Science and Engineering for Social Change BSc
London, Stratford (UCL East)
The 3-year Science and Engineering for Social Change BSc provides an interdisciplinary approach to the scientific, engineering, social, and political perspectives needed to solve global challenges. You’ll graduate as a next generation leader in social change with deep and wide-ranging knowledge sought after in business, charity, government, and policy roles.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
Programme starts
September 2026Application deadline
14 Jan 2026UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
D3,D3,M1 - D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects
A,A,B at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher)
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry to this undergraduate programme, you may be eligible to apply for the Engineering Foundation Year at UCL. Designed for individuals from non-traditional educational backgrounds who do not meet standard entry requirements for UCL's undergraduate engineering degrees, this pre-degree programme helps you develop confidence, academic and study skills, and subject specific knowledge. On successful completion of the Engineering Foundation Year, you can gain access to a selection of the engineering undergraduate degree programmes at UCL. Find out more about the Engineering Foundation Year.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. Access UCL is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at UCL. We assess your eligibility for Access UCL based on the information contained within your UCAS application. We review and update our Access UCL eligibility criteria and datasets every year, so please check the requirements for the year you plan to apply.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
-
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
Science and engineering offer the answers to many of society’s challenges, while policy identifies and responds to these most complex global issues. Bringing these concepts together produces graduates fit to work in corporate, charity, or government roles, who understand scientific and technical principles, and have the policy skills needed to create practical solutions to pressing problems.
Delivered by UCL — a university that is globally recognised for its cross-disciplinary and real-world expertise — this programme supports you to become a next generation leader in social change. You will be taught by top academics and industry experts whose shared purpose is to change the world for the better. You will become an integral part of our transformative community.
This authentic, hands-on programme puts theory into practice from day one of your degree. We will equip you with technical knowledge along with the research, analytical, and management skills needed to address global, local, and individual challenges.
You’ll learn to identify, define, and solve real-world problems, supported by the principle that better policies are created when a broad diversity of thought and experience feeds into them.
You will study subjects ranging from policy design and project management to innovation, engineering design, and infrastructure development. A work placement or project in your third year will provide the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills, make valuable industry connections, and prepare for a successful future career.
What this course will give you
This degree offers you the following opportunities and benefits:
- You'll get a degree from UCL — a top 10 global institution (QS World University Rankings, 2025). Our ranking reflects our global reputation for academic excellence and innovation.
- Jointly delivered by UCL Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) and UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE) within the UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences, you'll benefit from an original programme of content that integrates key disciplines and principles across these subject areas.
- This programme is based at UCL East campus, which offers state-of-the-art, accessible facilities, including the Innovation Lab, Culture Lab and the Institute of Making.
- You'll gain exposure to world-leading experts (REF 2021) across disciplines, combining practical engineering and physical sciences knowledge with an understanding of government and decision-making practices.
- Our strong industry links will allow you to work on real-world problems with industry and community partners. A third-year practical placement or project module means you can apply your knowledge and get ready for your future career. For example, our students have recently addressed the shortage of sustainably-grown, culturally-relevant food in East London.v
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Science and Engineering for Social Change.
Modules
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 is 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.
-
In Year 1, you'll study modules covering both public policy and engineering to understand the foundations of major policymaking institutions and how decisions are made. As the year continues, you begin to understand the notion and opportunities of co-design in policy, where stakeholders become part of the design process.
In Year 2, you'll explore how innovation – including technical innovation and socio-technical innovation – creates new types of societies. You'll also look at urban design from an engineering policy perspective, get to grips with the role of mathematics and modelling in engineering thinking, and consider issues of justice, representation and inclusion.
In Year 3, you'll explore the role and engagement of engineering sciences in government, business and civil society. Using insights from a live programme of research in this field, you'll extend your knowledge about the role of engineers in government. You'll also address the philosophical and cultural dimensions of dealing with pressing social and technical challenges facing the world.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Your learning
You'll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, problem-based learning, portfolio building, reflective practice, and critical reading of academic literature, technical and policy texts. Teaching is delivered by leading researchers and practitioners from UCL STEaPP and UCL CEGE.
This degree prioritises learning within a real-world context and this, in combination with a vibrant and challenging intellectual environment, gives you first-hand experience of policymaking in practice.
In Year 3, you undertake a placement or project module that includes 140 hours of work experience across Terms 1 and 2. Placements or projects are related to either the policy, charity or industry sectors.
You may source your external placement with departmental support or may be allocated a project internally. During the placement or project, you use a skills assessment tool to track your technical skills and subject knowledge against key criteria relevant to careers in policy.
In Years 1 and 2, during a typical week, you can expect approximately 13 hours contact hours with academic staff. This loosely equates to:
- 4 hours in lectures
- 4 hours in seminars, problem classes, and/or tutorials
- 5 hours in laboratory classes, studio sessions, tutor-led e-learning sessions, and/or completing fieldwork.
You are also expected to complete approximately 27 hours of independent work per week, including independent study, individual or group project work or working on assessments.
In Year 3, during a typical week, you can expect approximately 10 hours contact hours with academic staff. This loosely equates to:
- 4 hours in lectures
- 4 hours in seminars, problem classes, and/or tutorials
- 2 hours in laboratory classes, studio sessions, tutor-led e-learning sessions, and/or completing fieldwork.
You are also expected to complete approximately 30 hours of independent work, including independent study, individual or group project work or working on assessments, or completing your final year placement or project.
Overall, the time required for a full-time degree is equivalent to a 40-hour working week. Please note that the approximate contact hours provided are indicative and are subject to change, depending on term/year of study and each student's individual module selection.
Assessment
You are assessed through a mix of practical exercises, presentations, group work, reflective assessments, coursework, and portfolio development.
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.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) information video
Watch this video to find out more about Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
All students on this BSc receive support to get job-ready through a final employability assessment and practical workshops on different aspects of finding a job.
Graduates of this programme will have the relevant skills to apply for roles in a range of environments, from policy development, policy implementation, corporate strategy, charity and the third sector and more. We also encourage and support students to pursue internships. Previous host organisations include the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Employability
The core skills taught in this programme have been shaped by feedback from employers in policy and engineering, including UK Government, national academies, and third-sector organisations. This means that graduates of the Science and Engineering for Social Change BSc will have gained skills that directly address professional needs in business, charity, government, and policy.
You’ll understand the role of engineering, social sciences, and technology in tackling global issues. Equipped with a rare combination of technical and non-technical skills, you’ll traverse science and policymaking to create informed societal solutions. Graduates also acquire transferable skills like innovative thinking, critical analysis, stakeholder communication, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2026/27) | £9,790 |
| Tuition fees (2026/27) | £39,200 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, 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.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs for this programme.
However, for students who choose to undertake a placement, there may be potential travel costs depending on the employer and the location of the placement. Many employers may cover travel expenses, and some placements may be conducted online. For placements outside London, travel requirements are typically minimal to accommodate teaching commitments. Costs will vary based on individual living arrangements and placement specifics.
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 £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. 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. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
In addition to academic requirements, we are looking for applicants who are highly motivated and have high expectations for their future achievements.
We recognise that you may not be able to write a personal statement that reflects your interest in this programme and that addresses your other UCAS choices. This will not adversely affect your application.
You should use your personal statement to demonstrate your ability to use and reflect on diverse information sources; an interest in helping societies develop a better quality of life for all; and an interest in combining technical and social scientific knowledge to solve pressing global issues. This could be through a range of relevant interests or experiences, although we have no specific requirements for what should be included.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Got questions? Get in touch
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.