Description
Designed for those with an academic or professional interest in space science, this qualification provides you with a wide-ranging overview of scientific measurement in the space environment and equips you with the skills required to carry out scientific investigations using space-based instrumentation, both individually and as a team.
Planning your studies
You should typically have
- a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in physics, astronomy, geosciences, chemistry, engineering or mathematics.
We’ll ask you to prove you have this when you register for Space science (S818). We will, however, consider applications from non-graduates with other relevant qualifications or experience.
We don’t require you to have previously studied space science or astronomy.
You can check if you’re ready for S818 with our self-assessed diagnostic – Are you ready for S818?
We recommend you have minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores of:
- Reading: 5.5
- Writing: 5.5
- Speaking: 5.5
- Listening: 5.5
- Overall: 6.0.
Our free course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, helps you develop the skills and confidence to manage the requirements and demands of postgraduate study.
How long it takes
Most students study the Postgraduate Certificate in Space Science part-time, completing 60 credits over one year. Typically, this means 18 study hours each week.
You must complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Space Science within two years.
Career relevance and employability
This qualification is directly relevant to scientific and technical careers in the space sector. It is particularly relevant to roles that are concerned with acquisition, handling and interpretation of data obtained by space-based instrumentation.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits as follows:
60 credits from:
| Module |
Credits |
Next start |
- Space science (S818)
This module provides an in-depth introduction to the methods of conducting scientific measurements in the space environment and the technologies needed for space missions.
See full description
|
60 |
Jan 2026 |
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Certificate in Space Science. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Cert SpS (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification