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History and Philosophy of Science MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This programme offers breadth across a wide range of historical and philosophical themes. It also encourages intensive investigation and specialisation: a survey of nearly 3,000 years of scientific ideas and communities, and an exploration of the inner workings of science's methods and theories.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£31,100
£15,550
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor'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 3

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

The programme provides broad-based training in the history of science, the philosophy of science, and an integrated history and philosophy of science. The historical coverage is broad, from antiquity to the present, while the philosophical coverage spans causality and the philosophy of medicine as well as the metaphysics of chemistry and computer science.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students with first degrees in a variety of subjects including natural sciences, social sciences, history, philosophy, other humanities, engineering and medicine. It can serve as a foundation for PhD research, or as preparation for a career in teaching, mass media, science and technology, policy, museums or scientific societies.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

We have award-winning tutors, public engagement and fantastic academic programmes.

As a department, Science & Technology Studies is respected across UCL for our dedication to teaching and learning. We commit ourselves to creating academic experiences that reward hard work.

We are research active over an enormous range of topics. Our teaching builds on research not only in our subject specialities but also in the fundamentals of teaching and learning.

Our programme makes unique use of London’s attractions and resources. The optional module HPSC0089: Curating Science and Technology is taught at the Science Museum.

We have close links with the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Wellcome Library, and UCL Museums & Collections. We also use the city as a classroom, with custom-made walking tours, site visits, and special excursions.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Our programme provides essential training for students wishing to pursue PhD level study in related fields. It also provides appropriate training for those pursuing careers in education, museum and archival curatorship, or governance and policy-making.

Graduates have gone on to roles in sectors including; health and social care, performance and creative arts, and education.

Employability

During the course of this programme, students will develop a wide range of transferable skills sought by employers, including research, critical thinking, communication skills and working in collaboration with others. Most graduates of this programme go on to follow careers that engage with the substance of the degree, including in the museum sector, or in academia. This programme provides an excellent opportunity to develop the specialist skills and professional connections for these sectors, including include basic curatorial skills, and opportunities to develop professional and intellectual connections with contacts in London museums and key thinkers in the field.

Networking

There may be department and/or student organised alumni events, career events, lecture series, workshops, etc. that allow for networking.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. You'll also be expected to take part in both guided and self-guided personal work. Assessment is carried out through a blend of formative and summative assessment methods.

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, tutorials and research supervision. Student performance is assessed through coursework such as long and short essays, advocacy work and project work.

On average it is expected that a student spends 150 hours studying for each 15-credit module. This includes teaching time, private study and coursework. Modules are usually taught in weekly two-hour sessions over 10 weeks each term.

The Postgraduate Diploma programme consists of one core module (15 credits), five optional modules (75 credits) and two elective modules (30 credits), available in full time or part time mode. The Postgraduate Certificate programme consists of one core module (15 credits) and three optional modules (45 credits), available in full time mode only.

Modules

You will undertake 8 taught modules and a research dissertation.

Full time structure: 

Term One: 

You will take 1 compulsory module and 3 optional modules.

Term Two:

You will take 4 optional modules. 

Term Three:
The dissertation planning commences with the research and writing conducted in Term Three and the summer. 

You will undertake 8 taught modules and a research dissertation.

Part time structure:  

Year One:

In Term One you will take 1 compulsory module and 1 optional module.  
In Term Two you will take 2 optional modules.  

Year Two: 
In Term One you will take 2 optional modules.  
In Term Two you will take 2 optional modules.  

In Term Three and over the summer you will complete the research dissertation.

Compulsory modules




Optional modules





Knowledge, Explanation and Classification in Science

Science in the Twentieth Century and Beyond










Health, Difference and Inequality



Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

MSc students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in History and Philosophy of Science. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in History and Philosophy of Science. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in History and Philosophy of Science.

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) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £31,100 £15,550

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

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

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study History and Philosophy of Science at graduate level
  • why you want to study History and Philosophy of Science at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Science and Technology Studies
Science and Technology Studies

sts-msc-admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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