UCL and Institute of Education announce new Q-Step Centre

UCL and the Institute of Education (IoE) have been chosen to host one of 15 Q-Step Centres to train undergraduates in quantitative social science. Q-Step is a £19.5 million programme designed to promote a step-change in quantitative social science training over a five-year period from 2013. Fifteen universities across the UK are delivering specialist undergraduate programmes, including new courses, work placements and pathways to postgraduate study. Expertise and resources will be shared across the higher education sector through an accompanying support programme, which will also forge links with schools and employers. Developed as a strategic response to the shortage of quantitatively-skilled social science graduates, Q-step is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The new UCL-IOE Centre will offer three new degree programmes in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), Quantitative Human Geography, and Population Health Science, alongside offering existing undergraduates social science training. The Q-Step Centre reflects our shared vision to expand rigorous undergraduate social science training.