BA Philosophy

at Durham University

Year 1

In their first year, you will take the Philosophy core modules of Ethics and Values, Knowledge and Reality, Philosophical Traditions, and Reading Philosophy. Reading Philosophy is a text-based course which examines in depth classic works by writers such as Plato, Hume, Murdoch and Sartre.

You will also take two further modules, which can be chosen from Science, Medicine and Society, European Philosophy, or an 'elective' module being offered by another department within the University.

Years 2 and 3

In the second and third years, you will have a choice of a wide range of topics.

In previous years these have included:
 

• Moral Theory

• Modern Philosophy I and II

• History of Science and Medicine

• Issues in Contemporary Ethics

• Philosophy of Religion

• Political and Social Philosophy

• Metaphysics

• Language, Logic and Reality

• Twentieth Century European Philosophy

• Philosophy of Science

• The Philosophy of Economics and Politics: Theory, Methods and Values

• Applied Ethics

• Philosophical Issues in Contemporary Science

• History and Philosophy of Psychiatry

• Biomedical Ethics Past and Present

• Philosophy of Mind.

You will also have the opportunity to study a subject in depth, by writing a substantial dissertation on a topic of your choice, in your third year.

As well as choosing modules from within the Philosophy Department in your second and third years, you can also opt to choose 'elective' modules offered by other departments within the University.

Placement

You may be able to take a work placement..

A level offer – AAA.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – DDD.

IB Diploma score – 37 with 666 in higher level subjects.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:
 

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study.

• We consider each application holistically. Whilst academic achievement is important, it is not the only factor that we consider when assessing applications and applicants who have achieved, or are predicted to achieve, close to our typical offer, but who have not met it exactly, will be welcome to apply if they have a strong application in other key elements, for example can demonstrate merit and potential through their personal statement or their reference.

• An interview may form part of the entry requirements for mature students with non-standard qualifications.

• We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

• If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Science A levels

Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.

The tuition fees shown for students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

Career opportunities

Philosophy

Of those students who graduated :
 

• 80% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:
 

• 69% are in high skilled employment

• With an average salary of £30,000.