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Science and Technology Studies MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£6,035

£3,015

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£28,100

£14,050

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2024

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

There are several deadlines for this programme - please see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/study-here/phd-programme

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Research degrees are offered under two subject headings: History and Philosophy of Science, and Science and Technology Studies. Students may specialise in the history, philosophy or sociology of science, science communication and public engagement, the sociology of science and technology, science technology policy research, or a suitable combination of those fields.

UCL Science & Technology Studies is the only interdisciplinary department in London covering history, philosophy and social studies of science, science communication and public engagement with science. The department has grown rapidly over the last few years and has continued to develop a vibrant and varied community of researchers. Students are able to take advantage of networking opportunities with prominent London museums and institutions, as well as the proximity of facilities such as the British Library. Many recent PhD graduates have continued to successful academic careers, with others moving on to careers in project management within the EU and NHS. Research standards are extremely high at UCL with 60% of our history research and 60% of our philosophy research assessed as `world leading' in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Who this course is for

This programme is relevant for applicants interested in academic or research-related careers in history, philosophy or social studies of science and technology.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

Capitalising on UCL's location in the heart of Bloomsbury, our programme combines cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research with the academic resources that London offers, from parliament and political think tanks to the BBC, production houses, and advertising houses. We work in close collaboration with national and specialised archives and museums in science, arts, natural history, and maritime history. Consistently rated as outstanding by students at every level, the department recruits widely and internationally and thrives on the variety of perspectives, skills and motivation that students from diverse backgrounds bring to our research community.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Recent graduates have gone on to a range of lecturing and research roles at universities including UCL, Berlin, Oslo, Indiana State and The American College of Greece. Others have taken up project management roles in the European Union, and research roles at the Science Museum and in industry.

Employability

Science and Technology Studies PhD students graduate with a full spectrum of academic skills, including teaching experience as well as advanced research techniques. As well as providing a firm base for a career path in academia graduates are well equipped for roles as researchers in industry, journalism or for careers in science communication.

Networking

UCL Science & Technology Studies has strong links with London's museums and institutions. Staff and previous students have worked with museums such as the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and National Maritime Museum, and UCL's own Grant and Petrie Museums, as well as key institutions such as the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. Links have included joint events, teaching contributions and research projects.

Teaching and learning

Our research degree programme is purely research-based. Research areas include: History of Science, Philosophy of Science, Science, Culture and Democracy.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the research section of the STS website.

You have to submit a thesis about your original research, and the thesis is required to meet the UCL criteria for the research degree. Your nominated examiners will assess your thesis, including the viva examination.

Full time students typically undertake 35 hours of self-directed study.

Students are required to meet with their supervisory team at least once a month, and take part in the department's research activities including seminars and reading groups.

The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the activities being undertaken

Research areas and structure

History of science: history of physics, of biology, of chemistry and of astronomy
Philosophy of science: philosophy of physics, of chemistry and of medicine
Science and the media: science communication and scientists’ use of the media; public understanding of science; science and journalism
Public engagement with science
Sociology of science and science policy: policies for biotechnology and genetics; 20th-century evolutionary studies; ethics and integrity in scientific research.

Research environment

UCL Science and Technology Studies is the only interdisciplinary department in London covering history, philosophy and social studies of science, science communication and public engagement with science. You will be able to take advantage of networking opportunities with prominent London museums and institutions including the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Institution.

A PhD at UCL Science and Technology Studies will allow you to pursue original research and make a distinct and significant contribution to your field. We are committed to the quality and relevance of the research supervision we offer and as an MPhil/PhD candidate. Furthermore as a research student, you will be an integral part of our collaborative and thriving research community. Student-run ‘work in progress’ workshops will give you the opportunity to present and discuss your research with peers and academic colleagues. Tailored skills seminars will provide you with a supportive research environment and the critical skills necessary to undertake your research.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 3 years for full-time .

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-12 months after initial registration.

Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback.

By the end of your first year, you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

The PhD programme is expected to be completed within three years for full-time students.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is five years for part-time.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 15-21 months after initial registration.

Within six months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback.

By the end of your second year, you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

The PhD programme is expected to be completed within five years for part-time students.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£6,035	£3,015
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£28,100	£14,050

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Research students in the area of either history of science or philosophy of science are eligible for AHRC studentships. The department has 1+3 and +3 recognition status from the ESRC for studentships in the area of science and technology studies.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Research degrees may start in September or January. Deadlines and start dates are usually dictated by funding arrangements so check with the department or academic unit (contact listed in Next steps, right) to see if you need to consider these in your application preparation. In all cases you should identify and contact potential supervisors before making your application. For more information see our How to apply page.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.