Astronomy at Leiden Observatory
Introduction for MSc Students
First version: July 2012, Paul van der Werf & Nathalie Strookman
©Date July 23, 2012
TableofContents
Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1 First and Foremost .................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2 Sterrewacht Leiden ................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Research Institute .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Astronomy Teaching Programme ...................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 3 The MSc Programme Astronomy............................................................................................ 7 3.1 Admission to the MSc programme .................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Nature of the programme ................................................................................................................. 7 3.3 The Study Plan ................................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 Staff, students and who‐is‐who......................................................................................................... 8 3.5 Study Association De Leidsche Flesch ............................................................................................... 9 3.6 The Buddy System for International Students .................................................................................. 9 3.7 Map of the Faculty .......................................................................................................................... 10 Appendix I Example study plans ............................................................................................................ 11 Example I ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Example II .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Appendix II ‐ What does the first week look like? ................................................................................. 12 Important dates ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2 Preface
This guide is intended as a first introduction to Leiden Observatory for incoming MSc
students. It aims at pointing out important practical matters concerning the MSc
programme at Leiden Observatory. It only covers Astronomy-specific issues, and
excludes all topics that are general to Leiden University as a whole. Where possible, this
document refers to information at the Leiden Observatory website
(http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl) which should be the first stop for all information
searches and contains the most up to date information.
Detailed information on the study programme is also found on the website, as well
as in the paper study guide. To get foreigners used to the Dutch language, many of the
terms in this text referring to specific university entities/titles are given in Dutch as well.
3 Chapter 1
First and Foremost…
Whom do you talk to when you need:
You need:
Who to contact:
Practical study-related information
study coordinator, Arianne Pen (room 568)
Information concerning contents
of your study programme
MSc Student advisor
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/education/commissies.php
Computer account/access
David Jansen (room 409c)
Mailbox/pigeonhole
secretaries (room 551)
Keys (room and building)
secretaries (room 551)
Office supplies
secretaries (room 551)
Being an expat in The Netherlands
http://www.expatica.com
4 Chapter 2
Sterrewacht Leiden
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/
Sterrewacht Leiden is the actually composed of two overlapping entities, an Opleiding or
School, which is the regular university structure responsible for the bachelor’s and
master’s programmes, and an Onderzoeksinstituut or Research Institute. There is
complete overlap between the staff of both entities. Both are part of the Faculteit
Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen or FWN, i.e. the Faculty of Science, which in turn is
one of the seven Faculties of the Universiteit Leiden, Leiden University.
2.1ResearchInstitute
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/information
The name of the Research Institute is Sterrewacht Leiden or Leiden Observatory. Note
that Sterrewacht is spelled in traditional manner with a capital ‘S’ and without the ‘n’ of
sterrenwacht, the generic Dutch word for an astronomical observatory in the currently
mandatory spelling. The Research Institute was devised several decades ago in order to
create a more flexible and less bureaucratic structure for carrying out research. One
effect of the creation of this structure was the appointment of a Wetenschappelijk
Directeur (Scientific Director) heading the Research Institute.
2.2AstronomyTeachingProgramme
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/education/
The Astronomy Teaching Programme is headed by a Onderwijsdirecteur (Director of
Studies), who is responsible for the astronomy teaching programme. He is supported by
the Study Coordinator who deals with all practical matters. Two Student Advisors for the
bachelor and master programmes respectively are responsible for day-to-day coaching of
students. The Director of Studies is advised by the Opleidingscommissie (Teaching
Committee, a committee required by Dutch law) consisting of students and teaching
staff. Since much of the curriculum, especially in the bachelor’s phase, involves physics
5 courses, the Director of Studies, the bachelor student advisor, students and teachers also
regularly confer with their counterparts from the Physics Division in the Joint Teaching
Committee Physics and Astronomy.
Another committee required by Dutch law is the Examencommissie (Board of
Examiners). The Board of Examiners does not report to the Director of Studies but is an
independent body within the Observatory. Among its duties are monitoring the quality of
examinations, and the awarding of degrees.
6 Chapter 3
The MSc programme Astronomy
3.1AdmissiontotheMScprogramme
Admission to the Astronomy MSc programme at Leiden Observatory is governed by the
programme’s Board of Admissions. This Board evaluates your previous academic
achievements, taking into account grades, quality and contents of your BSc. The Board of
Admissions may admit you without further remarks, but may also recommend that you
compensate certain deficiencies. Such recommendations usually involve doing a
particular course from the BSc programme, in the form of self-study. These
recommendations are also transmitted to the Student Advisor and should be taken quite
seriously, since the MSc programme assumes that you have mastered this material.
3.2Natureoftheprogramme
In comparison to some other programmes, in particular abroad, it is very important to
realize that the Astronomy MSc programme in Leiden assumes and requires a great deal
of independence on the part of the student. This cannot be overemphasized.
This implies both an opportunity and a responsibility on the part of the student. It
is an opportunity for you to tailor the programme to your specific interests, preferences,
tastes and abilities. However, it also means that you need to take the initiative to do so,
and that you need to exercize judgement to gauge whether a particular programme is
suitable or not. This is where the Student Advisor can help, and you should always seek
his advice on matters relating to your programme.
3.3TheStudyPlan
The first two things to do when arriving in Leiden are:
1. Report to the Study Coordinator, who will deal with all practical issues;
2. Make an appointment with the Student Advisor to discuss your Study Plan.
7 The Study Plan is central to your MSc programme. It consists of a fully specified
plan for your 2-yr MSc programme, including all courses and research projects. All
options and boundary conditions for putting together a Study Plan are listed on the
website of the Astronomy MSc programme. Since this is an extremely important step, it
is vitally important to study all options closely. Take ample time for doing this. When you
have put together a Study Plan that you are happy with, you should discuss it with the
Student Advisor. Note that a Study Plan can only be accepted if approved by the Student
Advisor. An example Study Plan can be found in Appendix I of this guide.
Once accepted, the Study Plan is entered in a computer database, and progress
will be regularly monitored by the Student Advisor. Note that changes to the Study Plan
are possible at every stage, but they will always need to be approved by the Student
Advisor.
All information is available in the (on-line) study guide. Please take the time to study this
closely.
The formal document describing the boundary conditions for a valid MSc
programme is the Onderwijs en Examen Regeling (OER), or (Course and Examination
Regulations). The OER can be downloaded (in English) from the Observatory website.
Generally, a Study Plan will have to be consistent with the options described in the OER.
It is however possible in individual case to deviate from this. However, this will require
explicit approval by the Board of Examiners.
3.4Staff,studentsandwho‐is‐who
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/org/
The following categories of scientific staff exist:

Tenured Faculty: Universitaire Docenten, Universitaire Hoofddocenten and
Hoogleraren correspond to Assistant, Associate and Full Professors. These do all
the teaching.

Postdoctoral Fellows (Postdocs): These are part of the Tijdelijke
Wetenschappelijke Staf (Temporary Scientific Staff) and are in Leiden usually for
periods of one to three years, having recently obtained their Ph.D. They are
generally supported by funds external to the University. They play no strong role
8 in the teaching programme, but may play a role in the daily supervision of
research projects.

Promovendi (Ph.D Candidates): Although equivalent to (post)graduate students
elsewhere, they are traditionally not considered to be “students” but rather junior
staff members. Ph.D candidates are also part of the Tijdelijke Wetenschappelijke
Staf (Temporary Scientific Staff). As part of their duties, they assist the Tenured
Faculty as Teaching Assistants (TAs).
Who are all these people? An (almost) up-to-date list can be accessed at the Sterrewacht
Website, and there is also a rogue’s gallery on the wall next to the staircase on the fourth
floor of the J.H. Oort building.
Web access:
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/org/people_byname.php
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/org/homepages.php
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/org/fotos/gallery/php
3.5StudyAssociationDeLeidscheFlesch
De Leidsche Flesch is the study association for students studying physics, astronomy,
mathematics or computer science in Leiden. Book sales, excursions, study trips,
(lunch)lectures, sport activities, symposia and informal gettogethers are only a few of the
activities organised by De Leidsche Flesch. Moreover, exams from previous years are
downloadable from their site. If you want more information about De Leidsche Flesch or
if you want to sign up as a member, you can visit the website www.deleidscheflesch.nl.
Membership is recommended. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyden_jar
3.6TheBuddySystemforInternationalStudents
In 2012 a Buddy system for international students has been set up. Each international
student gets assigned a ‘Buddy’ in the form of an international Ph.D student who also
followed the MSc programme in Astronomy at Leiden University. This Buddy is there for
help in getting settled in Leiden and Leiden Observatory in particular.
9 3.7MapoftheFaculty
Leiden Observatory is located at the Oort Building (number 2 on the map). As a
reference point: Central Station is located on the right side of the map. Please also have
a look on http://www.leidenuniv.nl/loc/index.html?lang=nl.
10 Appendix I Example study plans
ExampleI
Requirement
Mandatory Core Course (6 EC)
Two Other Core Courses (12 EC)
One Instrument-Related Course (6 EC)
Any Astronomy Courses (minimum 12
EC)
Non-Astronomy Courses (number of ECs
varies)
Courses
Stellar Structure and Evolution
Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Galaxies: structures, dynamics and evolution
Astronomy from Space
Radio Astronomy
Stellar Dynamics
Data Bases and Data Mining
Large Scale Structure and Galaxy Formation
Observational Cosmology
Introduction to Astro-Particle Physics
Particle Physics and the Early Universe
Theoretical Cosmology
Theory of General Relativity
Effective Field Theory
Science and the Public
Minor Project (24 EC)
Major Project (36 EC)
ExampleII
Requirement
Mandatory Core Course (6 EC)
Two Other Core Courses (12 EC)
One Instrument-Related Course (6 EC)
Any Astronomy Courses (12 EC)
Non-Astronomy Courses (24 EC)
Courses
Stellar Structure and Evolution
Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Interstellar Medium
Astronomy from Space
Star Formation
Astrochemistry
Large Scale Structure and Galaxy
Formation
Introduction to Astro-Particle Physics
Particle Physics and the Early Universe
Linear Analysis
Theory of General Relativity
Minor Project (24 EC)
Major Project (36 EC)
11 Appendix II - What does the first
week look like?
Importantdates
‐
The schedule for the entire year can be found on:
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/education/scheduleMSc.php
‐
All lectures are located in the Huygens Laboratory/Oort Building. Address: Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA, Leiden.
‐
Thursday 30th and Friday 31st of August 2012: Introduction days
Introduction days are organized centrally. If you wish to participate you can sign
up via: http://students.leiden.edu/pre-departure/induction-programme/2-dayintroduction-programme-closed.html
The Faculty of Science participates in this program on Thursday the 30th of
August 2012 from 10.00-13.30.
‐
Tuesday 4th of September: Introduction by Director of Studies
A short introduction will be given by the Director of Studies on Tuesday morning
the 4th of September 2012 in Room 414 of the Huygens Laboratory (Niels
Bohrweg 2, Leiden)
‐
Thursday afternoon September 6th: social activity for all new Astronomy MSc
students
‐
Thursday September 13th: Sterrewacht Science Day (De Sitterzaal, Hugyens
Laboratory)
An introduction day to the research groups and people of the Sterrewacht
12