Course summary

Our MA in Philosophy is designed for those who wish to broaden their study of philosophy and make a gradual transition to research. Philosophy is the study of fundamental questions connected to reality, existence, normativity, the mind, language, thought and our place in the world. Our MA programme allows you to study the many facets of philosophy at an advanced level, with tuition by world leading philosophers. You will learn how to develop your own ideas and your problem-solving skills, and how to be an independent, critical thinker. You will be able to engage with a number of themes that reflect the research specialisms of the Department of Philosophy, such as ethics, metaethics, metaphysics, causation, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of emotions and continental philosophy. The programme consists of four modules (two per term): Knowledge and Reality; Norms and Values; Reason; and Analytic and Continental Philosophy; plus the dissertation. There is one essay assignment per each module. The dissertation is 8,000-10,000 words and takes place over the summer with supervision from an expert within the department. The Department hosts graduate student seminars which are organised by students with a member of staff in observation. The aim of these is to improve students’ speaking and presentation skills. We also have regular research seminars, half of which are hosted by distinguished philosophers from the UK or further afield and which are supported by the Royal Institute of Philosophy. Other events that may be of interest include the annual Philosophy Reading Weekend and student-led reading groups. This programme is ideal for graduates of philosophy or related disciplines who wish to widen their knowledge of topics, gain more training in philosophical methodology, and/or narrow down their interests of specialisation in preparation for a PhD.