Where can I study for an astronomy degree?

[RugbyRene]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had recommendations on where to study for an undergraduate degree in physics/astronomy.

I work full time so would like to study part time and online. My interests lie in physics and astronomy.

Rene

[Atmos]

I believe it is Monash that do the only undergraduate in Astrophysics. At least last time I checked they were the only ones.

Swinburne do a Masters of Astrophysics via research but it doesn't exactly hold a lot of standing if you're planning on moving towards a PhD.

[Saturn488]

I have noticed there isn't really much opportunity in this field in Australia. Maybe because jobs are very limited? I would love to persue a career in this field too.

[Atmos]

A lot of the careers within Australia are in radio astronomy so if that is where your passion is then there could be a fair bit of job opportunities but if you like other things then it can be a little more difficult.

[jahnpahwa]

ANU?
https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2020/major/ASTR-MAJ

[glend]

Being realistic, if your aiming for a career and/or research etc then you will need a PHD from a recognised international university. Sadly, the opportunities are not available in Australia. Even in radio astronomy, there would only ever be a handful of jobs here.

[RugbyRene]

I checked both ANU and Monash and I can’t see where they offer as online option for studying a Bachelor of Science.

Also I’m not doing it for a career, purely because I want to as I have an interest in the subject.

The only universities I’ve found that offer an online BSc are Charles Sturt & Uni of South Queensland. Unfortunately CSU changed their degree structure from last year and it's no longer an option so my only choice is USQ.

So I was hoping I’d missed a few and had more options than just one.

Rene

[Crater101]

The University of Adelaide has a Bachelor in Space Science and Astrophysics (B.Sc.); USQ you already know about; Macquarie University also has a Bachelors degree in "Advanced Science" with a specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics (not an easy course, from what little I've heard). RMIT in Melbourne has a Bachelor of Space Science, and the Australian National University has a B. Sc. with a specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics.



If you want to go further, the University of NSW has a Master of Space Operations degree, and Swinburne University have graduate certificate / diploma / Masters courses in Science (astromomy).


So there are a few out there. SOME of them offer online options with a section of later on-campus coursework, so choose carefully. Good Luck!

[gary]

Hi Rene,

Suggest you also drop a PM to spacezebra (Petra) who has just graduated
from USQ with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Astronomical and
Space Sciences :-
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=410

As far as career opportunities beyond that in Australia :-

Australia is at the forefront of radioastronomy and there is the
CSIRO radiophysics campus at Marsfield here in Sydney.
In fact this is the place that WiFi was invented.

There is also the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR)
headquartered in Perth currently building the world's largest
radiotelescope in conjunction with the SKA consortium.

The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in WA will also be housing one of the world's
most powerful supercomputers to process the mind-boggling amounts of data
flowing from the SKA. More data will pass through it at any one moment than the
entire Internet does today.
https://pawsey.org.au/pawsey-and-the-ska/

Australia is also at the absolute forefront of instrumentation building
for optical telescopes and Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) are sited
at Macquarie University. They are currently building advanced
robotic instrumentation for ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and
GMTO's Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) as well as for the Subaru
Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, for both Gemini north in Chile
and Gemini South in Hawaii, for the Eastern Anatolia Observatory
in Turkey and both the AAO and UKST here in Australia.

In fact the enormous experience and expertise of the instrumentation
builders at the AAO is the key to the cheap membership ticket Australian
astronomers get to be able to access the giant ESO telescopes.

[Saturn488]

Also the problem is for those who want a career change like myself are currently working full time and there is no chance of doing anything uni astrnomy related via the cloud/online.

It will need some dedication of going back to full time study and maybe going casual/part time with a reduction in income.

If income wasn't the issue I would do it in a heartbeat!

[CarlJoseph]

If it’s purely for self interest and not for a career, then the Swinburne degree is pretty good. They do a Grad Cert, Dip, Masters so you’ll have to have some undergrad, but it doesn’t have to be in science. It won’t lead you to a PhD though if that’s what you’re after.

They cover a wide range of topics in astronomy, and touch on a little astrophysics where required.

https://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/course/Master-of-Science-(Astronomy)-MA-SASTRO/local