Astronomy Space Science and Astrophysics with a Foundation Year
Astronomy, space science and astrophysics together constitute one of humanity's oldest and most ambitious intellectual endeavours, seeking to understand the universe from the scale of individual atoms through to the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Astronomy describes and catalogues what we observe in the night sky and with modern telescopes. Astrophysics applies the laws of physics to explain what we observe, from the nuclear reactions that power stars to the dynamics of galaxies and the expansion of the universe itself.
Space science extends this to the exploration of the solar system, planetary science and the environments that spacecraft encounter.
At the University of Kent this four-year, full-time programme begins with a dedicated foundation year that builds the physics and mathematics knowledge needed for entry to these demanding scientific degrees. You will develop a thorough grounding in classical and modern physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics and quantum physics, before progressing to the specialist astrophysical content in the main degree. You will study stellar structure and evolution, cosmology, planetary science, observational astronomy and the computational and numerical methods used to model complex astronomical systems, developing both theoretical understanding and practical data analysis skills.
Kent's physics and astrophysics programme offers access to specialist facilities and a teaching culture that connects you to active research.
Graduates of astrophysics and space science programmes pursue careers in academic research, space agencies, the growing commercial space sector, defence and intelligence, meteorology, data science and technology, finance and scientific communication. Many continue to postgraduate study, including research degrees in astrophysics, physics, planetary science or space systems engineering. The highly transferable quantitative and analytical skills the degree develops are valued by employers well beyond the immediate scientific field.