UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies

STS offers three full BSc degrees

• V550: History and Philosophy of Science BSc
• V551: History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science BSc
• L391: Science and Society BSc

Undergraduate (BSc) programmes

UCL was the first UK university to offer undergraduate degrees in this interdisciplinary subject. Science and Technology Studies (STS) includes the study of history of science, philosophy of science, sociology of science, science policy, and communication of science.

Our BSc degrees are not general science degrees, but programmes to study what scientists do as well as their role in our society and in the history of  culture.

"As I did not attend an Open Day, the first time I had a chance to have a look around UCL was at the interview I was invited to. I felt rather nervous, as I knew a lot would depend on that one meeting... But my fears turned out to be completely uncalled-for. I had a warm welcome, eased up quickly, the interview was more like an informal chat, and as I was given a tour of UCL, I felt like they really cared about my opinion on the university. My decision to take the offer by the department was greatly influenced by this experience."
-- Veronika Raszler, BSc Science Communication & Policy

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STS course modules use the prefix "HPSC" (standing for "history and philosophy of science").

Most HPSC modules are open to students in all UCL degree programmes as well as throughout University of London. Register through Portico, or see staff in the STS departmental office.

STS offers a wide range of modules (info)

STS offers programmes designed to appeal to students from overseas. Students are welcome for one-year or one-semester programmes as well as for full three-year degree programmes. We welcome students with a background in either the sciences or the humanities. There has never been a better time to come and study in London!

STS embraces a variety of critical approaches to science and technology, including philosophy, history, sociology and communication studies.

• philosophy of science explores the nature of scientific knowledge, examines how science is done, and analyses the claims that science makes about the natural world
• history of science examines how science and technology have developed and how they relate to cultures in which they are conceived and used
• social studies of science uses the tools of the social sciences to understand science and technology as products of culture, as institutions and as forms of authority in society, for example in the relationships between scientists and policy-makers
• science communication studies the resources of media and communications studies are used to analyse popular science and its role in the public sphere.
• science policy addresses problems of funding, regulation and control of research, and democratic debate about science and technology.

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Global citizenship

STS also conducts a special programme in Global Citizenship.

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UCL is offering you the chance to spend time in one of the most vibrant capitals in the world, exploring one of the most prominent issues of our time: citizenship.

This undergraduate programme draws on UCL's world class teaching and research in areas from politics, geography, anthropology, philosophy, media studies and history, with a core of science studies.

Come for a year or a semester. The course features brand new tailor-made courses, which will enable you to understand citizenship as a significant intellectual concern of our time, and empower you to make real changes for a better world.

BSc in Natural Sciences
MSci in Natural Sciences

The department also contributes to UCL's Natural Sciences degrees, offering both major and minor streams (more details) and teaching on compulsory courses.

• CFG0: Natural Sciences BSc
• FGC0: Natural Sciences MSci

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Students interested in taught Masters-level programmes in our fields should see the MSc programmes below.

Science and Technology Studies participates in this programme 4-year, full-time, sixteen-unit programmes with Year3 abroad. This includes “and” degrees and “plus” degrees.

For example:

• Modern Language Plus (4 years) - e.g., German and History and Philosophy of Science BA
• Modern Language Plus (4 years) - e.g., French and Science Communication and Policy BA

jump to Modern Language Plus main page