Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy)

View course information for local students.
Am I a You are a local student if:
you are an Australian citizen, or
you are a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), or
you are an Australian permanent resident.
You are an international student if:
you are not an Australian citizen, and
you are not a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), and
you are not an Australian permanent resident.local or an international student?
This information is for international students.

Overview
Course in detail
Entry requirements
Apply

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) comprises eight units of study which are completed online and which cover the fundamental concepts and ‘big questions’ of modern astronomy.

Duration	6 Month/s
Course code	S058
CRICOS code	Online
Fees*	A$14,000 (total for 2013)*

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Related courses

Course description

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) is part of a nested suite of programs which includes the Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy) and Master of Science (Astronomy) with different entry points depending upon previous academic studies and work experience.

This program aims to equip students with a good overall understanding and general knowledge about modern astronomy, rather than training as a professional astronomer. The intention of the graduate diploma program is to provide scope for more specialist study in astronomy, plus opportunities for major project work, while still maintaining an emphasis on learning about the fundamental concepts and ‘big questions’ of modern astronomy.

Course structure

The Graduate Diploma requires the completion of eight units of study for a total of 100 credit points. Students must complete three core units as part of the program requirements.

As the course is offered in a fully online mode, there are no traditional formal contact hours involving lectures, tutorials, laboratories etc. However, students will be required to work through the course material (supplied on CD-ROM or via the internet), undertake required readings from textbooks and the internet, contribute regularly to assessable asynchronous newsgroup discussions, as well as undertake assignments and project work. The equivalent student contact hours for each unit of study is five hours per week during academic semesters.

After successful completion of the Graduate Diploma units, students may exit with the Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy), or progress to the Master of Science (Astronomy).

Units of study

Choose eight units of study from the following:
Semester 1
HET602 Exploring the Solar System(core)
HET603 Exploring Stars and the Milky Way (core)
HET607 History of Astronomy
HET608 Introductory Radio Astronomy and SETI
HET609 Astrophotography and CCD Imaging
HET611 Stellar Astrophysics
HET612 Major Project: History of Astronomy *
HET616 Great Debates in Astronomy (next offered in 2013)
HET619 Major Project: Astronomy and Astrophysics **
HET624 Galaxies and their Place in the Universe (core)
HET625 Cosmology and the Large Scale Structure of the Universe

Semester 2
HET602 Exploring the Solar System(core)
HET603 Exploring Stars and the Milky Way (core)
HET606 Tools of Modern Astronomy
HET607 History of Astronomy
HET610 Studies in Space Exploration
HET614 Introduction to Particle Physics and High Energy Astrophysics (next offered in 2013)
HET615 Major Project: Observational Astronomy *
HET617 Major Project: Computational Astrophysics *
HET618 Astrobiology and the Origins of Life (not offered in 2012 or 2013)
HET619 Major Project: Astronomy and Astrophysics **
HET620 Planetary Science (not offered in 2013, offered in semester 1in 2014)
HET624 Galaxies and their Place in the Universe (core)

Note:
* All Major Project units have prerequisites
** HET 619 is available only for approved project proposals, where approval is decided on a case by case basis by the program coordinator.

Not all of the above units of study will be offered every semester and some are offered in alternate years. Refer to: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/sao/prospective/units.xml
Electives will usually be offered subject to satisfactory enrolment numbers
Students should contact the Faculty Administration Office to obtain further information about unit offering

Academic requirements

This program is available to students who have a recognised tertiary qualification (or approved equivalent). Applicants not holding a relevant tertiary qualification, but with substantial relevant experience may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy) and can transfer to the Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) upon obtaining at least a credit average in the Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy), subject to the approval of the Program Coordinator. Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) may apply to progress to the Master of Science (Astronomy).

Students are expected to be computer literate and to have Internet access outside of Swinburne.

English language requirements

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18. Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

How to apply

Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Australia and International students who are studying in a country other than Australia are able to study this program. Australian International student visa holders are not eligible to study this program as it is delivered entirely online.

Application information is available on our website at http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/sao/students/apply.xml

** Please note closing dates apply.

Course fees*

A$14,000 (total for 2013)

Find out more

Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

Course Search

Site Search