All three are based in towns that host space industries and research centres, and which have a long-standing tradition of cooperation in space. This guarantees the support and contribution of high level experts, and strong links with space industries and agencies.

The Space Exploration and Development Systems (SEEDS) MSc differs from other space masters in that it focuses on space exploration and not utilisation. It aims to harness the most recent developments emerging from national, European and international space strategies to prepare the specialists needed for solar system exploration programmes.

This new MSc is supported by European companies and space agencies involved in exploration projects such as ESA, the Italian Space Agency ASI, the French Space Agency CNES, Alenia Spazio, Astrium, OHB Systems and the EADS-ST group of companies. The MSc promises to provide space engineers oriented to specific exploration system products, who are accustomed to working in an international context and who have been trained on the job, using modern and company-oriented engineering methods.  
 

	Student design for Mars habitat

When, where and how
 
The course, which will be taught in English at all three sites, is open to students of all nationalities. In Italy the MSc starts in November 2005 and project work will take place in all three universities next year. A maximum of 15 students will be accepted at each of the three European sites and applicants should have the equivalent of an MSc degree in industrial engineering; information and communications technologies; or the physical sciences.

The first six months of the 14 months course will provide a foundation in the various disciplines related to space exploration. Part of the time will be spent in European space centres to enable students to benefit from the facilities and expert guidance, and to meet up with colleagues from the partner universities.

During the following eight months, students will carry out project work in three activities, each of which is assigned to a different centre. Studies on habitation infrastructures will be carried out in Turin, transportation systems in Bremen and robotic infrastructures in Toulouse. When working on the projects students will work in cross national teams at industries and space centres at the thee sites.

It is expected that those who successfully complete the SEEDS course will be employed within engineering teams working on space exploration projects. To help meet the fees of the course, a number of scholarships will be offered by companies and space agencies sponsoring the MSc.

The deadline to apply for the SEEDS MSc at Turin is 23 September 2005. An online application form and more information can be found on the Italian SEEDS site: www.formazione.corep.it/space.htm Applicants interested in the MSc in Bremen or Toulouse can contact:

Bremen: Dr Stephan Theil, ZARM, University of Bremen
email: theil@zarm.uni-bremen.de

Toulouse: Prof. Bénédicte Escudier, Supaero
email: benedicte.escudier@supaero.fr