iBSc History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

This iBSc explores the wider origins and evolution of science, technology, and medicine, alongside fundamental questions about science, its methods, and its understanding of the world around us.

In the historical dimension of this stream, key periods in history of science, technology, and medicine are explored. We also explore these as they were practiced in different places, and we explore the intercultural interactions that resulted when traditions of one community encountered others. This stream also makes space to discuss the nature of history itself and how institutions, such as museums, help us remember (or forget).

In the philosophical dimension of this stream, we aim to explore key questions about science as a form of inquiry. How do scientific methods relate one to another, and can they deliver what they promise in terms of objective understanding? We also explore classic problems in philosophy of science, such as the demarcation of science from other systems of thought, the nature of scientific evidence, explanation, and scientific revolutions, and the debate between realism and instrumentalism. This stream makes space for both practical and principled discussions of ethics in science, too.

By the end of the HPSM programme, students should be able to:

describe key concepts and knowledge in the fields of history and philosophy of science and medicine
relate academic research in these areas to current practice in medical research and clinical practice
demonstrate critical thinking and professional empathy
demonstrate strong writing and engagement skills in a variety of formats
undertake independent research in these areas
reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses in these areas

Contact our iBSc Tutor:

Dr Erman Sözüdoğru
STS iBSc Tutor
UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS)
sts-admissions@ucl.ac.uk

Compulsory Modules

Students on the programme take the following compulsory modules:

Optional Modules

Students also take an additional three modules from a list of options (please note that this list is indicative only and module options can vary each year):

Recent Dissertation Topics

Moral Responsibility in Medicine: How do Doctors Relate to Institutional Responsibilty?
'Langian Psychiatry': Examining the Development in R.D. Laing's Work from 1960-1971
The Historiography of Magic: Exploring the Usefulness of Different Scholarly Categories in the Study of Medieval Islamic Magic
Blood and Soil: How DNA Testing Affects Indigenous Peoples' and Settler States' Concepts of Indigeneity and the Implications for Indegenous Land Right Claims
Mad Women: The Gendering of Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder in the DSM-V
The Impact of Religion on the Development of Ancient Egyptian Medicine
The Doctor Will Free You Now: Examining the Extent to which Medico-scientific Discourse was Liberatory for Male Homosexuals in the United States, 1945-1995

Application

Fees and Funding

For information on fees, costs and funding, please see the Intercalated BSc Prospectus. If you are an applicant from a medical programme external to UCL, please see the Further Information page for external iBSc applicants.

Application process

For details of how to apply please see the Medical School website. If you are an external applicant, please see the iBSc webpage for external candidates.