Learning more about planetary science
Courses in planetary science are offered in curricula at the majority of universities in the Netherlands. The overview below includes both the BSc and MSc courses related to planetary science, exploration and exoplanetary astronomy that are currently offered. Educators, lecturers and teaching staff interested in course materials can find a list of text books used in planetary science courses in the Netherlands.
BSc programmes (2025-2026)
While no full Bachelor’s programme in planetary science exists in the Netherlands, there are several courses that can introduce you to the basics and key principles of planetary (geo)science, astronomy and planetary exploration. In some cases courses will have entry requirements or prerequisites, so we recommend contacting the responsible instructor of the course to inform yourself about the option for enrolling in the course.
Utrecht University
- Planetology: an introduction (7.5 EC)
VU Amsterdam
- Planetary Science (6 EC)
TU Delft
University of Amsterdam
RU Nijmegen
- (Exo)planeten (3 EC)
- Molecules in Space (3 EC)
Leiden University
- Planetenstelsels (3 EC)
- Astrobiology (3 EC)
RUG Groningen
- Planetary Systems (5 EC)
- Space Mission Technology (5 EC)
MSc programmes (2025-2026)
Students opting to follow an MSc programme with courses in planetary science can follow courses as ‘electives’ or check the ‘doorstroommatrix‘ to see how their BSc programme allows enrolment in one of the MSc programmes that give access to these courses. In some cases courses will have entry requirements or prerequisites, so we recommend contacting the responsible instructor of the course to inform yourself about the option for taking the course.
VU Amsterdam
- Advanced Planetary Science (6 EC)
TU Delft
- MSc track Space, profile Planetary Exploration (120 ECTS, full MSc)
- Planetary Exploration (4 EC)
- Measurement strategies for planetary science missions (5 EC)
- Physics of planetary interiors (5 EC)
- Planetary Missions (5 EC)
- Physical Interaction for Aerial and Space Robots (4 EC)
- Physical Principles of Earth System Observation (5.5 EC)
Leiden University
University of Amsterdam
RUG Groningen
- Exoplanets (5 EC)
- Star and planet formation (5 EC)
University of Twente
- Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (120 ECTS, full MSc with the option to choose a Planetary Research thesis topic)
Books used in teaching
The following books are used (or highly recommended) in various courses related to planetary science topics, based on literature noted in the course descriptions above.
- McSween, Jr, H., et al., (2019). Planetary Geoscience. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781316535769
- Lissauer, J.J. and De Pater, I., (2019) Fundamental Planetary Sciences, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9780521618557.
- Armitage. P.J. (2020) Astrophysics of Planet Formation. Cambridge University Press
- Yamamoto. S. (2017) Introduction to Astrochemistry, Springer ISBN: 978-4-431-54171-4
- Cockell, C.S. (2020) Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the Universe, 2nd Edition, Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-55035-8
- De Pater, I. and J.J. Lissauer (2001). Planetary sciences, Cambridge, ISBN 9781316165270
- Blondel, P., and Mason, J.W. (2006). Solar System Update. Springer-Praxis Books in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences
- Pierrehumbert, R.T. (2012) Principles of Planetary Climate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9780511780783
- Seager, S. (2010) Exoplanet Atmospheres: Physical Processes. Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691146454