Hello Kapil,

Aerospace engineering is a more practical and technical subject as compared to astrophysics which involves observational physics. Know about your strengths and also your passion. If you want to study deeper concepts of physics using scientific laws, mathematical studies then astrophysics is better.

You can pursue any degree if you have the necessary prerequisites for the degree program.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): offers a full-time PhD programme. Eligible candidates with an M.Sc. degree in Physics or Maths or M.Tech. in any Engineering discipline or candidates with a B.E. /B. Tech degree can apply for the entrance exam conducted in November every year.

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA): Candidates having an M.Sc. in Physics / Applied Mathematics / Astronomy / Computer Science or a Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or technology with an adequate background in physics and mathematics can apply. Selection is made in July through a written test followed by an interview and the selected candidates are required to clear the CSIR / UGC-NET / GATE exam within one year of admission to the PhD if he/she has not done so already.

Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST): conducted at an all India level every year in the month of February for admission as Junior Research Fellows in the PhD programme. The institutes taking admission through this test are:

Harish- Chandra Research Institute (Formerly Mehta Research Institute of Mathematics & Mathematical Physics)

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore

Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar

Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune

Inter-University Consortium for DAE Facilities (IUC-DAEF), Indore

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore

National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS); Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA); Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Pune

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad

Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore

SN Bose Centre for Basic Natural Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata

The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc.), Chennai.

A few more universities that offer Astronomy & Astrophysics specialization at M.Sc., and a PhD programme are:

Punjabi University

Osmania University - Full M.Sc. Course in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) etc.

Also, autonomous Research Institutes like RRI, NCRA, TIFR, PRL, UPSO, ISRO offer a PhD programme after a selection through interviews, usually in July every year.

Joint Astronomy Programme is of one-year duration, conducted at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore, jointly by IIA, RRI and TIFR. M.Sc., B.E., & B.Tech. degree holders are invited to apply for selection in July through an interview. After the completion of the course, candidates are offered the opportunity for completing their PhD at one of the participating institutes.

The following opportunities are open for a career in Astronomy & Astrophysics:

Research Scientist: Several research institutes and government organizations employ research scientists for research-oriented programmes.

2. University Faculty: in physics departments, for specialisation in Astronomy & Astrophysics

3. Industry: Experience with sophisticated astronomical instrumentation and the expertise gained in computer programming and handling data can serve as valuable assets for jobs in the industry.

All the Best.