Study

UCL is home to world-class lab facilities and excellent libraries offering a wide range of online journal subscriptions, books and historical archives.

Home to the only city-centre nanotechnology lab in the UK, the vast cleanroom at LCN gives students access to a truly unique facility. UCL Earth Sciences has a wide range of laboratories including a major geochronology facility.

In addition, students can use first-class supercomputers such as UCL’s own Legion Cluster, and access to external facilities such as Iridis and HeCTOR.

The faculty places great importance on cross-fertilisation between different fields of research. Cross-fertilisation between disciplines is fostered through institutes and centres covering quantum science, risk, planetary science, origins of life and the universe and physics in the life sciences – as well as the collegiate atmosphere of a truly multidisciplinary university. The Department of Science and Technology Studies is the only integrated centre for the study of the history, philosophy, sociology and communication of science in the UK.

Students in the faculty have access to UCL Careers Service, which can provide coaching and advice, as well as organising careers fairs with potential employers. Students benefit from close links with industry, through the faculty’s participation in doctoral training centres and joint ventures.

Postgraduate qualifications in the mathematical and physical sciences give access to a wide range of careers.

Recent students have continued into positions as postdoctoral researchers, instrument scientists, engineers and teaching. Graduates also go into roles in management consultancy and finance. 

UCL’s location in central London is a huge advantage for study in the mathematical and physical sciences. Collaborations with other institutions are easy, and London is at the centre of world science. Visiting researchers, students and guest lecturers pass through UCL regularly.

The London Centre for Nanotechnology is a collaboration between UCL and Imperial College London, while Earth Sciences and Planetary Sciences collaborate extensively with nearby Birkbeck, University of London. Students in Science and Technology Studies have access to the Wellcome Library, Senate House Library and the British Library, all within ten minutes’ walk. Financial Mathematics students benefit from proximity to one of the world’s great financial centres.

The faculty also participates in the Francis Crick Institute.