Overview

Career Outcomes

Students who complete this science course will have an understanding of the fundamental concepts of and key issues in contemporary astronomy. The course will be of value to science educators and others working in science and astronomy related fields. It should be noted that postgraduate coursework degrees in astronomy are not professional qualifications.

Eligibility

Academic 
Tertiary qualification(s) from a recognised university or approved equivalent.

Work Experience 
Non-graduate applicants with substantial relevant experience may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate. To progress to the Graduate Diploma, these students must obtain at least a credit average (>65%) in the Graduate Certificate, subject to approval of the course coordinator. 

English Language Requirement 
International students require an IELTS of 7. 

 

How to Apply

This course is restricted. Students are required to apply and be approved by Swinburne University before they can enrol in units through OUA.

Applications for the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Science are due 2 weeks prior to the close of enrolment.

Please complete the application form below.

1. Read information requirements

   • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

   • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

     Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

     If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

     Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

   • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

     If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Swinburne University of Technology directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

   • Next steps:

     After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

     Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

     If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

2. Prepare supporting documents

   • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

     1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
     2. Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
     3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
     4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
     5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
     6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
     7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

     A "certified" copy is a copy bearing the recognised mark of a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Oaths or declarations, Public Notary or a Solicitor.

   • Create an electronic copy of your attachments:

     For each certified document, scan and save it on your computer. Save your curriculum vitae to your computer, then get ready to upload all documents in the form.

   • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Study Materials

Custom-made course material is delivered online with accompanying downloadable PDF files. The course material includes animations and applets, as well as links to a unique set of astronomical resources. Students are not required to have access to a telescope for any units.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Science (Astronomy) students must complete 12 units.

The course is nested, incorporating a Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy) of 4 units and a Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) of 8 units.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

Swinburne University RPL Higher Education policy applies and will be granted subject to approval of the Course Coordinator.

Recommended Study Pattern

Master of Science (Astronomy) students must complete three core units plus at least one major project unit and select eight electives from the list below.

There is no specific recommended study sequence; however, some units have prerequisites that need to be met. Students may choose to work their way through the nested course or enrol directly into the Masters.

Several elective units in the Graduate Diploma and Master of Science have prerequisites of university level 1 mathematics and physics. Students without university level mathematics and physics may apply for the Graduate Certificate in Science, as units in this award do not have any prerequisites.

Students without university level mathematics and physics who wish to complete the advanced units must complete MAS120 Applied Mathematics and SCI16 Introduction to Physics (or their equivalent) as non-award units before beginning the Graduate Diploma and Masters units.
 

Related Courses

This course sits within a group of courses, giving you the flexibility to study towards different levels of qualification. The courses are listed from the highest to the lowest qualification.

• Master of Science (Astronomy)
• Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy)
• Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy)

Course Structure