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Astrophysicist

Astrophysicists use physics to understand stars, galaxies, black holes and the universe, using telescopes, data and computer models.

Class 11–12 subjectsPhysics, Chemistry, Maths

Entrance / admissionCUET UG / IISER Aptitude Test

DegreeB.Sc / BS-MS Physics + M.Sc + PhD

DurationAbout 10 years including PhD

Your route, step by step

1Class 11–12: take PCMGravitation, optics and modern physics are the base; star-gazing and astronomy clubs help.
2B.Sc / BS-MS PhysicsThrough CUET UG, IISER Aptitude Test or NEST.
3M.Sc PhysicsTake astronomy and astrophysics electives.
4PhD through JESTJEST is the main entrance for PhD in physics and astrophysics institutes.

What an astrophysicist does

Analyse data from telescopes and satellites
Build models of stars and galaxies
Run computer simulations
Publish research and teach

Entrance exams & admission

CUET UGB.Sc at central universities
IISER Aptitude TestBS-MS at IISERs
NESTNISER and UM-DAE CEBS
JESTPhD in astrophysics

Where you may work

Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Raman Research Institute, IUCAA, PRL, ISRO, universities and observatories.

Well-known colleges in and near Tamil Nadu

IISER Tirupati
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru (research)

Official links

Exam / admissionIISER Aptitude Test (BS-MS admissions) (opens in a new tab)iiseradmission.in
Exam / admissionNEST — NISER & UM-DAE CEBS admissions (opens in a new tab)nestexam.in
Exam / admissionNational Testing Agency (CUET UG notices) (opens in a new tab)nta.ac.in
Exam / admissionJEST — PhD entrance for physics & astronomy (opens in a new tab)jest.org.in
Official bodyIndian Institute of Astrophysics (opens in a new tab)iiap.res.in
Official bodyIUCAA — Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (opens in a new tab)iucaa.in

Links checked: Oct 2026. Always confirm dates and rules on the official site.

Outlook

A small, competitive research field. India’s space missions and observatories are growing.

Specialise later

Stellar astrophysics
Galaxies & cosmology
High-energy astrophysics
Solar physics
Gravitational waves