Course starts: September 2027 Location: Sciences Po (various campuses), France for years 1 and 2; London (Bloomsbury) for years 3 and 4

European Social and Political Studies (Dual Degree) BA

Benefit from the reputation and expertise of two prestigious academic institutions. You will study at Sciences Po in France for the first two years of your degree and then spend two years at UCL. This degree enables you to specialise in a humanities or social science subject, and gain high proficiency in a European language. You will develop a core understanding of economics, law, history, philosophy or politics and gain important transferable skills. Graduates go on to work in sectors including journalism, government, international affairs, and business.

Key information

Full-time

4 academic years full time

UK: £9,790 per year
International: £32,000 per year

13 January 2027. Applications close at 6pm UK time.
Applications may stay open after this UCAS Equal Consideration deadline, please check UCAS for details.

Entry requirements

Grades: A*AA
Subjects: A humanities or social science subject (or Mathematics) preferred. Mathematics at A* required for full Economics specialism if chosen. French or Spanish required at grade A if one of these is to be studied as a major language. Other language requirements may apply depending on the campus chosen - see www.ucl.ac.uk/r992-entry.
GCSEs: English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

Contextual offer

Grades: A*AB or AAB
Subjects: A humanities or social science subject (or Mathematics) preferred. Mathematics at A* required for full Economics specialism if chosen. French or Spanish required at A grade if one of these is to be studied as a major language. Other language requirements may apply depending on the campus chosen - see www.ucl.ac.uk/r992-entry.
GCSEs: English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.

Select a UK qualification

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JavaScript is required to view international equivalencies. Visit UCL International for more information.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

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 and International Education.

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.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not 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.

About this course

You will undertake language study throughout the course, selecting and focusing on one language. The languages available are French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. You will spend the first two years of study at Sciences Po at one of the following five campuses: Paris, Poitiers, Menton, Nancy and Dijon.

French - Poitiers, Menton, Nancy or Dijon
Spanish - Poitiers or Dijon
German - Nancy, Dijon or Paris
Italian - Dijon, Menton or Paris
Portuguese - Poitiers

Please refer to the table of languages for the required language level at each Sciences Po campus.

You will study at UCL’s Bloomsbury campus in the third and fourth years of your studies, where you will continue studying your chosen language alongside a social science or humanities specialism.

Students on the dual degree can choose the following specialisms:

• Economics (requires Mathematics at A* or equivalent)

• History

• Law

• Philosophy

• Political Science: Comparative and European Politics

• Political Science: International Relations

This is a dual‑degree course: upon successful completion of the full course, students receive two separate awards, one from UCL and one from Sciences Po. During the first two years of the dual degree course, which you will spend studying at Sciences Po, you will pay fees to Sciences Po. You can find details about tuition fees and financial aid at Sciences Po on their website.

We are seeking applicants who are intellectually curious, up to date on current affairs and passionate about learning about other countries with different languages and cultures. They appreciate the flexibility of our courses, and are able to work independently in a demanding, interdisciplinary academic environment.

Course structure

Modules fall into two groupings: language modules and humanities or social science modules.

You will specialise in one of these major subjects: Economics, History, International Relations, Philosophy, and Politics.

If you intend to specialise in Economics, Law or History while at UCL, you must take optional modules in the relevant discipline at Sciences Po. At UCL, language departments offer modules in language acquisition, literature, linguistics, history, history of ideas, art, films and social, political or cultural studies. The options offered vary by language department.

Modules

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).

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.

Compulsory modules

Sciences Po Year 1 (ESPS0037)

Your timetable will involve a programme of lectures, seminars and tutorials. As well as the core modules and modules designed specifically for students of this dual degree at Sciences Po and UCL, you will choose options in other UCL departments according to your area of specialisation. This gives you access to an array of teaching approaches.

We do not have any department-organized work placements. However, the department works with alumni to communicate opportunities arising, works with UCL Careers and also has an excellent track record of placing students in the UCL European Institute internship scheme. Sciences Po have their own network of contacts and opportunities, which students will have access to.

Some modules have a fieldwork component. These are clearly marked on the catalogue and any additional costs are communicated to student in a timely fashion.

