UCL CDT in Security Science (SECReT)

Find out more about our CDT programme and how to apply

About us

Our CDT in Security Science (SECReT) was founded in 2009 with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and an array of public and private sector organisations working in crime reduction security and law enforcement. Since then, UCL SECReT has become one of the premier centre for doctoral research training in these fields.

As part of our programme, we provide a choice of MPhil/PhD in Security & Crime Science (3 years full time, 5 years part time) or an MRes + MPhil/PhD in Security Science (4 years full time, 6 years part time), with topics of interest including terrorism and organised crime, policing, forensic sciences, etc.

What we offer

We offer the most comprehensive integrated PhD programme for students wishing to pursue multidisciplinary security or crime-related research degrees.
We recruit our doctoral students from a range of scientific backgrounds to pursue research in crime or security domains across the engineering and social sciences.
Students can enter through various funding routes (self-funded, industry sponsors, scholarships).
We have a thriving student society, which all our postgraduate research students (from Routes A & B) automatically become members of when they enrol. The SECReT Society organises research seminars, poster sessions and social events throughout the academic calendar. Follow the SECReT Society LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram accounts to find out more
Our PhD graduates have gone on to a wide variety of interesting careers in the civil service, NGOs, think tanks, private sector organisations and academia. You can read some of their testimonials on our alumni webpage.

Interested in applying?

You can find out more about potential research topics and supervisors on our UCL SECReT areas of study page. Before applying, it is very important that you have researched and contacted a potential supervisor.

Once you feel that you are ready to apply, you can find out everything you need to know on our Applying for UCL SECReT page and our PhD scholarships pages.

Please make sure that you have familiarised yourself with the information on all of these pages before applying or emailing us. We cannot accept speculative CVs by email and we will direct you to these pages if you contact us in this way.