Planetary Sciences (Graduate Certificate): 2-Year

This is a very exciting time for planetary science, with new data being returned by spacecraft from planets within our own solar system and thousands of planets now being discovered orbiting other stars. There is also growing scientific interest in the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe.

If you have an undergraduate degree in earth sciences, geology or a related field but want to increase your knowledge of planetary sciences, then our Graduate Certificate in Planetary Sciences will bring you up to date with developments in the field. The specialist knowledge you acquire could help you change career, build a career within the field of planetary sciences or education or enable you to progress onto graduate research at PhD level.

You will be taught by academics who are actively engaged in cutting-edge planetary research that is expanding the boundaries of knowledge. We cover planetary surfaces and remote sensing, volcanic activity on Earth and other planets, the nature of comets, asteroids and meteorites, and the internal structure and origin of planets. We also offer advanced modules in astronomy, scientific computing and the design of, and participation in, an analogue field mission. You can choose from a range of modules and design a programme that matches, expands and deepens your particular interests.

Our teaching philosophy is based around flexibility, allowing you to fit the certificate around your lifestyle. We embrace new technology and methods to make learning accessible to all and have been running remote as well as face-to-face lectures for more than 20 years. This means you can attend classes with our internationally distinguished researchers in our world-class laboratories in London or you can watch live streams/recorded lectures at home using our cutting-edge online teaching platform. You are free to mix both these methods to find the best balance for you.