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History and Philosophy of Science MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The History and Philosophy of Science MSc provides an intensive introduction to core themes, methods and concepts of the history and philosophy of science. The programme is delivered by a faculty of internationally significant scholars in the field and prepares students for further studies, research at PhD level and for professional application of a historical and philosophical understanding of sciences’ wider place in society. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
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 course 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

Our History and Philosophy of Science MSc is delivered by historians and philosophers of science who shape the field internationally. From ancient science to the history of science in the 21st century, and debates between realists and pragmatists to ethics and social epistemology, our History and Philosophy of Science community bring the most significant academic discussions in the field up to date with the most urgent challenges for global societies now and in the future. 

Our integrated History and Philosophy of Science approach critically explores the inner workings of science, technology, and medicine from their origins to the present, to draw important lessons for our relationship between science, technology and society in the present and future.  We prepare students for PhD level research and support students with science or humanities backgrounds looking to develop professionally through the application of historical and philosophical insights in science adjacent fields. 

Who this course is for

The programme is particularly suitable for students with first degrees in a variety of subjects including natural sciences, social sciences, history, philosophy, other humanities, engineering and medicine. The programme would appeal to those looking for an intensive introduction to core themes, methods and concepts of the history and philosophy of science wanting to critically explore science, technology, and medicine from their origins to the present, to draw important lessons for our relationship between science, technology and society in the present and future. 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

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 is designed to make 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 (these incur no additional cost).

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.

This information comes from the UCL Tableau Dashboard which takes its data from the annual Graduate Outcomes Survey and the data is aggregated over the five most recent surveys (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-2022).

You can find out more about our graduate destinations on our ‘What do UCL graduates do?’ page.

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.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around eight hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In Term 1 and Term 2 full-time students can typically expect eight contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. In Term 3 and during the Summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

The Postgraduate Diploma course 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 course 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 1: 
You will take 1 compulsory module and 3 optional modules.

Term 2:
You will take 4 optional modules. 

Term 3:
The dissertation planning commences with the research and writing conducted in Term 3 and the Summer. 

You will undertake 8 taught modules and a research dissertation.

Part time structure:  

Year 1:
In Term 1 you will take 1 compulsory module and 1 optional module.  
In Term 2 you will take 2 optional modules.  

Year 2: 
In Term 1 you will take 2 optional modules.  
In Term 2 you will take 2 optional modules.  

In Term 3 and over the Summer you will complete the research dissertation.

Compulsory modules




Optional modules







Science and the Global System









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

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no programme-specific costs.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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 course of £90 for online 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 courses (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: 2026-2027

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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