Course starts: September 2027 Location: London, Bloomsbury

History and Philosophy of Science with Study Abroad BSc

This humanities degree examines the past and present of science, technology and medicine, as well as their global complexity. We combine approaches from history, philosophy, art and religion to ask important questions: Who makes knowledge? When is research unethical? What is good evidence for a theory? This course is also available with Study Abroad, with the option of studying an additional year in another country.

Key information

Full-time

4 academic years full time

UK: £9,790 per year
International: £39,200 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

To be eligible to study abroad in certain destinations, some students may be required to meet external partner requirements in respect of the students’ progression profile. Further information on study abroad is provided at the start of Year 1.

Grades: AAB
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4

Contextual offer

Grades: BBB
GCSEs: English Language 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 2

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

Explore the history of science, technology and medicine globally, from antiquity to the present day. Covering fundamental concepts, logic and ethics, this degree will help you understand science’s many methods – and give you a broad perspective on the origins of science and the role it plays in our modern world.

This degree aims to produce graduates ready to use deep historical and philosophical perspectives to interpret science’s influence on modern society.

With our focus on key skills, practical methods, and broader perspectives, we also aim to create versatile thinkers ready to engage with emerging issues.

The real strength of the degree is its flexibility and breadth across a wide range of themes in history and philosophy, underpinned by strong interdisciplinary connections.

We look for students who are intellectually curious and ambitious, those who are willing to throw themselves into topics that are both challenging and relevant. We want students who intend to understand what science and technology is, not just in a factual sense, but in a critical and analytic sense. We want students willing to critically examine science and technology, understand its historical origins, interrogate its underpinning philosophies and who are capable of placing it within its social, cultural and political setting. Our students come from richly diverse educational and social backgrounds, a number through the AccessUCL scheme.

Course structure

Students take 120 credits of modules each year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken.

In Year 1 students will take eight compulsory modules.

In Year 2 students will take four compulsory modules. Students will also take two modules selected from the modules offered by the department and two further modules that can be selected from the modules offered by the department or selected from other departments at UCL (subject to meeting any pre-requisites).

Students will spend the third year of their studies at a university in another country.

In their final year students will complete the compulsory 30 credit dissertation module. Students will also take five modules selected from the modules offered by the department and one additional module selected from the modules offered by the department or selected from other departments at UCL (subject to meeting any pre-requisites).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc Hons in History and Philosophy of Science.

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

Teaching is done via lectures and seminars. We encourage active student participation in seminar discussions. Some modules in years 2 and 3 will include field trips within London.

Coursework ranges from short position pieces to significant research papers. In addition to essays, we assess using posters, blogs, and multimedia projects. Practical work includes mock parliamentary reports, radio programmes, film production, oral presentations, and internet projects. Group work sometimes is used, as are unseen examinations.

Students receive an average of 8 contact hours each week over 10 weeks of teaching each term. Each term is 11 weeks with a reading week. In addition, students are expected to spend around 32 hours a week on independent study over the 11 week term. Independent study can include reading in preparation for lectures/seminars, wider reading, revising for examinations, completing written assessments and preparing presentations.

Contact hours may vary on the year abroad depending on the destination.

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	£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. 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

Studying abroad during your course at UCL is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200 and £1,000 per month, depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

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).

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.

Why study this course at UCL?

Explore the history of science from antiquity to the present and across the world. This includes following changes as scientific knowledge moves between different cultures.

Through our research-led teaching, acquire transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, arguing, well adapted to the 21st-century job market.

Investigate how scientific knowledge is intertwined with culture and society, and how historians and sociologists understand the past based on evidence from archives, libraries, museums and oral testimonies.

Investigate science as a way of knowing, including its many methods, fundamental concepts, logic, and ethics, and use science to develop expertise in areas of philosophy from aesthetics to metaphysics.

Learn how to use history and philosophy to access, understand, and challenge positions in contemporary debates about science and technology.

The department has a multidisciplinary team of academics working across broad-ranging research streams encompassing how science intersects with the world around us across history, philosophy, society, culture, the media, policy, ethics, nature, technology and the environment. This expertise informs our teaching and ensures our curriculum is up-to-date.

We offer paid summer internships for our students each year. These usually involve assisting an academic with their research, giving students an opportunity to get first-hand experience of research.

As a student in London, Europe’s best student city (QS Best Student Cities 2026), you’ll have access to world-class venues and nightlife, as
well as exceptional career opportunities.

Discover Uni

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

What this course will give you

History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) BSc develops employability and skills through its “Flexible Futures” career development strategy, aiming to prepare students for a wide range of careers while allowing them to follow their passions. Key aspects of skills and employability development include:

Broad Portfolio of Adaptive Skills: The programme builds expertise and a broad portfolio of skills, focusing on adaptive skill development for a future where change seems to be the only constant.
Core Competencies: Strong emphasis is placed on critical thinking,effective writing and presentation skills,research,and analysis. These skills are in demand across nearly all employment sectors.
Innovative Assessment & Portfolio Building: Students develop skills through a diverse range of assessments in addition to traditional essays and examinations, including short films, podcasts, blogs, multimedia projects, mock parliamentary and industry reports,and group work.

In this scientific and technological world, this programme provides an excellent foundation for many careers, especially those at the interface of professional science and the wider culture transnationally.

The knowledge and skills gained on the programme can also be used in the areas of science policy, think tanks, charities, science communication, journalism, education, museums, finance and law. Students may also go on to further postgraduate study or research.

Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) looking at the destinations of graduates in the 2017–2023 cohorts.

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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.

Selection will be made on the basis of information contained in the UCAS application: achieved and predicted academic grades, the level of interest in, motivation towards, and experience of the subject as indicated in the personal statement, the reference supplied, and any relevant contextual factors.

Selection

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

Apply for this course

You are applying for the History and Philosophy of Science BSc course. Please note that the course options presented as post-enrolment specialisms will be available for you to choose once your enrolment is confirmed. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.

Course starts: September 2027

UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.

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History and Philosophy of Science with Study Abroad BSc

Key information

Key information