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Science is all around us, challenging conventional wisdom and shaping our future. It’s a rewarding area to study both personally and professionally. Apart from enhancing your understanding of the world, studying towards a science qualification contributes to your intellectual development, with the added and fascinating dimension of discovery. Taking a postgraduate science course also offers the possibility of improving society’s well-being and outlook. As a professional scientist you could be instrumental, for example, in combating hunger in third-world countries, developing new medicines, or protecting the planet’s biodiversity.

Our postgraduate awards in Science offer an opportunity to pursue some of contemporary science’s most pressing issues, using the innovative teaching methods pioneered by The Open University and developing a wide range of skills associated with masters-level study.

With many areas of scientific research advancing at a rapid rate, the demand for skilled graduates is growing. With a science qualification at postgraduate level your opportunities will widen even further, with the potential to rise to the top of your profession and significantly increase your lifetime earnings.

Browse this website and discover the wide variety of postgraduate courses in science, designed to help you work towards the qualification of your choice.

Where to start in Science

Our postgraduate awards are modular and in general there is no set order in which to study the taught courses.  However if you go on to take MSc project module (S810) as part of any of our MSc awards, please note that this should not be tackled until you have completed at least one of the taught courses to which it relates

Taught Masters

  • Earth Science
    Explore current aspects of Earth Science investigating how different feedback mechanisms and forces within the Earth’s core and mantle, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere are dependent upon each other and interact at a variety of temporal and spatial scales.
  • Medical Physics
    Explore aspects of medical physics, in particular medical imaging and the physics of radiotherapy, while developing a wide range of skills associated with masters-level study.
  • Science
    Delve into some of the most pressing debates at the frontiers of contemporary science and medicine with this MSc, and tailor a study profile choosing from a wide range of specialist options.
  • Science and Society
    Pursue contemporary issues in science communication, science education and public engagement with science – while developing a wide range of skills associated with masters-level study.

Courses in Science

See the list of all our individual courses in Science.

Postgraduate research degrees

For information about postgraduate research degrees, visit the Research Degree pages.

Undergraduate options

See the list of undergraduate courses and qualifications in Science.

Spotlight on Science

'An academic lifeline'

’The OU’s MSc Science programme has been an academic lifeline for me. Living in a number of European countries over the last few years, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my postgrad studies without the OU. Now, with a toddler, studying with the OU allows me to look after my daughter while studying for a masters degree.’ Louise Emsell, MSc student.

An academic writing career

‘Having completed the masters at the end of 2004, I am now an OU tutor myself, and I’m also self-employed as an academic writer, putting all I’ve done towards assignments and assessments into practice, but getting paid for it this time!!’ Isabella Brown.

 

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