Program Overview

The MSc in Space Engineering at Aberystwyth University is the perfect choice for graduates with a first degree in a STEM subject who wish to develop knowledge and skills relevant to Space Exploration. You will be taught by experts in Space Science and Technology and will be given the opportunity to undertake project work alongside active researchers who are members of international teams and space missions studying the Sun, the Moon, planets and exoplanets.

In the UK the space sector aims to achieve a 10% share of the estimated £400 billion per annum global space market by 2030, and here in Wales, the target is a 5% market share (Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation, 2022). As such there is an ongoing need for suitably qualified and technically competent engineering graduates within the space and allied sectors. Designed to meet the needs of students pursuing a career in research as well as those seeking to expand their professional skills for a career in industry, this course will prepare you for a successful career in the UK and international space agencies, defence sectors and allied fields. 

An MSc in Space Engineering will give you the opportunity to tackle the challenges of Space Exploration. You will undertake project work alongside active researchers whose global reach makes this a truly international course that crosses continents. Staff expertise in modelling, visualisation, ground-based experimentation and space instrumentation (with specialisms in photonics and robotics) are also core features of this exciting new course that brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience that cuts across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business at the University.

The range of modules available provides you with a fundamental knowledge of the Solar System and beyond and an appreciation of the technology and skills required to explore extra-terrestrial space, including design, observation, measurement, analysis, communication and project management.  

Aberystwyth researchers are at the forefront of space exploration, with involvement in missions from the Sun to Saturn, and now even beyond with our exoplanet research. With strategic relationships with the UK Space Agency and international space agencies, such as the European Space Agency, we are well placed in the sector for involvement in future space exploration missions and to provide industry contacts for our students.