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BA PHILOSOPHY WITH FOUNDATION

  • UCAS code
    V501
  • Typical offer
    CCD
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     4 years
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     4 years
View all

COVID-19 update


Find out about how we'll be delivering our courses in 2020.

Examine humanity’s most fundamental ideas, challenge assumptions about our world, and develop core academic skills with our BA Philosophy with Foundation course.

This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course. It provides an excellent route into a degree in philosophy if you do not have the typical entry qualifications.

Set your mind to tackling big topics: how one should live, what humans can know, and the nature of reality. We encourage you to confront your deepest beliefs in a philosophical way, engage with intellectual challenges, and enhance your global and multi-cultural awareness.

Experts from the Department of Philosophy will introduce you to central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. Discover the basic rudiments of philosophical argument, and explore topics that interest you — including mind, religion, ethics, language, crime and punishment, morality, and non-Western philosophy.

Studying philosophy allows you to develop wide-ranging, transferable skills. You will:

  • think critically and evaluate arguments
  • challenge your own ideas and those of others
  • enhance your skills in verbal and written argument.

Your learning will be enhanced by teaching from experts, in a department where 96% of research outputs were rated to be of international quality in the Research Excellent Framework 2014.

Your learning structure

The aim of the foundation year is to prepare you for your philosophy degree. As you progress, each stage builds on your prior learning:

  • Foundation year: gain a thorough grounding in study at higher education level. Core modules will develop key skills to support your learning.

You will complete two skills-based modules: Study Skills develops your academic writing, research, referencing, critical thinking, teamwork, study techniques and study management; and Persuasive Writing explores how writing shapes our lives, and how it’s used for social media, journalistic and political persuasion.

Two additional modules develop skills specific to your degree: Identities explores identity in relation to national/race identity, gender, changing identities and sense of self, examining everything from texts and objects to film and cultural documents; and Perspectives enhances your ability to study and understand problems, events, objects and texts from a variety of perspectives.

  • First year: familiarise yourself with the core topics of philosophy, and the concepts and methods of critical thinking, basic logic, and the psychology of reasoning.
  • Second year: acquire a deeper awareness of current philosophers, and the skills of argument and presentation. Greater emphasis is placed on developing your skills of research and enquiry. You will learn to present public arguments effectively, and respond to questions and challenges.
  • Third year: take the opportunity to develop full mastery of philosophy. Underpinned by independent learning, you will reflect on your personal effectiveness, self-awareness, and personal goals.

Dynamic learning environment

In 2019, we achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy in the National Student Survey.

You will be taught in small, interactive seminar groups which encourage discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Philosophy is a flexible degree, allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. You can also select modules from outside the Department.

Outside of lectures, you can also benefit from our vibrant social culture. Join our student-run Philosophy Society, who arrange a host of social events including film nights, sports activities and study sessions.

Placement opportunities with BA Philosophy with Foundation

A work placement can provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, and gain valuable, real-world experience.

At any point in your degree, you can undertake a placement in a company or charity relevant to your final-year studies. For example, a previous student worked in a zoo to explore the ethical treatment of animals.

Study Abroad

In your second or final year, you can spend a term studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in the USA, Europe, Canada, Japan or Australia. This is a great way to enhance your studies, make new friends and experience life in a different country.

To find out more, visit our Study Abroad site. 

Overview

This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course. It provides an excellent route into a degree in philosophy if you do not have the typical entry qualifications.

Set your mind to tackling big topics: how one should live, what humans can know, and the nature of reality. We encourage you to confront your deepest beliefs in a philosophical way, engage with intellectual challenges, and enhance your global and multi-cultural awareness.

Experts from the Department of Philosophy will introduce you to central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. Discover the basic rudiments of philosophical argument, and explore topics that interest you — including mind, religion, ethics, language, crime and punishment, morality, and non-Western philosophy.

Studying philosophy allows you to develop wide-ranging, transferable skills. You will:

  • think critically and evaluate arguments
  • challenge your own ideas and those of others
  • enhance your skills in verbal and written argument.

Your learning will be enhanced by teaching from experts, in a department where 96% of research outputs were rated to be of international quality in the Research Excellent Framework 2014.

