Subject guides / Science Communication
Science Communication
Also appears in programme titles as: Public Engagement with Science · Science Media
What a science communication degree actually is
Between every lab and every public decision sits a translation problem — vaccines, climate models, AI risk — and science communication is the profession built to solve it. Degrees here train science journalists, museum and outreach professionals, and the communication teams of research institutions.
Imperial's MSc is the field's London flagship (taught inside a science powerhouse); UCL's sits in the world's top-ranked education faculty's orbit; Sheffield offers the value UK entry; ANU anchors the Asia-Pacific; MIT's one-year Science Writing SM is the elite craft-writing route.
What you study — and the bar to entry
Science media and journalism practice, public-engagement theory and evaluation, risk and crisis communication, and production work — writing, audio, video, exhibitions. Most cohorts mix science graduates learning to communicate with communicators learning to handle science; both convert well. No quantitative bar; the portfolio and writing sample carry admissions weight.
Where it leads
Science journalism (shrinking but prestigious), press and communication offices of universities, research funders and journals, museums and science centres, health-communication teams (the fastest-growing segment post-pandemic), and policy-communication roles at scientific academies. Institutional communication is where most of the actual jobs are.
Who it suits — and who it does not
A good fit if you are…
- Science graduates who write better than they pipette — and know it
- Journalists and communicators specialising into the science beat
- Researchers moving into engagement, funding-agency or museum careers
Probably not the right degree if…
- Scientists seeking a research career boost — this is a career change, not an add-on
- Applicants who want pure media production without the science-in-society theory
- Anyone expecting newsroom-scale salaries in institutional roles
Where to study it: the programme map
Five verified programmes: three UK one-year entries (Imperial, UCL, Sheffield), ANU's two-year Asia-Pacific anchor and MIT's craft-writing SM. Edinburgh's MSc closed to recruitment and is deliberately absent.
| University | Official programme title | Length | Tuition (intl) | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian National UniversityAustralia | Master of Science Communication | 24 mo | AUD 56,120/yr | — |
| Imperial College LondonUnited Kingdom | Science Communication MSc | 12 mo | GBP 31,200 | — |
| Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States | Master of Science in Science Writing | 12 mo | — | — |
| University College LondonUnited Kingdom | Science Communication MSc | 12 mo | GBP 35,400 | — |
| University of SheffieldUnited Kingdom | Science Communication MSc | 12 mo | — | — |
Every row verified against the official programme page; oldest verification 16 Jul 2026. Nothing here is a paid placement.
Application strategy and funding routes
Imperial (£31,200) and UCL (£35,400) are the prestige one-year Chevening-compatible entries; Sheffield undercuts both. MIT's Science Writing SM is small, elite and Fulbright territory. Health- and climate-communication capacity narratives — "my country's public-health messaging failed and I can fix it" — are strong and current scholarship material.
Which scholarship funds which programme
Computed from each scheme's published rules (destination, level, course length) — not a guarantee; list-based schemes still require checking the official list.
- Australian National University
- Imperial College London — study destination outside the scheme
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — study destination outside the scheme
- University College London — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Sheffield — study destination outside the scheme
- Australian National University — study destination outside the scheme
- Imperial College London
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — study destination outside the scheme
- University College London
- University of Sheffield
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a science degree?
Most programmes prefer one but admit strong communicators without; what you cannot skip is demonstrable comfort with scientific material. A portfolio piece explaining a hard paper well beats a biology transcript.
Is science journalism a viable career?
The dedicated newsroom jobs are few and competitive; the honest picture is that most graduates work in institutional and health communication, which is growing. Enter for the wider field, not just the byline.
Which fits Chevening?
Imperial, UCL and Sheffield — all one-year UK. ANU is Australia Awards territory; MIT is Fulbright territory.
Related fields
Sources
Official programme pages (linked per row above) · official scholarship rules and participating-programme lists · university admission regulations. Every data row records its source URL and verification date; stale rows are re-checked or removed.
Global Study Prep is independent and not affiliated with any university or scholarship programme. Programme details change — always confirm on the official page before applying.