso (first Center of its kind in the V Region of Chile). They are in charge of teaching the students of the Master in Astrophysics Program.

Professional Profile

Having complied with the curricular requisites the student will receive his/her Master´s in Astrophysics degree and will have acquired fundamental knowledge in Contemporary Physics and Advanced Astronomy. The program graduate will be able to interact with other investigators through his/her professional scientific work in up to date areas, and, in future, make complete and scientific use of the existing astronomy infrastructure in Chile. These include observational astrophysicists that generate and execute scientific projects that make direct use of the telescopes, as well as theoretical astrophysicists whose work is the physical-mathematical modelling of the observed phenomena.

Working Field

The Program delivers the skills necessary  so that the student may succesfully join  the national and international workfield. The national and international occupational field covers Universities and Higher Studies Institutions, Astronomical and Radio-Astronomical Observatories, Research Centers and Institutions, Scientific Instrumentation and Software Development Companies, Private and State Companies, Consultants and/or Advisors, Scientific and Astronomical Tourism Companies.