Your learning structure

The aim of the foundation year is to prepare you for your philosophy degree. As you progress, each stage builds on your prior learning:

  • Foundation year: gain a thorough grounding in study at higher education level. Core modules will develop key skills to support your learning.

You will complete two skills-based modules: Study Skills develops your academic writing, research, referencing, critical thinking, teamwork, study techniques and study management; and Persuasive Writing explores how writing shapes our lives, and how it’s used for social media, journalistic and political persuasion.

Two additional modules develop skills specific to your degree: Identities explores identity in relation to national/race identity, gender, changing identities and sense of self, examining everything from texts and objects to film and cultural documents; and Perspectives enhances your ability to study and understand problems, events, objects and texts from a variety of perspectives.

  • First year: familiarise yourself with the core topics of philosophy, and the concepts and methods of critical thinking, basic logic, and the psychology of reasoning.
  • Second year: acquire a deeper awareness of current philosophers, and the skills of argument and presentation. Greater emphasis is placed on developing your skills of research and enquiry. You will learn to present public arguments effectively, and respond to questions and challenges.
  • Third year: take the opportunity to develop full mastery of philosophy. Underpinned by independent learning, you will reflect on your personal effectiveness, self-awareness, and personal goals.

Dynamic learning environment

In 2019, we achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy in the National Student Survey.

You will be taught in small, interactive seminar groups which encourage discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Philosophy is a flexible degree, allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. You can also select modules from outside the Department.

Outside of lectures, you can also benefit from our vibrant social culture. Join our student-run Philosophy Society, who arrange a host of social events including film nights, sports activities and study sessions.

Placement opportunities with BA Philosophy with Foundation

A work placement can provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, and gain valuable, real-world experience.

At any point in your degree, you can undertake a placement in a company or charity relevant to your final-year studies. For example, a previous student worked in a zoo to explore the ethical treatment of animals.

Study Abroad

In your second or final year, you can spend a term studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in the USA, Europe, Canada, Japan or Australia. This is a great way to enhance your studies, make new friends and experience life in a different country.

To find out more, visit our Study Abroad site. 

Entry requirements A Level CCD | IB 24 points overall

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we will guarantee you a place if you achieve one grade lower than the published offer.

Typical offer

CCD

We welcome applicants from non-traditional educational backgrounds (for example, mature students, students who study part-time or those who have studied at International Schools in the UK or elsewhere) and will consider applicants on a case-by-case basis.

International Baccalaureate

24 points overall

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3
  • Year 4

Core modules include:

  • Study Skills
  • Persuasive Writing
  • Identities
  • Perspectives 

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Core modules include:

  • Reason and argument

Optional modules include:

  • Human nature
  • Mind and world
  • Values and virtues

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Optional modules include:

  • Aesthetics
  • Ancient philosophy
  • Contemporary political philosophy
  • Early modern philosophy 1
  • Early modern philosophy 2
  • Ethics and animals
  • Introductory logic
  • Language and reality
  • Moral philosophy
  • Philosophy of mind
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Philosophy of science
  • Theory of knowledge

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Optional modules include:

  • Biomedical ethics
  • Contemporary moral theory
  • Dissertation in philosophy
  • Environmental ethics
  • Fairness
  • Free will and responsibility
  • Paradoxes
  • Philosophy of cognitive science
  • Philosophy of crime and punishment
  • Philosophy of language
  • Philosophy of Wittgenstein
  • The history of political philosophy

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year

New international students: £17,320 per year

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

You will be supported to develop transferable skills over the course of your studies. Clear thinking, logical analysis and critical assessment are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers, such as law, politics, management and marketing.

Additionally, our focused career-related and skills-related modules will help you to think about your future career and how you could get there.

Recent graduates of our Department have found jobs in a range of sectors, including:

  • the Civil Service
  • journalism
  • consultancy
  • finance
  • local and central government
  • higher education.

Around one in four of our students continue their studies, including conversion courses and teacher training.

Contextual offers


We make contextual offers for all our courses.

Take the next step


How to apply

Come to an Open Day

Get a prospectus

Ask us a question

Chat to our students

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Subjects A-B

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Medieval History
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teaching
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

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