Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy DPA

About this degree

Doctoral study at UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy (STEaPP) offers the opportunity to become a world-class interdisciplinary researcher at the interface of science and public policy. Candidates investigate and experiment with the ways science and engineering knowledge shape decision-making and help to address today’s major global challenges.

Research at UCL STEaPP is focused on co-production: we bring together academic, governmental, civil society and industry partners to tackle the pressing challenges facing our societies today and create opportunities to address them. Doctoral research is embedded within the different research groups. STEaPP draws together expertise on the analytic tools of the natural and engineering sciences, as well as those of social sciences, political sciences and policy analysis. Our research aims to help illuminate and better understand the societal systems through which knowledge flows (or does not) and in which it is used (or not).

Doctoral study at UCL's Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy (STEaPP) offers the opportunity to develop a career at the interface of science and public policy. The DPA is policy-orientated and cross-disciplinary research methods are deployed to give students a competitive edge. A placement within a real-world policy setting forms a substantial component of the programme.

A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Students acquire a body of knowledge on the role of science, engineering and technology in public policy decision-making, together with solid training in research methods and designing and executing research initiatives which are relevant and usable for external partners. This skill-set is ideal for a career path either as a senior-level scientific adviser or as an academic.