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Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences

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Our Departments

The Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences brings together nine academic institutes and departments, all of whom are dedicated to investigating the social, political, economic and environmental structures and processes that shape the world.
Anthropology students

Anthropology

UCL Anthropology studies humanity in all its aspects: from our evolution as a species, to our relationship with the material/digital world, and our vast variety of social practices and cultural forms.

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Economics

At UCL Economics you'll learn to understand and debate how to address the most pressing problems in society. You'll study contemporary topics such as globalisation, the regulation of public utilities and policy choices in developing countries.

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Geography

UCL Geography is a world-leading centre for teaching, research and public engagement. We address many urgent concerns facing the world, including climate change, urban development, migration, environmental management and geopolitics. 

UCL Flaxman Gallery

History

UCL History is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world for its research and teaching. Our programmes make this an exciting place to study over 5000 years of history across every continent, from the ancient Middle East to the twenty-first century.

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History of Art

UCL History of Art is one of the most dynamic centres for the study of art history and visual cultures in the world. Our research and teaching cuts across boundaries of geography, chronology and discipline.

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Institute of the Americas

UCL's Institute of the Americas is a leading multidisciplinary specialist institution for the study of Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. 

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Institute of Archaeology

Founded in 1937, the UCL Institute of Archaeology is one of the largest centres for archaeology, cultural heritage and museum studies in Britain.

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Political Science

UCL’s Department of Political Science & School of Public Policy offers you a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration.

UCL Flaxman Gallery

Institute of Advanced Studies

The Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) provides a space for critical thinking and engaged enquiry within and across conventional disciplinary and departmental boundaries. 

Faculty initiatives

Social Data Institute

UCL Social Data Institute

The new Social Data Institute amplifies UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods.

UCL Policy Lab

UCL Policy Lab

UCL has launched a new Policy Lab to transform debates on key policy issues through radical innovation and collaboration. 

 

UCL Anthropocene

UCL Anthropocene

UCL Anthropocene brings together researchers from across disciplines to articulate and address the problems that the Anthropocene poses for our collective future.  

Health, Mind and Society

SHS Health, Mind and Society

The Health, Mind and Society initiative grows from work being carried out in the Faculty of Social and Historical Studies addressing the social, historical and cultural aspects of health.

About UCL Social & Historical Sciences 

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"Being a part of SHS is fundamentally about doing good research and education. I know colleagues get out of bed in the morning really compelled by important questions around climate change, inequality and sustainable development, among many others."

A short introduction to the UCL Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences from the Dean, Professor Jennifer Hudson.