MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN SPACE STUDIES
LEUVEN • GHENT
Space is central to 21st-century society. It is
a nursery for cutting-edge technologies and
a domain of great geopolitical, international
and commercial importance. Activities in
space require highly-skilled experts with
an interdisciplinary perspective on
interconnected technological, scientific,
political, legal, and economic dimensions.
The Master of Space Studies instils
postgraduate students with interdisciplinary
expertise and critical knowledge skills,
through a programme focused on the
symbiosis between technology, quantitative
and biomedical sciences, as well as space
law, policy, business, and management.
© NASA
DURATION
1 year (full-time), 60 ECTS
APPLICATION
• Online application: www.kuleuven.be/application
• Students with a Flemish degree:
www.kuleuven.be/inschrijven
APPLICATION DEADLINE
1 March (for non-EEA citizens), 1 June (for EEA citizens)
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
• 1st semester: end of September > end of January
(exams in January)
• 2nd semester: mid-February > end of June
(exams in June)
www.kuleuven.be/academiccalendar
TUITION FEE
www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
MORE INFORMATION
www.kuleuven.be/ma/mnmssl

PROGRAMME
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme is expressed by the
mandatory common core of 30 ECTS in introductory coursework.
These courses acquaint you with the different aspects that together
form the foundation of space-related activities.
Depending on your background and interests, you have the opportunity
to deepen your knowledge through more domain-specific optional
courses, for a total of 15 ECTS. These courses cover the domains
of (A) Space Law, Policy, Business and Management, (B) Space
Sciences, and (C) Space Technology and Applications, with the
possibility to combine the latter two.
The master’s thesis is the final section of the interdisciplinary
programme, in which your acquired knowledge and abilities are applied
to a complex and concrete project (15 ECTS). During the project
you will be embedded in a research team at universities or an
external institute, organisation or industrial company. In the latter
case an academic supervisor will be assigned as the coordinator
of the project.
For detailed descriptions of the courses and for the course time-
table, please consult www.kuleuven.be/ma/mnmssl/programme.
Truly
international
60,292
students of which
12,577
international students,
over 140 countries
48 BACHELOR’S PROGRAMMES
(5 IN ENGLISH) 138 MASTER’S PROGRAMMES
(69 IN ENGLISH)
Celestijnenlaan 200H box 2100, 3001 LEUVEN, Belgium • info@wet.kuleuven.be
Publisher: Marketing and Communication Office, Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Last update: September 2021. Changes may have been made since the printing of this fact sheet. Please visit www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes for any updates.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
You must have already obtained an initial master’s degree in a
subject relevant to space studies. Additionally, you must present a
2-page essay describing the importance of the programme for your
professional expectations, especially in view of your previous
education. An intake interview may also be required. You should
have a good command of both spoken and written English.
Interested candidates are invited to send their CV and a comprehensive
motivation letter to MSSapplication@ster.kuleuven.be.
Programme admission: www.kuleuven.be/ma/mnmssl
General admission: www.kuleuven.be/admissions
CAREER PERSPECTIVES
Graduates find opportunities in the space industry (engineers,
product developers and technical-commercial functions with a high
degree of technical and financial responsibilities), research institutions
with activities in space (researchers and project developers), (inter)-
governmental bodies with research responsibilities, and development
programmes related to space (project managers and directors,
policy makers on national, European and international levels).
The spectrum of employment possibilities encompasses not only
the space sector as such, but also the broader context of companies
and organisations which use or are facilitated by space missions.
CONTACT
www.kuleuven.be/ma/mnmssl
clio.gielen@kuleuven.be
hugues.sana@kuleuven.be
The highest ranked
Belgian University
1 In the Reuters ranking of most
innovative universities in Europe
45 Times Higher Education
World University Rankings
70 QS World University
Rankings
42 ADVANCED MASTER’S
PROGRAMMES (23 IN ENGLISH)
FACULTY OF SCIENCE