Astrophysics with Foundation Year Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)

Foundation Year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year. This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

International Students

For International Students, Foundation Years are delivered through our dedicated on-campus provider, Keele University International College. Applications for International Foundation Years are also handled by KUIC; please do not apply via UCAS as the University will not be able to process your application and you may still be charged the UCAS application fee. To find out more and to apply for an International Foundation Year, visit https://kuic.keele.ac.uk/

Astrophysics

From the discovery of extrasolar planets, to the study of gravitational wave events and the evolution of the universe, you'll deepen your curiosity and develop a solid foundation of astrophysical knowledge on our 4 year integrated masters programme, gaining the advanced research, professional, practical and employability skills to pursue PhD study or employment in a wide variety of industrial sectors.

Why choose Astrophysics at Keele?

* Astrophysics ranked Top 5 in England (NSS 2025, broad-based universities)\*

* Core practical, academic and employability modules develop the skills to succeed as a professional astrophysicist

* Individual, advanced projects will develop your skills of scientific inquiry, allowing you to make your mark as a researcher

* Engage with frontier material informed by the interests of our world-class research teams

* Gain the master's level research skills to get ahead in industry or academia

In your first year on our Astrophysics degree, you will gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of physics, including gravitation, relativity and matter, electricity, magnetism and waves. You will also begin to develop the skills and practical experience that underpin this programme, including computer programming with python, laboratory work, mathematical skills required to understand and analyse physical phenomena, and the arts of problem-solving and scientific writing. An introductory module in astronomy explores planets, stars and galaxies, and the tools and techniques that Astronomers use to investigate them. You will make your own measurements at our [on-campus observatory](https://www.keele.ac.uk/observatory/).

Year two continues to build on your understanding in the principle of physics with exploration of optics, quantum mechanics and nuclear physics.

In year three you will have the opportunity to apply skills developed during your degree to an independent astrophysics research project.

About Keele

Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.

We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.

Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.