Careers and skills in space
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-03)

Information on how to find work experience, apprenticeships, internships or jobs in the space sector.

How to get a space job

UK Space Agency’s “Careers in space” leaflet

Read the UK Space Agency’s “Careers in space: the sky is not the limit” (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-related-educational-resources/uksa-careers-leaflet) leaflet, for an overview of different careers you can pursue that are involved with space, and the skills required for a career in space.

UKSpace101

UKSpace101 from Space Careers UK gives an overview of the space sector and space careers, as well as guidance on finding roles.

Find out more about UKSpace101 (https://spacecareers.uk/uk-space-101) for those new to the space sector.

Visit the European Space Agency website

Credit: ESA

The European Space Agency is our biggest partner in space. Visit their website (https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA) to discover guidance for space careers.

Visit the National Space Academy website

The National Space Academy offers careers advice and information, and also runs careers conferences.

Find details on the National Space Academy website (https://nationalspaceacademy.org/careers/).

View space career profiles

You can access videos on a wide range of space careers on the website of the European Space Education Resources Office (https://www.stem.org.uk/esero/primary/careers-in-space) (ESERO-UK).

You can find further video and print career profiles here (https://www.stem.org.uk/elibrary/collection/3572).

How to become an astronaut

The main route for UK citizens to become an astronaut is through the competitive European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut selection programme.

Find more about the selection programme (https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astronaut_Selection).

Find a space job, work experience, apprenticeships or internships

Space Careers UK

Space Careers UK offers a job board which lists job, volunteer and internship opportunities (https://spacecareers.uk/jobs) at many companies across the space sector.

It also has a work experience page (https://spacecareers.uk/articles/4bce8dc8-30f6-4c95-a4fa-a35532c9b3eb) which gives advice on how to approach a work experience placement and lists opportunities that you can apply for.

Check the UK Space Sector Landscape Map for companies in your area

Identify and locate UK space-related companies and organisations (https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/space-satellite-applications-landscape-map/) with the UK Space Sector Landscape Map.

You can use it to contact local companies about work experience or to find companies that may be hiring or offering apprenticeships.

Find opportunities at the European Space Agency

ESA advertise jobs on their website. See the latest openings (https://jobs.esa.int/).

Find space apprenticeships

You can find general information about becoming an apprentice (https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship) and help to find an apprenticeship at the government’s dedicated apprenticeship site.

The government also offers a search tool (https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship) to find live apprenticeships.

STEM Learning Research Placements and Experiences

Find research placements and experiences from the Nuffield Foundation, STEM.org (https://www.stem.org.uk/placements) for students in Year 12 (or equivalent).

The Science and Technology Facilities Council work experience placements

Find out more about STFC work experience placements (https://stfc-workexperience.co.uk/), offered to students in years 10-13 or equivalent each year.

Watch videos on space careers

UK Space Agency video guidance on space careers

Watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFaJaqp2aFg), which contains interviews with people working in the sector, for general advice if you’re considering a career in space.

Principia careers video

Watch this short film (https://astroacademy.org.uk/careers/) from Astro Academy of the work that UK scientists and engineers are doing in the space sector, both in support of astronauts and in applications for life on Earth.