Handbook

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Overview

Astrobiology is the study of the search for life elsewhere in the universe, the origin of life on Earth, and the future of life on Earth. The course emerged from the UNSW Australian Centre for Astrobiology, which is deeply embedded in the search for life on Mars and the origin… For more content click the Read More button below.

Astrobiology is the study of the search for life elsewhere in the universe, the origin of life on Earth, and the future of life on Earth. The course emerged from the UNSW Australian Centre for Astrobiology, which is deeply embedded in the search for life on Mars and the origin of life on Earth. The course is fully online, and there is no final exam.

The content ranges from our origin in the Big Bang at the beginning of the universe to the study of microbes that live in extreme environments on Earth, how life and our planet evolved together and the search for life elsewhere in our solar system and beyond. Astrobiology seeks to answer our most profound question: Are we alone in the universe?

This second-level course addresses astrobiology from the microbiological, geological and palaeobiological perspectives to the development of life on Earth and the search for life elsewhere in the universe. It is strongly interdisciplinary and offers a possible pathway for you to consider the third level/postgraduate science elective BEES6741 Astrobiology: Life in the universe. BEES6741 focuses on the search for Life on Mars and includes an interaction with a NASA Mars scientist in preparation for the final assessment.

Course Attributes

General Education

Delivery

Fully online - Standard (usually weekly or fortnightly)

Please note that the above delivery information is an indication on how this course may be delivered within the year. Delivery mode(s) for each term can be viewed on other sources such as myUNSW and class timetable site.

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Fees

Type	Amount
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)	$1038
Domestic Students	$6330
International Students	$6330

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Commonwealth Supported Students:

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Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

School
School: The academic unit responsible for teaching in disciplines or subject areas (school is part of a faculty).

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Undergraduate

Offering Terms
Depending on the Academic Calendar type, an offering term generally refers to an academic teaching period of between 8-13 weeks in duration.

Term 2

Campus

Sydney

Academic Calendar

Field of Education

010700 Earth Sciences

Introduction to Astrobiology: Life in the Universe

BEES2741

6 Units of Credit