External summary

Educational aims of programme

• To provide a solid conceptual understanding of astrobiology and planetary science including the origin and diversity of planetary bodies in our solar system and in others, the origin of life, habitability, life in extremes, biosignatures, and evolution, enabling them to contribute intelligently to contemporary debates on these matters and to view life in the universe from a stimulating new perspective.
• To provide a thorough grounding in the practice of contemporary astrobiology and planetary science, including methods, missions and instruments; debates and controversies; and the wider social and institutional contexts in which astrobiologists and planetary scientists work (e.g., career pathways, research funding).
• To provide a powerful interdisciplinary training that enables students from diverse scientific backgrounds to see how their home discipline is connected with other areas of research scholarship, and to use a wide variety of tools for gathering, interpreting, and critically evaluating scientific data.
• To develop students into confident professionals ready for further (e.g., doctoral) study and employment in astrobiology, planetary sciences, and other fields by equipping them with key scientific, quantitative, research, critical thinking and presentation skills, and by helping them to identify and successfully target suitable professional opportunities.
• To enable students to reflect critically on the historical, cultural and social contexts in which astrobiology and planetary science are practised, with a particular focus on the interactions between scientific results, popular/artistic speculation, ethics, law, and the assumptions and ideas that scientists bring to their work.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

• A sound conceptual understanding of the key results and ideas in astrobiology and planetary science including the origin and diversity of planetary bodies in our solar system and in others, the origin of life, habitability, life in extremes, biosignatures, and evolution.
• An interdisciplinary outlook combining sufficient knowledge of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and geology to understand the most centrally important contemporary debates in astrobiology and planetary science.
•  Methodological expertise across a range of instruments, experimental approaches and measurement tools used in astrobiology and planetary science, including a sound grasp of the underlying physical principles and principles for data handling and analysis.
• A broad and useful understanding of the interactions between astrobiology, planetary science and space exploration on the one hand and contemporary social and cultural forces on the other hand.
• A good understanding of the career paths available in astrobiology and planetary science through space agencies, academic research, and the private sector.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

• Collect, analyse, and synthesise evidence from a wide range of primary and secondary sources applicable to the study of astrobiology and planetary science. 
• Evaluate and critique the published work of astrobiologists and planetary scientists. 
• Formulate scientific arguments and hypotheses emerging from the study of astrobiology and planetary science and anticipate how they may be tested. 
• Create new syntheses by the submission of independent research work.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

• Autonomously organise and understand complex and interdisciplinary data; summarise, interpret, and critique the work of others in order to reach conclusions.
• Analyse and explain key processes in planetary and biological systems.
• Know how to apply techniques to understand phenomena of interest to astrobiologists and planetary scientists
• Formulate, investigate and discuss critical current issues in these fields.
• Work independently in field and laboratory-based environmental investigations.
• Display creativity, flexibility, confidence and adaptability in solving problems.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

• Formulate a coherent written or oral presentation on the basis of material gathered (e.g., textual, numerical, verbal, graphical) and organised independently on a given topic.
• Express ideas and arguments confidently and clearly, both orally and in writing and in digital media.
• Use group discussions and joint seminar presentations to research and present work collaboratively.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

• Collaborate efficiently and productively with others in the process of learning and presenting conclusions; this includes those with a range of backgrounds and knowledge bases such as fellow-students, tutors and supervisors.
• Organise their own learning, manage workload and work to a timetable (through the programme as a whole);
• Effectively plan, and possess the confidence to undertake and to present scholarly work that demonstrates an understanding of the aims, methods and theoretical considerations relevant to astrobiology.
• Work independently on the creation of essays, research-based dissertations and professional-level reports using the standards current in the academic fields of astrobiology and planetary sciences.
• Argue and communicate research findings with clarity, logic and coherence.
• Explain complex issues to both scientists and lay persons (many of the courses require written explanations in examination questions or presentations; presentations suitable for lay people will be required for the compulsory course Social Dimensions of Astrobiology and Space Exploration, which will also provide ample opportunity to reflect on issues in the public communication of science).

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

• Interpret astrobiology and planetary science information;
• Use planetary science data to assess habitability and conditions for life;
• Use appropriate resources (library, internet) for information/data retrieval;
• Communicate their science via reports and oral presentations; 
• Use appropriate theoretical, laboratory and numerical techniques to acquire, process, visualise, analyse and model data; 
• Combine, integrate and synthesise complex and diverse sets of data to test hypotheses rigorously;
• Assess uncertainty in data and deal rigorously with sparse and incomplete datasets.

Programme structure and features

The programme structure is a full time, 180 credit point taught Scottish MSc degree and is fully compliant with the University???s Curriculum Framework and Scottish Qualification Framework.

The minimum entry requirement is a good 2:1 (or equivalent) degree in a natural science or cognate discipline. We also assess candidates based on a personal statement discussing why they are interested in the programme and outlining any previous experience with science subjects outside the main focus of their undergraduate programme (such as minors or research experience). Shortlisted candidates are interviewed to ensure that their quantitative and cross-disciplinary skills are sufficient for a good experience on our programme.

As judged by their degree subjects, degree classifications, transcripts, personal statements, and interviews (if possible), successful applicants are: (1) highly numerate, with good results in quantitative subjects; (2) demonstrably familiar with university-level concepts in at least two of the following subjects: physics (including geophysics, astrophysics, or biophysics), biology (including astrobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, palaeontology or evolution), chemistry (including geochemistry or biochemistry), planetary/geoscience, and astronomy.

English language requirements are the same as for other MSc programmes in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

The programme conforms to the SCQF and University of Edinburgh curriculum framework requirements for a taught postgraduate Masters with 180 credits in total. There are 20 or 30 taught credits at SCQF level 10 (depending on student choice). All other credits are at level 11 including the 60 credit dissertation course.

