Outreach

Call for 2025 Master's Programs

Santa María Tonantzintla, Puebla, March 20, 2025. Calls for applications were recently published for August 2025 for the various master's degree programs at the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics (INAOE), a center coordinated by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation.

INAOE offers master's degrees in Astrophysics, Optics, Electronics, Computational Sciences, Space Science and Technology, Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Security Sciences and Technologies, and Teaching of Exact Sciences.

Dr. Francisco Renero Carrillo, in charge of the Directorate of Academic Training, reported that INAOE's master's programs include programs with a research focus. These include the Institute's traditional areas—Astrophysics, Optics, Electronics, and Computer Science—and cross-cutting areas, with research profiles, as Space Science and Technology and Biomedical Science and Technology, with an industry-related profile, the Master's in Security Sciences and Technologies, and a teaching profile, a Master's in Teaching Exact Sciences.

The optics researcher also noted that applicants for INAOE master's programs must meet several requirements. The first, he commented, “is that they be restless, curious, and ask many questions to understand our environment and what happens beyond our planet and our galaxy. They should also preferably be self-taught, that is, they should learn things on their own. We also prefer that they be collaborative, that they know how to collaborate with each other. INAOE is a place where there are more than 160 researchers who know a great deal, and although those accepted into the master's programs will work in groups with 30 or 35 researchers, we suggest that they don't waste the other 130 by attending their talks, visiting their offices or laboratories, and asking questions in the hallways. INAOE is a place where knowledge is breathed, observed, and felt.”

Dr. Renero indicated that the admission process consists of several phases, the first being registration and receipt of documents. In this part of the process, administrative requirements must be met: “Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in the areas of sciences and engineering, and for Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, students can be graduates of Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, or Physical Therapy. All are welcome,” he emphasized.

Students must have a minimum GPA of 8 (or equivalent), a degree, and a valid ID: “If they do not have these documents, they must sign a letter of commitment addressed to the head of the Academic Services Department in which they agree to submit these documents within a maximum period of six months. This is strict. Failure to do so will result in their dismissal because there will be no way to complete the administrative process for issuing the master's degree certificate. Letters of recommendation are also required.”

The second phase of the admission process consists of the evaluation of applicants and has two options: admission through an exam or through preparatory courses: "This depends on the graduate program. Some graduate programs offer the option of taking the exam but no longer have the right to take the preparatory course; some allow both. The suggestion is to contact the faculty representatives."

Finally, Dr. Renero stated that INAOE is a unique place to study a graduate degree: "You won't find a place with researchers like those at INAOE. The best graduate programs in all fields, including parallel ones, are those at INAOE."

Applications for admission to INAOE's master's programs in August 2025 close on April 18.

For more information, visit https://posgrados.inaoep.mx/convocatorias