Degree

• BA (Honours) Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

  In this qualification you’ll explore human systems of thought and practice, both ‘secular’ and ‘religious’, in ways which allow you to engage with wide-ranging and often controversial issues affecting different cultures and societies. You’ll investigate a wide range of current questions and themes in these disciplines from both historical and contemporary perspectives. This includes the ethics of war, political justice, multiculturalism, religious nationalisms, the ‘sanctity of life’ and pilgrimage. In engaging with the core disciplines of religious studies and philosophy, you’ll develop critical skills and expertise in a range of key approaches and methodologies.

• BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (Philosophy)

  This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects. You will then take two specialist philosophy modules, discovering more about the ideas of philosophers past and present and learning to tackle the big questions of philosophy yourself. You will explore a range of debates in ethics and political philosophy, as well as questions about the nature of the self, the existence of God, and the limits of human knowledge.

  Alongside your study of philosophy, you can choose to study a second specialism from art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, music and religious studies. This will entitle you to include both subjects in the name of your degree, or complete your degree with modules chosen from a wide range of options.

• BA (Honours) Philosophy and Psychological Studies

  What is the self? What makes us happy? How do we know what other people are thinking and feeling? Do humans display irrational biases? How does the environment affect people’s physical and mental health? What is justice and why does it matter? How does science make progress and can we trust it? Is there a God? This fascinating course explores how we seek the answers to profound questions about ourselves, our minds, our behaviour, and our place in the social and physical universe.

• BA (Honours) Politics, Philosophy and Economics

  Where do social order (and disorder) come from? How can we make ourselves richer, and does society always gain? What does justice mean, how do we define our rights? Politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) – and the ideas and values that inform them – are central to how modern societies are organised and governed. This degree explores fundamental questions of power and ideology, beliefs and values, and how income and wealth are produced and distributed.

• BA (Honours) Social Sciences (Philosophy)

  This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll discover more about the ideas held by classic and contemporary philosophers and learn to think about the big questions of philosophy for yourself. You’ll explore a range of debates in ethics and political philosophy, as well as questions about the nature of the self, the existence of God, and the limits of human knowledge.

Diploma

• Diploma of Higher Education in Arts and Humanities

  This diploma of higher education encompasses a wide range of fascinating disciplines including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, French, German, history, music, philosophy, religious studies and Spanish. As you work through the course, you’ll develop your cultural literacy and deepen your understanding of the past – while sharpening your critical awareness and skills of debate and analysis. 

• Diploma of Higher Education in Philosophy and Psychological Studies

  What is the self? What makes us happy? How do we know what other people are thinking and feeling? Do humans display irrational biases? How does the environment affect people’s physical and mental health? What is justice and why does it matter? What is science? Is there a God? This fascinating course explores how we seek the answers to such profound questions about ourselves, our minds, our behaviour, and our place in the social and physical universe.

Certificate

• Certificate of Higher Education in Arts and Humanities

  This certificate provides a broad introduction to the arts and humanities, including history, art history, philosophy, classical studies, religious studies, music and English – expanding your cultural horizons while training you to think and argue clearly. Apart from sheer enjoyment, it offers excellent preparation for further study and will give your career prospects a boost. 

Postgraduate Diploma

• Postgraduate Diploma in Humanities

  This postgraduate diploma will suit anyone with appropriate entry qualifications who has a passion for the arts and humanities and is looking for an intellectual challenge. At present our postgraduate diploma includes subject lines in English and history.

Masters

• MA in Philosophy

  Studying this MA in Philosophy will hone your ability to think clearly and logically, and develop your writing, research and analytical skills. You'll study texts from different periods and philosophical perspectives, including works by Plato, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Hannah Arendt; and you'll investigate contemporary debates on environmental aesthetics, consciousness, global justice, emotion, and morality in politics. Finally, you'll undertake a substantial piece of independent research, writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.