Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time
Funding opportunities
Astrobiology and the planetary sciences are rigorous interdisciplinary subjects.
These subjects build on physics, chemistry, biology and geosciences to answer fundamental questions about living matter:
- how is it formed?
- how does it vary and evolve in unison with planets and stars?
- how is it distributed across time and space?
Planetary scientists investigate the origin, diversity and behaviour of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and solar systems. Together, these sciences offer a broad and satisfying perspective on our own place in the universe. In the context of space exploration, these sciences also have interesting policy, legal, and ethical implications.
On this programme you will develop:
- interdisciplinary skills and expertise
- confidence and autonomy in planning and executing research
- insight into contemporary debates
You will think critically about astrobiology and planetary science in their social contexts. You will discover how different scientific approaches address fundamental questions about life.
As a student on this programme you will be integrated into the UK Centre for Astrobiology. The Centre is one of the world's leading hubs for interdisciplinary astrobiology research. It has led and participated in many space missions and has reported significant discoveries.
You will be taught by leading national and international specialists from a wide range of research fields.
Your programme will be delivered through:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practical work, including computer- and laboratory-based tasks
Additionally, we offer a variety of student-focussed learning activities that will help you to develop:
- independent learning skills
- critical thinking skills
- skills in collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data
You will also have access to unique research equipment and instrumentation which you may use to complete your dissertation.
Dissertation
As well as the taught component, you will complete a three-month research project leading to a dissertation.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
By completing this programme you will gain a solid understanding of astrobiology and planetary science. This includes understanding of:
- methods
- missions
- instruments
This will allow you to contribute to contemporary debates on these matters and to view life in the universe from a new perspective.
Professional opportunities
The MSc in Astrobiology and Planetary Science will help you develop into a confident professional. We will equip you with the key skills you will need and help you identify and target suitable professional opportunities.
The programme provides a grounding for many potential career paths. This may include scientific research in areas of:
- planetary sciences
- astronomy
- geology
- biology and associated fields
You may also be able to pursue careers in:
- science
- pedagogy (teaching)
- outreach
- reporting
- media
- the civil service
Academic opportunities
Due to its focus on concepts and methods that cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries, this programme is useful if you want to pursue an academic career.
Our approach will equip you with excellent research skills and position you to be a competitive PhD applicant.
These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a natural science or related discipline.
We expect candidates to be highly numerate, with good results in quantitative subjects; and to be familiar with university-level concepts in at least two of the following subjects: physics (including geophysics, astrophysics, or biophysics), biology (including astrobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, palaeontology or evolution), chemistry (including geochemistry or biochemistry), planetary/geoscience, and astronomy.
In addition to explaining your interest in both planetary science and astrobiology, your personal statement should summarise your scientific background, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinarity: how have you engaged with areas of science that were outside the main focus of your undergraduate programme (or major).
Students from China
This degree is Band C.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Higgs Scholarships
The School of Physics and Astronomy is offering twelve scholarships to applicants who have applied to study full-time on any of the following programmes of study for the 2024-2025 academic session:
- MSc Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences
- MSc Mathematical Physics
- MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics
- MSc Theoretical Physics
Featured funding
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator, Irene Mariani
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5254
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Chancellor’s Fellow in Astrobiology, Dr. Sean McMahon
- Contact: sean.mcmahon@ed.ac.uk
- School of Physics and Astronomy
- University of Edinburgh
- James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road
- The King's Buildings Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH9 3FD
- School: Physics & Astronomy
- College: Science & Engineering
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences - 1 Year (Full-time)
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.
We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.
We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline.
We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.
If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:
- your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know, or
- your application is still being considered, will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline and we will be in touch once a decision is made
You must submit one reference with your application.
Admission to this degree includes an interview.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator, Irene Mariani
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5254
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Chancellor’s Fellow in Astrobiology, Dr. Sean McMahon
- Contact: sean.mcmahon@ed.ac.uk
- School of Physics and Astronomy
- University of Edinburgh
- James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road
- The King's Buildings Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH9 3FD
- School: Physics & Astronomy
- College: Science & Engineering