Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

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. Recent dissertation topics have included:

  • Microbiological analysis of samples collected by astronauts on the International Space Station
  • Molecular analysis of fossils of early life on Earth
  • Laboratory simulations of microbial ecosystems in impact craters
  • Modelling of exoplanet spectra to support future space telescope missions
  • Biotechnological approaches to sustainable human activity in space

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.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScAstrobiology and Planetary Sciences1 YearFull-timeProgramme 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 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

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 which 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 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 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:

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScAstrobiology and Planetary Sciences1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

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

Higgs Scholarships

Featured funding

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of Physics and Astronomy
  • University of Edinburgh
  • James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FD
Programme start date Application deadline
8 September 2025 31 August 2025

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

Due to high demand for this programme, we operate on a series 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 may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised 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
  • your application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we’ll be in touch once a decision is made

The final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.

Selection deadlines

Round Application deadline Decisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline
1 15 December 1 March
2 31 March 31 May
3 31 May 31 July

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

  • School of Physics and Astronomy
  • University of Edinburgh
  • James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FD