This programme is full time and in person. It does not include any distance learning elements.
Your course
The programme provides for breadth and depth. At level 1, students will be exposed to core topics in each discipline through both compulsory and optional modules. This will allow them to begin to identify areas of personal interest which they may wish to pursue at higher levels. At higher levels, the programme is designed to provide the opportunity to acquire knowledge of and competence in a range of core topics and generic skills in each discipline, building on L1 exposure, or progressively specialise in a disciplinary sub-field (such as normative philosophy, applied philosophy or political systems). They may undertake a final year project in either of the disciplines. This enables students to build a personalised portfolio of knowledge and competencies in each discipline, which can be adjusted according to an individual student’s intellectual ambitions, needs, and interests.
The programme showcases the distinctive areas of research strength in Philosophy and Politics at Leeds. Modules at higher levels will offer the opportunity to engage with current research of academics in each of the Schools, especially at level 3.
At level 2, students have the option to study modules that are specifically focused on developing transferable skills for future employment.
At each level, students may study Discovery modules to expand their knowledge and/or skills beyond their programme of study, which provides a further opportunity to shape their study to their ambitions, interests and needs.
The programme has an international variant, which includes a study abroad year at Level 3, and an industrial variant, which includes a work placement year at Level 3.
Your future
Students will gain a suite of transferrable skills valued by employers, such as good organisational skills (gained through developing a personal path through their programme, engagement with study-related activities, and meeting assessment deadlines), independent research skills, the ability to analyse and interpret texts, information or data, the ability to analyse complex information from multiple sources, ability to construct arguments and to effectively communicate their views, and awareness of how cultural or historical context influences scholarship in the disciplines 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
At each level of study, students will have the opportunity to engage with material that demonstrates how each of the disciplines is relevant to contemporary issues and concerns (e.g., through race, gender, and culture, or debates about oppression, equality, justice and international obligations). In doing so, they acquire a developed and informed understanding of contemporary issues, their own stance on those issues, and so gain an understanding of their place in the world. Both politics and philosophy have an important role in explicating diverse ways of understanding the world, how our world is shaped and can be changed for the better.
[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 and a minimum of 40 credits in Politics (PIED) and 40 credits in Philosophy (PHIL), 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) | |
| PHIL1260 | How To Do Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED1110 | Comparative Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED1601 | Freedom, Power and Resistance: An Introduction to Political Ideas | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following optional Philosophy modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
Candidates may study ONE of the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED1212 | Making of the Modern World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED1511 | International Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1015 | Thinking About Race | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1022 | Philosophy Meets the World | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
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 and a minimum of 40 credits in Politics (PIED) and 40 credits in Philosophy (PHIL), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2011 | Philosophical Method (JH Programmes) | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2601 | Revolution and Reaction: Political Problems in the 20th Century | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| PIED2602 | Justice, Community and Conflict | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates who do not study PIED2602, must study:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2915 | How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least ONE of the following optional Philosophy modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2525 | Past Thinkers: History of Modern Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2605 | Why Trust Science? Topics in Philosophy of Science | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2615 | How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2631 | God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2906 | Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2925 | Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least ONE of the following optional Politics modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2139 | The Labour Party Since 1945 | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2161 | Media and Democracy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2301 | Politics and Policy in the EU | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2448 | Politics of Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2455 | State and Politics in Africa | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2463 | United States Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates who intend to study PIED3755 (the Politics dissertation module) MUST study and pass the following module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2721 | Approaches to Analysis | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
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) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students must study 120 credits.
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 and a minimum of 40 credits in Politics (PIED) and 40 credits in Philosophy (PHIL or PRHS), to be eligible for an honours degree.
Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3775 | POLIS Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| 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 studying one of PRHS3000, PRHS3001, or PRHS3700, MUST study at least 40 credits of Politics optional modules (Min 40/Max 60) AND at least 20 credits of Philosophy optional modules (Min 20/Max 40) from any of baskets A, B or C.
Candidates studying PIED3755 MUST study at least 20 credits (Min 20 /Max 40) of Politics optional modules AND at least 40 credits of Philosophy optional modules (Min 40/Max 60) from any of baskets A, B or C.
Basket A: Generalist:
(Min 0/Max 60)
| 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) | |
| 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 40)
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3012 | Ancient Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3112 | Kant | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3321 | Metaethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| 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) |
Candidates studying one of PRHS3000, PRHS3001, or PRHS3700, MUST study at least 40 credits of Politics optional modules (Min 40/Max 60) AND at least 20 credits of Philosophy optional modules (Min 20/Max 40) from any of baskets A, B or C.
Candidates studying PIED3755 MUST study at least 20 credits (Min 20 /Max 40) of Politics optional modules AND at least 40 credits of Philosophy optional modules (Min 40/Max 60) from any of baskets A, B or C.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3158 | British Foreign Policy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3171 | The Politics of national identity in the UK | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3261 | Violence and Reconciliation in Africa | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3343 | Gender, Violence and Security | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3590 | The Global Politics of Climate Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3605 | Confronting Tyranny: Adventures in Democratic Theory | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3612 | Rethinking Resistance | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3640 | Ethics and Politics of Human Rights | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3810 | Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may choose to study up to 40 credits of Discovery modules over both Level 2 and 3 or pursue additional modules in the two named subjects.
Last updated: 07/05/2026 16:55:46
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team