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The University of Edinburgh: Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
| Study type | Taught |
MSc
Summary
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.
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | King's Buildings West Mains Rd Edinburgh EH9 3JW |
Summary
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.
**Learning outcomes**
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.
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | King's Buildings West Mains Rd Edinburgh EH9 3JW |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 27th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Our …
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