10Feb
PostgraduateCourse summary
The Graduate Diploma in Philosophy enables you to pursue your ambition to study philosophy, be it to progress to an MA or to feed a desire to understand more about the study of knowledge and existence, and the contribution it has made to society for millennia. The course is offered over nine months full-time or 18 months part-time and does not require any formal background in philosophy as an academic discipline. You will select four optional modules, ranging in content from ethics and values to the history and theory of medicine, and from ancient philosophies to 20th century European philosophy. You will also be required to produce a dissertation. As a GDip student you will benefit from the wealth of activities in the Department, including joining EIDOS, the postgraduate philosophy society, weekly research seminars and reading groups, and occasional conferences, workshops and Royal Institute of Philosophy lectures. We not only pride ourselves on our reputation for excellence in research and teaching but also in being able to offer a vibrant and supportive place of learning for our student community. We are at the forefront of teaching and research in philosophy and how it may be applied to major issues that we face throughout the world. Our intention for you as a GDip student is to develop the skills and knowledge that will enable you to make a positive contribution in global debates and policy that informs the lives that we all lead.
Modules
Core module: A 12,000-word Dissertation on a topic of interest, chosen in consultation with your dissertation supervisor. The remainder of the course is made up of four optional modules, at least two of which must be at Level 3 and no more than one should be at Level 1. Examples of optional modules: Level 1 - Ethics and Values; Knowledge and Reality; Introduction to Logic; Reading Philosophy; History and Theory of Medicine; Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science; Level 2 - Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Religion; Political Philosophy; Language, Logic and Reality; Moral Theory; Theory, Literature and Society; Biomedical Ethics Past and Present; Science and Religion; Modern Philosophy I; Philosophy of Science; Philosophy of Economics: Theory, Methods and Values; Ancient Philosophies West and East; Level 3 - Modern Philosophy II; Aesthetics; Applied Ethics; Issues in Contemporary Ethics; Twentieth Century European Philosophy; Language and Mind; History of the Body; Philosophical Issues in Contemporary Science; Metaphysics; History and Philosophy of Psychiatry; Gender, Film and Society; 20th Century European Philosophy; History and Philosophy of Psychiatry; Ethics in Business Practice; Formal and Philosophical Logic.
Assessment method
This GDip course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and seminars totalling eight hours per week. There is also a requirement for you to carry out at least four hours each week of further independent reading and study for each lecture or seminar. The study of philosophy requires space for dialogue and the lectures include time for questions. Meanwhile, tutorials consist mainly of structured and critical dialogue in a supportive learning environment, while the seminars provide the forum for extending discussions. You will also be required to complete a dissertation which, alongside independent study, includes six hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision with an expert in your chosen subject area. Assessment is rigorous throughout the course and includes a combination of essays and exams depending on the options you choose, as well as the dissertation. Essays are based on the topics discussed in the seminar groups and on your own independent reading. The dissertation of between 12,000-15,000 words is completed on a subject of particular interest to you and will be written under supervision.
How to apply
International applicants
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for this course have been designed to encourage applications from as wide a range of interested and able people as possible, including mature students, who may have been away from university for a long time, and international students. As an applicant for our Graduate Diploma, you will usually have achieved a 2.1 or equivalent in a previous degree but this is not a strict requirement and decisions are made on a case by case basis. Additional requirements: At least one example of written work on a philosophical theme (up to 5,000 words).
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
For further information see the course listing.
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE