Planetary Science with Astronomy (BSc): 4-year, part-time course by evening study or distance learning
Programme status: Fully Approved
This is a very exciting time for planetary science, with new data being returned by spacecraft from the Moon, Mars, Venus and Saturn, with forthcoming missions to Jupiter, Pluto, several asteroids and a comet, and with planets now being discovered orbiting other stars. There is also considerable scientific interest in the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe. Learn more about all this and develop your knowledge of the solar system and its astronomical context. You can also study this course by distance learning, wherever you are in the world.
This course is also available over 3 years.
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Course structure
Take compulsory modules and take an optional field class in Year 1, 2 option modules in Year 2 and 6 option modules in Years 3 and 4.
Year 1
- Foundations of Astronomy
- Foundations of Mineralogy
- Geology of the Solar System I: Introduction to Planetary and Lunar Geology
- Introduction to Geochemistry
- Introduction to Geology
Year 2 - Compulsory modules
- Geology of the Solar System II: Beyond the Earth-Moon System
- Geophysics
- Igneous Petrology
- Introduction to Astrobiology
Year 2 - Option modules (2 from a range, including)
- Assessed Field Techniques 1
- Assessed Field Techniques 2
- Earth History
- Metamorphic Petrology
- Principles of Sedimentology
- Structural Geology I
Years 3 and 4 - Compulsory modules
- Advanced Topics in Planetary Science
- Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites
- Physics of the Sun
- Project BSc Planetary Science With Astronomy
- Volcanism in the Solar System
Years 3 and 4 - Option modules (6 from a range, including)
- Assessed Field Techniques 3
- Assessed Field Techniques 4
- Chemistry of the Earth's Surface Environment
- Earth's Resources and Raw Materials
- Exploration Geophysics
- Geological Hazards
- Magmatic Processes
- Structural Geology II
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Further study opportunities
We offer an MRes Earth Sciences.
Students who obtain first- or upper second-class degrees will be qualified to undertake PhD research in the earth or planetary sciences.
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Careers and employability
Graduates go on to careers in industry, in engineering and in education.
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Information about the academic department/school
We are part of the Joint Birkbeck/University College London (UCL) Research School of Earth Sciences, and our courses benefit from being taught by active researchers. We are also members of the UCL/Birkbeck Centre for Planetary Sciences. The Centre hosts a NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility, which contains an archive, unique in the UK, of NASA planetary science image data, and this will be used extensively for teaching and project work.
Find out more about our research facilities.
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Further details
Alternative programmes
If you already have a BA/BSc, you may want to consider taking one of our 1-2-year part-time Graduate Certificates instead. They can be used as preparation for Master's study by graduates in other subjects, and although you will still have to pay a higher fee, they can be completed more quickly than a BA/BSc.
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Apply now
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Application deadlines and interviews
We suggest you apply as early as possible.
Interviews by arrangement.
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Online application
Planetary Science with Astronomy (BSc): 4-year, part-time (Part-time)
Planetary Science with Astronomy (BSc): 4-year, part-time (Distance learning)
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Application deadlines and interviews
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Key Information Set
Welcome to Birkbeck, London's evening university: Consistently voted number 1 in London for teaching and student satisfaction in the UK National Student Surveys.