Progression to the dissertation requires pass marks above 50% in at least 80 points of taught courses, and an average mark of at least 50% over all 120 points. A PG Diploma is awarded to students with pass marks above 40% in at least 80 points of taught courses, and an average mark of at least 40% over all 120 points.  

At this stage, this programme is being offered for full-time, on-campus study only.

The following courses are compulsory:

Students must also choose exactly one of:

Students must also choose 30 or 40 credits from:

Students must also take 0 or 10 credits from any other Science and Engineering course at Level 10 or 11 (from Schedules K?????Q).   This leads to 120 taught credits overall, with advice to split them 60-60 (or nearly) across the two semesters. Students must also complete a 60-credit Astrobiology Dissertation (P&A, Sem 2, Level 11)

This structure has been carefully designed to provide: (1) a set of core courses that meets the core educational aims of the programme and consolidates ideas and methods touched on in other courses; (2) a degree of flexibility to allow students from different backgrounds to sample unfamiliar areas of science, with a focus on courses that immerse students in the use of transferable research skills; (3) a choice between two planetary science courses suited for students with more quantitative/physics-heavy vs. more environmental or bioscience-focused backgrounds; (4) an opportunity for postgraduate level research leading to a dissertation.

Equality and Diversity

Our programme takes full account of the School, College and University???s commitment to promoting Equality and Diversity.  The School is an active participant in the Institute of Physics JUNO project with ???Champion??? status where we monitor and report on the equality and diversity across the whole School including activities of academic staff, research staff, post and undergraduate students. The School also has an Athena SWAN Silver award. It has a Committee that meets bimonthly to discuss all issues relating to Equality and Diversity within the School, including those affecting taught postgraduate students.

Our programme welcomes students from all backgrounds. As with undergraduate accommodations, we plan to make written and audiovisual accommodations available to students with diverse learning needs. The taught content of our programme also explicitly addresses equality, diversity and inclusion in astrobiology and work in space ??? this is a key cross-cutting theme (with dedicated sessions and reading materials) in the new Social Dimensions in Astrobiology and Space Exploration course, compulsory for all students on the programme. This course has been developed in collaboration with Dr Jarita Holbrook, a noted specialist in African cultural astronomy who is also actively engaged in research on the lived experiences of underrepresented astrophysicists, identity, discrimination and the processes of inclusion and exclusion in astrophysics, with a particular focus on gender and sexual diversity as well as hidden and visible disabilities in academic and non-academic careers.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Depending on the precise balance of course options chosen, about 65% of the teaching and learning time is used for independent and directed learning, 20% for lectures and seminars, 10% for workshops and practicals and about 5% for fieldwork, summative assessment, and programme-level teaching and learning.

Teaching and Learning strategies are tailored to meet the overall aims of the programme. The taught component is provided by leading national and international specialists across a diverse range of research fields. It is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials and practicals including computer- and lab-based tasks, and it is complemented by student-focussed learning activities for independent learning, critical thinking, and the collection, analysis, evaluation, synthesis, and presentation of data. Students have access to the university library facilities and all recommended reading material, as well as to unique research equipment and instrumentation which they may use to complete their dissertations.

Specific activities vary depending on course content and the students are supported throughout with opportunities for discussion and feedback on performance. In many courses, feedback is provided on writing samples and problem sets.

We recognise that the cross-disciplinary nature of the programme and its recruits poses particular challenges for effective learning and teaching. Our programme is carefully designed to meet these challenges through a combination of flexible course choice, tailored advice from programme directors and student advisers, and synoptic consolidation in the core courses, particularly the new courses Astrobiology: Theory and Astrobiology: Methods. This strategy enables all students to meet the learning objectives of the programme.

Innovative Learning Week
The University of Edinburgh Innovative Learning Week is scheduled in Week 6 of Semester 2.  During this week ???normal??? teaching is suspended, providing the opportunity for staff and students to explore new learning activities.  Some examples of the types of activities held in Physics and Astronomy are workshops, peer assisted learning activities, public engagement activities and careers events.

Assessment methods and strategies

Career opportunities

This programme leads to a number of possible career directions and these are outlined below. We also note that the Astrobiology: Methods course includes class time focused on the career pathways open to our graduates.

1)    Students seeking a broad-based scientific education for any analytical or science-based career will find astrobiology an exceptionally good vehicle for deriving these skills. An exciting programme looking at all facets of life in the universe and combining multiple traditional disciplines does not require that students do astrobiology afterwards. The subject matter lends itself to considering controversies in science and society in their widest sense. This Masters provides that opportunity. 

2)    Students wishing to pursue academic careers will find this programme enlightening and useful in its focus on concepts and methods cutting across traditional disciplinary boundaries. This approach together with the dissertation course equips students to be good and innovative scientists with excellent research skills including the use of numerous technical methods, well placed to be competitive PhD applicants.

3)    Students seeking careers in industry, and particularly the space industry, will find the wide range of questions and ideas, as well as practical methodologies, discussed in this course of immense value for setting themselves up to address the scope of challenges, scientific and technical, to be found in the space industry. We note that previous research students in our group have included engineers working on new sensor technologies who have gone on to successful careers in engineering.

4)    Students seeking to work in education, outreach/public communication, journalism, scientific publishing or editorial work, and the scientific civil service will benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of our programme, which brings together several scientific disciplines and reveals their underlying unity while also exploring the social dimensions of astrobiology and planetary science. By combining biology, planetary science, physics, chemistry, and even some ideas from the social sciences and humanities, our programme aims to help students understand more of the world around them. This puts them in good stead to communicate scientific methods and results clearly, confidently and accurately to others.

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