Your work will be assessed by a variety of means, which may include written examinations, oral examinations, coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly contact hours vary depending on the year of study and on the choice of language and specialism. As a general rule, students spend between 10 and 15 hours per week in class. Approximately 50% of your time is spent in lectures and 50% in seminars or tutorials. Students typically dedicate 15–20 hours per week to independent study.

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 are 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

Fee comparison by study mode and student status.
Study mode	UK fee (2026/27)	Overseas fee (2026/27)
Full time	£9,790	£32,000

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. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.

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

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library (hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions). There are no course-specific costs for this course apart from those associated with studying abroad for two years. Some optional modules, such as those with a fieldwork component, may include additional costs. The department will endeavour to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds by covering some of these costs.

During the first two years of the course, you will pay fees to Sciences Po. You can find details about tuition fees and financial aid at Sciences Po on their website. Please note that UK students would not be able to access a tuition fee loan from Student Finance for the first two years of study. During the final two years of the course, you will pay fees to UCL, and tuition fee loans may be available from Student Finance for these years.

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 2026. 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).

During the first two years of the course, you will pay fees to Sciences Po. You can find details about tuition fees and financial aid at Sciences Po on their website. During the third and fourth years for the dual degree course, which you will spend studying at UCL, you will pay fees to UCL.

Applicants for the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship must apply for the scholarship when applying for the course. Applications cannot be considered at a later stage. If the application is successful, the scholarship will cover the period of study at UCL only.

Why study this course at UCL?

Spend your first two years of study at Sciences Po, the top ranking institution for politics in France* and the final two years at UCL, one of the world’s preeminent research and teaching institutions. The complement of social science and humanities specialisms on offer at UCL and Sciences Po enables a cohesive programme of study throughout your degree.

The course offers international mobility and an overseas experience. These features are invaluable assets for all young graduates starting a career. This dual degree course gives you the wide-ranging employability of graduates in PPE or international relations, but with the added maturity of studying abroad for an extended period, and the advantage of fluency in a foreign language. Essential for anyone seeking a career in an international context, and increasingly valuable for the financial sector or media roles.

Our graduates go on to build successful careers both in the UK, France, and around the world, working in fields such as journalism, government, and business science scholars and from the expertise of their European counterparts.

This degree is especially valuable for those considering international career opportunities. Graduates of the dual degree are eligible to apply for further study at Sciences Po, which may open up access to working opportunities in the EU.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Politics

Discover Uni

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

What this course will give you

Due to the structure and international orientation of the course, graduates have key transferable skills and are ideally suited for international careers.

Graduates will gain the following skills: Strong analytical skills and the ability to critically evaluate global political and social issues from interdisciplinary perspectives. Advanced research abilities, including independent project design and execution, in both an Anglophone and Francophone academic setting. Proficiency in academic writing, argumentation, and public speaking. High-level competence in a major foreign language and cross-cultural communication. Effective project management, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

According to the Graduate Outcomes surveys, graduates from UCL’s European and International Social and Political Studies department have gone on to work in a range of industry sectors, including: Charities, NGOs and international development (10.9%), Teaching or other educational activities (10.9%), Policy and Government (8.6%) and Banking and investment (7%). Employers of recent graduates from the course include: Deloitte LLP, European Parliament, French Embassy, PwC and the UK Government. Some continue to postgraduate study.*

*Graduate Outcomes Survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017 - 2023 cohorts.

Scientific research, development and analysis
Banking and investment
Policy and government
IT, technology and telecommunications
Charities, NGOs and international development
Academic research and HE
Hospitality, leisure and tourism
Teaching and other educational activities
Accountancy and financial services
Construction, built environment and property

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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.

The Dual Degree has approximately 20 places per year.

There is a three-stage selection process for this course. The first stage is based on your UCAS application, which we use to select candidates for the second stage.

Applicants to this course must take an assessment test as part of the admissions process. The TST is an online test, which means no travel to London is required.

We offer test dates once per month in October, November, December, January and February. Further information about the TST is available on our website. You can register for the test and select your test date on our website. A small number of outstanding students may be eligible for admission without the test.

High scoring candidates will subsequently be invited to attend an online interview conducted by staff from Sciences Po.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

Apply for this course

You are applying for the European Social and Political Studies (Dual Degree) BA course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.

Course starts: September 2027

UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.

Got questions? Get in touch

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European and International Social and Political Studies

eisps.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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European Social and Political Studies (Dual Degree) BA

Key information