Genuine research-led teaching is at the heart of our programme at all levels, including themed modules at the introductory level, a flagship research-led research skills module at the gateway level, and specialist research modules at the specialist level. Students will not only gain exposure to the world-leading Philosophy research being done in our School, but will also have ongoing opportunities to see how this research applies to important real-world issues.
The key intent of the course is to provide students with knowledge of philosophical debates, thinkers and ideas, to develop their skills in academic research, and to provide students with personal and professional skills that can be easily transferred to employment contexts.
This programme is full time and in person. It does not include any distance learning elements.
Your course
The first year on the course combines a selection of core modules with an exciting range of optional modules. The core modules introduce students to key thinkers and areas of philosophy – for example, theories of knowledge, morality, political philosophy, historical philosophy and formal methods of argument. The role of the ‘taster’ options taken alongside the core modules is to give students a sense of what these different philosophical areas look like when applied to specific philosophical themes and questions – of religion, for instance, or the mind. Both the core and the optional modules will help students get a sense of which areas of the course they might like to specialise in at the higher levels.
In the second year students combine their choices from a wide range of optional modules with our year-long flagship module in research methodology. This core 40 credit module is designed to equip students with valuable research skills, gain exposure to cutting edge research in our discipline, and build a sense of community with others on their course.
In the final year students put their research skills into practice by taking an independent research project on a topic of their choice. Students combine this core 40 credit project with a shortlist of rotating specialist research modules that showcase the work being done by our staff in the School.
The programme has an optional international variant, which includes a study abroad year at Level 3, and an industrial variant, which includes a work placement year at Level 3.
At all levels students will be able to combine philosophy modules with Discovery modules from other subjects in the university.
Your future
Students will have the opportunity to gain important transferrable skills at all levels of the programme. This includes the personal skills involved in successfully engaging with learning and assessment activities, development of written and oral communication skills, and organisational skills involved in managing workloads. Their path through the programme will also provide opportunities to develop an awareness of how cultural or historical context influences scholarship in Philosophy and issues in contemporary society. These skills will help our students either transition into an employment environment after leaving us, or into further education if that is the route they choose.
Our world
Throughout the programme students will have the opportunity to develop their awareness and understanding of how debates and ideas in Philosophy apply to the wider world. This is facilitated both by modules on real-world issues, but also more generally in the application of abstract Philosophical ideas to real-world examples in teaching sessions and assessments. By the time they leave us, students will have had the opportunity to gain an informed sensitivity to real-world issues, their positionality with respect to those issues, and their place in the wider world.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits to progress to the next year of the programme.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1080 | The Good, The Bad, The Right, The Wrong | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1090 | Knowledge, Self and Reality | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1121 | Introduction to the History of Western Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1260 | How To Do Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1005 | The Mind | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1007 | Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1015 | Thinking About Race | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1022 | Philosophy Meets the World | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1109 | How Science Works | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits including any PFP modules to progress to the next year of the programme.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2323 | Research in Philosophy | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits and no more than 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2525 | Past Thinkers: History of Modern Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2615 | How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2635 | Universal Science: Topics in Formal Logic | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2906 | Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits and no more than 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2605 | Why Trust Science? Topics in Philosophy of Science | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2631 | God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2915 | How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2925 | Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules or one module from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSER2206 | Developing Your Professional Identity: Preparing for a Career in Within The Arts, Heritage and Creative Industries | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| FOAH2020 | Towards the Future: Skills in Context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits including any PFP modules to be eligible for an honours degree.
Candidates must take ONE of the following modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRHS3000 | Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3001 | Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3700 | External Placement: Beyond the University | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits and no more than 40 credits of optional modules each semester. They may select from any of the following baskets.
BASKET A Generalist:
(Min 0/Max 80)
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3011 | Philosophy of Language | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3014 | Truth | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3015 | Non-Western Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3125 | Continental Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3322 | Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3421 | Philosophy of Mind | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
BASKET B Specialist:
(Min 0/Max 60)
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3012 | Ancient Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3112 | Kant | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3123 | Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3320 | Philosophy of Biology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3321 | Metaethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3852 | Philosophy of Modern Physics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3865 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 20 | Not running in 202627 |
BASKET C Applied:
(Min 0/Max 60)
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3113 | History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3016 | Philosophy of Work and Play | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 07/05/2026 16:55:46
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