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Undergraduate Study

Want to learn more about the place of science, technology and medicine in modern society? Interested in taking interdisciplinary courses with students from both the sciences and the humanities? We provide optional units, core course material and dissertation supervision to hundreds of students on undergraduate degree courses across the University.

Taking HSTM units as part of any degree

Undergraduates have several routes to study the history of science, technology and medicine (HSTM) with us. Depending on your degree course, you can:

You can find more information on any of these routes below.

HSTM option units

Whatever your area of study, most Faculties and Schools in the University allow you to take option units in HSTM.

If you are interested, you should check with your tutor, personal advisor or programme director whether these units are available to you. All units are delivered in 10 and 20-credit versions. 

Any questions? Please email our Programme Support Team.

UCIL units

The University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL) allows you to study units from across the University with as much freedom as you want if it fits in your timetable. Most of our HSTM units can be taken as UCIL units.

Any questions? Please email the UCIL Team.

Flexible Honours

The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (SALC) offers a suite of multidisciplinary study options through their Flexible Honours scheme. This allows undergraduate students on compatible degrees within SALC to take up to 40 credits per year in HSTM units as a Minor subject. 

This is a particularly attractive prospect for arts and humanities students wishing to explore the interface between the arts and the sciences. You may be the next Arthur C Clarke (or Michael Frayn)! Or you could define an unconventional study path leading to exciting careers in media, policy, and broadcasting. 

BSc Biology with Science and Society

This three-year undergraduate course is co-directed by CHSTM and includes historical and science communication elements in addition to biology. 

It is designed for biology students wishing to set the biosciences in their contemporary social context. Specialist areas include the critical history and social implications of genetics, evolutionary theory, biomedical sciences and modern medical practice.

Any questions? Please contact the programme director, Professor Matthew Cobb.