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BSc (Hons) / CertHE

Astronomy (Distance Learning)

Attendance

Location

Start

Duration

6 Years

Start

September 2023

Delivery

Distance Learning

This is distance learning in every sense – exploring the galaxy from your home. It’s a chance to indulge in your passion for astronomy and cosmology, taking your studies at your pace.

This astronomy course offers an opportunity to delve into astronomy in your own time – developing your understanding right from the start, all the way up to honours level.

Along the way, you’ll develop the full range of scientific skills through experimental and observational work, library research skills and report writing. While the learning materials are online, with assessments done at home, you will complete group projects with your fellow distance learners.

The course offers a flexible approach, where you build up modules over the years, for as long as you’re interested. You’ll have the chance to achieve a different qualification with each level you reach and, with a dissertation project after six or more years, you can achieve your BSc (Hons) degree.

Why study with us

1st
in the UK for academic support
National Student Survey (Physics and Astronomy) (compared with unis in the Guardian University Guide)
2023
6th
in the UK for overall positivity
National Student Survey (Physics and Astronomy) (compared with unis in the Guardian University Guide)
2023

You’ll have the chance to achieve a different qualification with each level you reach. If you complete a dissertation project after six or more years, you can achieve your BSc (Hons) degree.
This is the first and only distance-learning single subject Astronomy degree available from a UK university.
Study at your own pace – choosing how many modules to study each year. At first, you can even test the waters with individual modules.

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What you'll do

The course concentrates on the astronomical principles, avoiding complicated mathematics where it can.
You’ll have the chance to work with observations from our new £200,000 telescope for your dissertation.
You’ll study astronomy, cosmology, astrobiology and our Milky Way and galaxies beyond, drawing on the expertise of our staff with research interests in solar and stellar astrophysics, and galactic and extragalactic astronomy.

Module overview

Course delivery

This is a distance learning course which is taught entirely online with no face-to-face teaching.

100%Online

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Visit us this autumn

Discover our facilities, explore campus and talk to academic staff and students about the courses you want to study at one of our autumn Open Days.

Book an Open Day

Institute of Physics (IOP)

The BSc (Hons) in Astronomy is recognised by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and all graduates are eligible for Membership of the Institute. Students on the course are eligible for IOP digital student membership.

Future careers

While our BSc (Hons) Astronomy lets you explore your passions, it also offers the scientific skills and advanced understanding to enhance careers and open new possibilities such as postgraduate study.

You’ll complete 18 modules to achieve a BSc (Hons), but you can finish earlier with other awards, like a Certificate of Higher Education.

Since we launched this programme, we’ve supported many students through to becoming full graduates. While many studied the subject to indulge a personal interest in the subject, it has also helped enhance their professional prospects. Whatever the length and mode of your studies – an Astronomy qualification can pave the way to a range of careers options, from working in education or an observatory to science communication and public outreach.

For many of our graduates, this course has been a foundation to build upon with further study at postgraduate level. For example, one of our graduates went on to achieve a master’s degree before working on a PhD in Astronomy in South Africa.

Fees and funding

2023/24

Distance Part-time£975 per 20 credits

International

Distance Part-time£975 per 20 credits

2024/25

Distance Part-time£1,050 per 20 credits

International

Distance Part-time£1,050 per 20 credits

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Care-experienced and Estranged Student Graduation Bursary
A bursary to support students who are care-leavers or estranged from their family, to transition to employment of post-graduate study.
Find out more about Care-experienced and Estranged Student Graduation Bursary

This course is designed for part-time study, with modules made for distance learning.

All the materials you’ll need are delivered through our e-learning facility, while you’ll have tutorial support via online forums, virtual classrooms, email or phone. Each module has a dedicated tutor – with the course leader and other tutors supporting – who will provide regular support and feedback on your work.

You’ll complete your assessments from home, so there’s no need to visit exam centres or our campus. The coursework includes question sheets, essays and reports on practical work, which includes naked-eye observations, data analysis and experiments suitable for the home. While most of the modules have no attendance requirement, an optional observatory weekend is offered.

Most students start with a single module taken over a year, building up towards the degree in gradual steps. With various levels of award, you don’t have to commit to the full degree – allowing you to study for as long as you want.

All the modules on the course combine to form the BSc (Hons) degree. Alternatively, the Level 4 modules (equivalent to Year 1 of a full-time degree) offers a Certificate of Higher Education. The Level 6 modules (equivalent to Year 3 of a full-time degree) are only available on the BSc (Hons) degree programme.

Some modules are prerequisites for others, and you have to complete the lower levels before progressing. Not all modules run every year.

How to apply

Apply for this course via our online application system.

First-time users will need to create an account. This will allow you to create, edit and submit an online application.

Complete each section of the application as directed by the portal.
Remember to upload scans of your qualifications.
You do not need to supply an academic reference if you are applying for a Certificate, but you must if you apply for the CertHE or BSc Astronomy.
If you wish to study for two separate Certificates, you'll need to submit two separate applications. However, most of the information will be transferred automatically from your first application.

Even if you plan to move on later to advanced study, we ask you to start with Certificates initially. It will be possible for you to transfer onto one of the advanced awards at a later stage and modules studied as Certificates will be counted towards the advanced award.

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This course is based in the School of Engineering and Computing

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Astronomy (Distance Learning)

Why study with us

What you'll do

Module overview

Course delivery

Visit us this autumn

Institute of Physics (IOP)

Future careers

Fees and funding

Course Specific Optional Costs

Course Specific Optional Costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Care-experienced and Estranged Student Graduation Bursary

Learning and assessment

Enquiries and applications