Bachelor of Space Science

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

RMIT University

Program Overview

If you’re fascinated by space — from satellites and rockets to celestial mapping and the future of space travel — the Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT gives you a genuine chance to turn that fascination into expertise. It’s a three-year degree designed for curious minds who want to learn how space science, physics, engineering and data all come together — and prepare to build, launch, or operate real space missions and technologies.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You begin with foundational science and mathematics, laying the groundwork for everything to come. Early course units like introductory Physics, Mathematics for Space and Geospatial Fundamentals help you understand the physical laws of space, basic orbital geometry and the Earth-from-space perspective. Alongside, you get exposure to lab work and data-analysis skills that let you experiment and see science in action — not just in theory.

Year 2
As you move forward, you dive deeper into space-specific content: think orbital mechanics, satellite systems, remote sensing or geospatial science courses plus more advanced physics and statistics. These units challenge you to apply what you’ve learned — predicting orbits, understanding how satellites gather data, how Earth observation works, or how space environment affects spacecraft. You’ll build technical skills and begin to appreciate how upstream (building or launching) and downstream (data, applications, services) aspects of space connect.

Year 3
In your final year, you’ll engage with advanced space science topics and integrate everything: perhaps modules on space operations, mission planning, satellite deployment or space-data analytics. You may also experience a 12-week industry placement or project — giving you hands-on exposure to real space agencies, satellite companies or research labs. By the end you’ll have had a chance to design or analyse space-system scenarios, build meaningful projects or even contribute to real-world space missions.

Focus Areas: Space science, satellite systems, geospatial science, space operations, remote sensing

Learning Outcomes: Students graduate with a strong grasp of space-specific physics and engineering, hands-on experience with satellite and remote sensing technology, ready to design, analyse or manage space-missions and contribute to the broader space industry.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): This degree is uniquely structured to meet the demands of the rapidly growing space sector. With lab work, real-world industry placements and a curriculum shaped by current industry needs, you’ll graduate ready for space-agency work, satellite engineering, data applications or mission planning — not just theoretical science.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT stands out as Australia’s only program of its kind, backed by the university’s strong global reputation. With RMIT ranked among the top 200–250 universities worldwide, your degree will signal to employers that you’ve trained at a forward-looking institution — giving you a competitive edge in launching a space-industry career.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you join the Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT, you'll spend far more time doing — building, experimenting, collaborating — than simply listening to lectures. This program is designed around hands-on, real-world work: you learn to design and build nano- and micro-satellites and their subsystems, operate satellites, analyse Earth-observation data, and connect with agencies and companies actually launching or using space missions. The emphasis on lab work, industry engagement, and real placements means you graduate with more than theory — you’ll have actual, demonstrable space-science experience.

Here are the concrete experiential learning opportunities you’ll get inside this program:

Access to and hands-on use of serious space facilities such as the Optical Telescope, the Virtual Experiences Laboratory, the SPACE Research Centre, the Space Physics Laboratory, and the RMIT Mission Control Training Centre — so you learn on the same instruments and infrastructure used in real space sciences.
Training in satellite design, construction and subsystem manufacturing, plus satellite-operations skills, giving you practical engineering and technical competence rather than just textbook knowledge.
Laboratory-based coursework and project work where theory meets practice: physics and engineering labs, group projects, workshops — giving you skills at problem-solving, teamwork, and real technical work.
A compulsory 12-week industry placement (work-integrated learning) with space-industry partners — you might find yourself working with organisations such as Saber Astronautics, government agencies like the Bureau of Meteorology or CSIRO — giving you real industry exposure before you even graduate.
Opportunities to engage with national and international space agencies and companies (private and public), which helps you build networks, understand real industry needs, and see how your work fits into broader missions.
Potential to participate in global internships or trainee-programmes with major agencies abroad — which opens doors if you are interested in a global career in space science or satellite operations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Thinking about the Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT University — you’re looking at a degree that really aligns with major momentum in the global (and Australian) space sector. Many graduates go on to become satellite engineers, mission controllers or flight controllers, space-weather analysts, payload scientists, launch engineers, or project/mission managers in space organisations.

Here’s what this means for you:

RMIT builds in a real-world 12-week industry placement under its Work Integrated Learning program — that gives you direct exposure to the space industry before you even finish your degree.
The degree mixes physics, mathematics, geospatial science, engineering and specialised space studies — so you graduate with a broad, in-demand skill set that matches what companies and agencies are looking for.
RMIT works with leading aerospace-industry partners (including agencies and commercial space firms) to ensure that what you learn is relevant to actual space projects — meaning your degree carries industry-recognition and professional relevance.
As a result, graduates are well-positioned to step straight into the workforce after three years of study, ready to contribute to satellite design, mission control, space research or satellite services.

Further Academic Progression:
If you choose to, you won’t be limited to just jobs straight after graduation. This space-science degree gives you a solid technical foundation to pursue further studies — for example, postgraduate programs in aerospace engineering, astrophysics, satellite communications, remote sensing or advanced space-systems engineering. From there, you could go into research roles, higher-level project leadership, or even contribute to cutting-edge space exploration or innovation programmes.