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ISU provided me with the fundamental knowledge to understand a new sector, the contacts necessary to navigate the industry, and the friendships to celebrate the good and bad times. ISU helped to organize an internship for me in Tokyo at Ispace, at the time a small company. As the company grew I became a manager, Managing Director of our EU subsidiary, and now the Vice President of Global Sales and Strategy
The MSS is structured as a one- or two-year program. The first year is essentially a taught one and is delivered primarily at the ISU Central Campus in Strasbourg. Some students will take only this year and graduate with an a Master of Space Studies. During the first year, students who perform at an appropriate level may apply for the second ‘thesis year’ in which they perform a single extended piece of research or scholarly activity, either at ISU, or an appropriate host institution. These students will graduate with an MSc in Space Studies and Thesis.
MSS Year A is an intensive year worth 75 ECTS. It consists of three types of modules:
CORE MODULES are mandatory taught modules designed primarily to deliver academic program content and are broad and interdisciplinary in their
scope.
☞ To introduce students to the fundamental MSS disciplines and build a firm foundation for interdisciplinary study in subsequent modules.
☞ To develop students’ transferable skills, including intercultural awareness, time management, team working, written communication and oral presentations.
☞ To extend students’ knowledge of the MSS disciplines and enhance their understanding of the interdisciplinary links between them.
☞ To demonstrate the integrated and interdisciplinary nature of space activities.
PRACTICE MODULES are mandatory student-activity focused modules, designed to deliver experience in the application of academic program content in a broad 3Is context.
☞ To provide students with experience of performing a significant individual piece of investigative work characterized by a requirement for independent initiative, self organization and critical thinking.
☞ To develop in students a professional level of communication (orally, graphically and in writing).
☞ To encourage students to explore the current limits of knowledge and demonstrate originality and creativity.
☞ To allow participants to apply their knowledge and skills to on-going activity in a real-world space context.
☞ To provide participants with the opportunity to establish professional links within the global space community
ELECTIVE MODULES are shorter, optional, taught modules designed to deliver academic program content. They are narrower and more discipline-focused than core modules. Students must take two elective modules. During MSS19, the following electives ran:
MSS Year A can be completed in fulltime mode from September of one year to September of the following year or in part-time mode by completing one or more modules per year within a maximum of seven years.
MSS Year B consists of a single module:
MSS Year B can be completed in full-time mode over seven months or in part-time mode over a longer period within a maximum of seven years from the start of MSS Year A.
During the academic year, students have the opportunity to visit significant space-related enterprises and activities in Europe. Previously, visits have been made to Airbus Defence and Space, Safran Aircraft Engines, SES, European Space Operation Centre, European Space Agency HQ, European Astronaut Centre, CNES (French Space Agency), EUMETSAT, Telespazio Vega, UNESCO, University of Stuttgart Institute for Space Research and DLR (German Space Agency). Outside of the official MSS programme some students have organized their own visits to the ESA launch site in French Guiana, the European Space Technology Centre in The Netherlands and space-related facilities in Russia
Before the start of the MSS program, students are given the opportunity to attend a week of intensive French classes. We highly recommend taking advantage of these classes in order to obtain a good basic level of French early on, before the program work intensifies. These French classes are continued during M1-ITS at two levels: Beginner and Intermediate. English classes are also offered during Module 1 to those students wishing to improve their English language skills in order to follow better the program.
Director, Master’s Program
Prof. Chris Welch (UK)
Full Professor, Space Engineering
A significant part of the ISU academic programs are delivered by Resident Faculty who provide teaching and advisory support to all ISU programs and activities. A number of the ISU Faculty not resident at ISU are involved in supporting the MSS as Visiting Lecturers or as mentors for students during their internships.
The ISU Admissions Committee assesses applicants to the MSc in Space Studies primarily on the basis of their academic and professional qualifications, their achievements, and their proficiency in English.
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent, including 3 years of studies as a minimum, awarded by an accredited university. Information on academic qualification equivalencies may be obtained from the ISU Admissions Office.
Preference is given to applicants holding higher academic degrees and to applicants with professional experience in industry, government agencies or academic institutions.
Language Requirements: courses are carried out exclusively in English, and all applicants to ISU programs must demonstrate that they are sufficiently proficient in English to follow classes and to conduct project work.
FEES: the tuition fees for the MSc in Space Studies 2021-2022 are EUR 25,000.
The fees for taking the program in modules also amount to EUR 25,000, but a registration fee of EUR 400 will be charged each time the student registers for a subsequent module or series of modules during an additional academic year. Students who choose this option must complete their degree within seven years. The tuition fees for each module taken separately are available upon request sent to the Admissions Office.
Applicants for the MSS program 2021-2022 should apply online on the ISU website and send the requested documents by 30 June 2021 at the latest. Partial scholarships will be granted on a first come first served basis depending on funds still available.
