Subject overview

Programmes

• PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies
• MPhil in Science and Technology Policy Studies

SPRU offers research degrees (MPhil and PhD). The PhD may be achieved via two different routes: 

• doctoral research linked to prior study and research training in one of SPRU’s MSc degrees. This integrated degree may be taken by UK and other EU students as an ESRC-funded 1+3 degree. The expected duration of the combined degree is about four years 
• as a stand-alone degree of doctoral research undertaken by students whose prior research training in a relevant field has been equivalent to that provided by a SPRU Masters degree. In this case the expected duration of the degree is three years. 

SPRU’s research focuses on the growth, sustainability and responsible governance of science, technologies and innovation systems. We emphasise interdisciplinary interactions that underpin our distinctive perspective. Current research projects fall under three main headings: 

• Governance and sustainability 
• Innovation in firms and industries 
• National and international science and technology systems. 

These projects focus, for example, on strategy, structure and dynamics of innovating firms, research and technological change in high-tech industries, science and technology in developing countries, policy and regulation in energy and the environment, rethinking sustainable development, preventing the misuse of biological and chemical techniques, and the politics and economics of the ‘information society’. 

A major research theme concerns energy, climate change and sustainability, pursued via the Sussex Energy Group, and core membership of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the UK Energy Research Centre. SPRU also co-hosts (with IDS) the ESRC-funded STEPS (Social Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Centre. 

Recent research degrees and projects have included the following: 

Benchmarking the environmental performance of manufacturing firms 

Development of renewable energy technology in developing countries 

Developing practical ways for dealing with new risks and uncertainties 

Improved indicators of scientific, technical and environmental performance 

Innovation in energy networks to manage decentralised power 

Innovative management in collaborative software development networks 

Managing complex knowledge bases, skills and organisations 

Managing the development of integrated systems and services 

New perspectives on biomedical systems, especially genetics/genomics 

The management of innovation in firms, industries and countries 

The role of scientific evidence and expertise in public policy making 

Practitioners with knowledge and competencies in these and similar fields are increasingly sought after internationally, and students engaged in research-degree study at SPRU can expect excellent career opportunities in a range of roles in the academic, business or public-sector arenas. 

Coursework

Although the MPhil and PhD research degrees are assessed by thesis, you are expected to take assessed research and statistical methods modules. You may also be asked to take other specific modules in the first two terms, to fill gaps in your knowledge. 

Thesis research topics

SPRU attaches a high priority to integrating research students closely with its overall research activities. Thesis research topics may therefore cover a wide range of areas where this integration is possible. However, prospective applicants should consult with SPRU to review in more detail the research interests of faculty and the current thesis topics of research students. 

Entry requirements

MPhil in Science and Technology Policy Studies

UK entrance requirements

Normally a Masters degree in a field related to science and technology policy, or several years of equivalent professional experience.

Overseas entrance requirements

If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, please refer to Overseas qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

Note that it is only possible to begin this degree in September.

PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies

UK entrance requirements

Normally a Masters degree in a field related to science and technology policy, or several years of equivalent professional experience.

Overseas entrance requirements

If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, please refer to Overseas qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

Note that it is only possible to begin this degree in September.

Related subjects

• Business, management and finance
• Development studies
• Economics

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in Science and Technology Policy Studies

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £13,000³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £13,000³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

The research interests of selected SPRU faculty are briefly described below. For more detailed information, visit SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research: People and contacts.

Dr Allam Ahmed Technology management, technology transfer, sustainable development, international business. 

Dr Martin Binder Subjective well-being (happiness) and how it is impacted by health, occupation and forms of work organisation. 

Dr Rob Byrne Socio-technical change in developing countries that promotes equitable and sustainable development. 

Dr Rose Cairns Environmental politics and policy processes, the politics of expert advice, governance of emerging technologies. 

Dr Tommaso Ciarli Understanding changes in technology and institutions in processes of global development, growth and societal change. 

Dr Alex Coad Firm growth, industrial dynamics, small business sector, happiness economics, quantile regression, vector autoregressions. 

Dr Adrian Ely Innovation policies for sustainability and the international governance of biotechnology. Head of impact and engagement at the STEPS Centre. 

Dr Rumy Hasan Economist focusing on international strategic alliances, transitional economies, east Asia. 

Dr Sabine Hielscher Grassroots innovations in the context of community energy in the UK. Sustainable consumption and design. 

Dr Michael Hopkins Firm strategy and industrial competitiveness in biotechnology, genetic testing services in NHS/industry, DNA patenting. 

Dr Florian Kern Policies for and politics of socio-technical transitions, low-carbon innovation policy, energy and climate policy. 

Professor Mariana Mazzucato The relationship between innovation and economic growth at a firm and sectoral level. 

Dr Caitriona McLeish Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Warfare (CBW) Armament and Arms Limitation. 

Professor Fiona Marshall Science and international development, food safety policy and livelihoods in the developing world. 

Professor Ben Martin Technology foresight, comparisons of national scientific performance, university-industry links. 

Mari Martiskainen Consumer behaviour and energy demand, the governance of nuclear power and local stakeholder engagement. 

Professor Erik Millstone Public and environmental health protection policies, agriculture and development. 

Dr Jordi Molas-Gallart Defence industrial policy, evaluation and impact assessment of public policies in support of science and technology. 

Dr Piera Morlacchi Innovation of medical technologies, entrepreneurship and technology strategy in biomedical fields. 

Dr Paul Nightingale Chemist, Complex Product Systems Innovation Centre; genetics technologies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. 

Pari Patel National systems of innovation and uneven development, technological strategies of the world’s largest firms. 

Dr Ismael Rafols Emergence of hybrid scientific fields such as bionanotechnology and systems biology. 

Dr Matias Ramirez Relationship between labour mobility, networks of knowledge workers, communities of practice, and knowledge flows. 

Dr James Revill The interplay between science and security, particularly in relation to politics of biological arms control and disarmament. 

Dr Daniele Rotolo Network dynamics in the emergence of novel science and technology, scientometric mapping techniques. 

Dr Suriya Ruangpattana Development of mathematical methods to support decision making under uncertainty in energy modelling. 

Dr Carlos Sato Interplay of management, innovation and projects. Interdisciplinary approach to project management. 

Dr Maria Savona Economics of innovation and technological change in services and low-tech sectors, technical change in developing countries. 

Dr Josh Siepel Venture capital and entrepreneurial finance, strategic management of high growth ventures, firm growth. 

Dr Adrian Smith Civil society and technology, environmental policy process. 

Dr Steve Sorrell Energy and climate policy, emissions trading, energy efficiency, economics, transport modelling and policy. 

Professor Ed Steinmueller Economics of information, networks, and knowledge; science and technology policy. 

Professor Andy Stirling Management of technological risk, science and precaution in the governance of innovation, technological diversity. 

Dr Puay Tang International relations, socio-economic analysis of electronic service innovations, ICTs, IP rights in a digital environment. 

Professor Joe Tidd Innovation strategy and firm organisation, measurement of innovation and market performance. 

Professor Jim Watson Development and deployment of cleaner energy technologies, energy and environment in developing countries. 

Professor James Wilsdon UK and international science policy, the politics of expert advice, governance of new technologies. 

Careers and perspectives

We have extensive links with business and policy-making organisations, and emphasis is given to strengthening students’ skills and competencies for employment. 

Students engaged in research-degree study at SPRU can expect excellent career opportunities in a range of roles in the academic, business or public-sector arenas. 

School and contacts