Course summary

This course offers you both depth and breadth over three years of exciting and challenging study. Our students reach a high level of attainment and are well-prepared for postgraduate study, both in philosophy and many other subjects. This course equips you with skills, including textual analysis, clear written and verbal expression, collaborative problem solving, and critical thinking, that are valuable in a wide range of careers. In your first year, you will gain a grounding in the fundamentals of philosophy through two mandatory introductory units: one exploring issues in epistemology and metaphysics and the other concerning moral and political philosophy. You will also take units in critical thinking and logic, and units which explore both historical and contemporary debates in value theory, metaphysics and epistemology. You may also take units outside the department in your first year. In your second year, you complete your foundation in philosophy with a more advanced mandatory unit, which explores questions of what are real and foundational issues concerning normative domains, such as ethics. You will also have a range of optional units to choose from designed to help you develop your own core specialisation, explore different philosophical methods, engage in collaboration, and apply philosophical approaches to contemporary societal issues. In your final year, you will work on an independent study unit on almost any topic in philosophy, writing an extended essay in consultation with a supervisor with expertise in your chosen area. You will again have a range of optional units to choose from including interdisciplinary units, units that are directly concerned with civic engagement and social philosophy, and units that invite self-reflection. These final-year taught units relate to the diverse research interests and expertise of staff, allowing you to engage with contemporary philosophical debates.