PhD School on Astrophysics
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course where 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students at other faculties and universities. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Aim and Content
This course aims to equip participants with the tools necessary to connect theory to observations in the new era of gravitational physics, with a timely focus on gravitational waves (GWs), black hole physics, including strong-gravity dynamics and information theory. The goal is to cover topics not traditionally taught in standard graduate courses, thereby further preparing participants with new interdisciplinary approaches to learning from incoming data, especially from the GW observatory, LIGO, and the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). The invited lecturers are internationally renowned experts in our proposed subjects and will both provide introductory lectures and offer participants a unique view of the research frontiers that currently define this burgeoning field of gravitational physics.
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course:
Knowledge:
• The students are expected to have a basic understanding of theoretical physics, with a preferred direction and interest in gravity, particle, and astrophysics, at the MSc level. In the course, they will receive instruction on the tools and modern approaches necessary to connect theory to current and planned observations, especially of gravitational waves and other strong-gravity-field phenomena.
Skills:
• The students are expected to gain an understanding of topics that are currently the focus of active observational efforts in gravitational physics. Emphasis will be on probing black hole physics and their astrophysical origin through observations from the LIGO gravitational-wave detector network. Students improve their skills through topical introductions and an overview of the field's current state and the open questions it faces.
Competences:
• The students are also encouraged to gain new knowledge and improve their presentational skills by presenting talks on their current research projects. The students will be introduced to active research questions in the field, as well as interdisciplinary techniques to connect the many fields and directions of the importance of gravitational physics throughout cosmic time.
Target Group
International PhD students, exceptional master students who are applying for or has accepted an international Ph.D. position.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
MSc degree in astrophysics or particle physics
Research Area
Particle Physics, astrophysics, gravitational physics
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, exercise sessions, student talks
Type of Assessment
Active participation in lecture teaching sessions, participation in student talks
Literature
All lecturers at the school will provide background material and make the content of their lectures available to students.
Course coordinator
Associate Professor N. Emil J. Bjerrum-Bohr
Guest Lecturers
Professor Netta Engelhardt, MIT
Professor Ira Rothstein, Carnegie Mellon
Professor Sylvia Biscoveanu, Princeton
Dates
7 – 11 December 2026
Course location
Niels Bohr Institute
Registration
Motivated application and support letter.
Deadline for registration
15 November 2026
Course fee and participant fee
PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types.
In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee.
If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant
type - and in addition to the course fee.
Course fee
• Participant fee: DKK 0
• PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: DKK 3.000
• PhD student from foreign university: DKK 3.000
• Master's student from Danish university: DKK 0
• Master's student from foreign university: DKK 3.000
• Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): DKK 3.000
• Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): DKK 8.400
Cancellation policy
Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.
Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000
Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000
Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000