Graduate Courses
Academic Year 2025-2026 Graduate Courses
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Preparatory and Elective Graduate Courses
Fall 2025
**The Department fall session graduate courses will start the week of September 8th.**
- AST1440H Radiation (Marten van Kerkwijk): Mondays 12-2 and Thursdays 11-2 (AB113)
- AST2050 Observational Techniques (Laurie Rousseau-Nepton / Keith Vanderlinde / Mike Reid): Tuesdays 10-12 (AB113)
- AST1430H Cosmology (Renée Hložek): Wednesdays 12-2 and Fridays 2-3 (AB113)
- AST3101H Specialized Topics: Modular courses worth .25FCE
- Term F: lec 0121: Coding and Stats Bootcamp (Marten van Kerkwijk): Fridays 11-1 (AB113)
- Term F1: lec 0301: Galileo (Adam Hincks): Tuesdays 2-4 (AB113)
Winter 2026
- AST1410H Stars (Marta Bryan): TBA
- AST1420 Galactic Structure and Dynamics (Ting Li): TBA
- AST3101H Specialized Topics: Modular courses worth .25FCE
- Term S: lec 0191: Hands-On High Performance Computing (Hanno Rein): TBA
- Term S1: lec 0224: High Energy Astrophysics (Bart Ripperda): TBA
- Term S2: lec 0126: Talks (Renée Hložek): TBA
Research Courses (for 1st year direct-entry PhD students)
- AST1501Y Introduction to Research (Chris Matzner) Fall Session: Wednesdays 4-6 (AB113) Winter Session: TBA
- AST1500Y Directed Research (Chris Matzner)
Modular Courses (AST3101H Specialized Topics in Astronomy & Astrophysics)
Modular courses also known as “mini-courses” are weighted at half a standard graduate elective equivalent (0.25 FCE). The topics will vary year to year and give students the flexibility to examine a diverse range of subjects in a compressed format. The modules serve to address gaps in student research knowledge and/or practical skills acquisition in a timely manner. Compressed topics allow for a breadth of development in research competencies and skills.
The topics offered will be based on program needs and instructor availability within a particular area not included in other course offerings. Given that the topics will be adaptable and may be driven by student’s interests, some may be one-off offerings.
The modular courses are repeatable for credit if taken with a different topic (each carrying an individual subtitle and lecture code) to a maximum of four modules (1.0 FCE) to be counted toward fulfillment of the graduate electives requirement. Please note, however, that these compact courses are not designed to accompany the literature qualifying examination process.
Scheduling: the modular courses may be offered as non-standard with respect to start and end dates but should fall within one session (and not overlap sessions): either fall, winter or summer session.
Physics Department Graduate Courses
We have reciprocity with the Physics Department for enrollment in our respective graduate courses. The following affinity physics courses are approved toward the required graduate electives:
- PHY1483H: Relativity Theory I
- PHY1484H: Relativity Theory II
- PHY1489H: Introduction to High Energy Physics
- PHY1500H: Statistical Mechanics
- PHY 1510H: Electromagnetism
- PHY1520H: Quantum Mechanics
- PHY1530H: Fluid Mechanics
- PHY 1540Y: Mathematical Methods in Physics
- PHY1610H: Scientific Computing for Physicists
Enrollment in Graduate Courses in a Cognate Department
It may be possible to substitute a graduate course from a cognate department offered at the equivalent level toward your required electives with approval from the associate chair, graduate, Jo Bovy. To petition, please email grad.coord@astro.utoronto.ca with an overall course plan (this can be tentative) to provide context for justification for inclusion.
Graduate Students from Other Departments
In accord with our course reciprocity arrangement, enrollment slots are available for physics students in all of our courses with the exception of the AST1501/1500 directed research series which is restricted to our direct-entry PhD students.
Graduate students from other departments may take graduate courses offered by Astronomy and Astrophysics if they have a demonstrated background (i.e. upper-level undergraduate physics coursework along with strong mathematical preparation) and with permission from the both the course instructor and their home department.
AY2023-24 Courses
In terms of future planning, the intent is to offer the full AST preparatory course (1000 series) each year whenever possible.
Full List of Graduate Courses
Please note that not all courses listed are necessarily offered every year but may be offered in future years.
Preparatory Courses
- AST1410H Stars
- AST1420H Galactic Structure and Dynamics
- AST1430H Cosmology
- AST 1440H Radiation Processes and Gas Dynamics
- JAS1101H Topics in Astrostatistics
Research Courses
Elective Courses
- AST2030H The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation
- AST2040H Extragalactic Astronomy
- AST 2050H Observational Techniques
Specialized Courses
- AST3010H Advanced Topics in Stellar and Galactic Astronomy
- AST3020H Advanced Topics in Interstellar Matter and Star Formation I
- AST3021H Advanced Topics in Interstellar Matter and Star Formation II
- AST3040H Advanced Topics in Planetary Science
- AST3050H Theoretical Cosmology
- AST3100H Lecture Series in Specialized Topics
- AST3101H Specialized Topics in Astronomy & Astrophysics (Modular Course 0.25 FCE)