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BA Art and Philosophy

  • UCAS code
    VW51
  • Typical offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Develop your independent practice, experience life in another country, and understand the theories and ideas behind contemporary art on our BA Art and Philosophy. 

Studying philosophy alongside art allows you to consider the medium from a range of perspectives.

You will join a lively community at Reading School of Art and explore a vast range of media, experiment with emerging art forms, and develop as an artist. The studios are a busy place with events, screenings, performances and exhibitions happening regularly. You will receive a dedicated space, accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and a studio tutor to help develop your individual and professional practice.

Trips to museums and art galleries help prompt thoughts on how art is displayed and received. You will gain professional experience by taking part in your own exhibitions, public art commissions and other events. Your teaching staff are all artists, curators and researchers of international standing and will encourage regular exhibitions and open debate.

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, in particular Indian philosophy.

Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In following years you will explore a wide range of subjects and explore the overlap between art and philosophy.

Placements and collaborations are actively encouraged and there is also the option to experience life in another country by studying abroad. Throughout your degree you will receive advice and guidance on your career development.

Placement

A great deal of importance is placed on real-world art experiences in work placements. Past students have enjoyed internships at Studio Voltaire and the Frieze Art Fair. Others have performed at the ICA, taken part in an Arts Council–supported film project at the Museum of English Rural Life and participated in an international exhibition at the Seoul Institute of Arts in South Korea.

There are also several opportunities – across all our undergraduate courses - for you to study abroad at an international university. Institutions include the Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver, Canada; Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA; Monash University, Australia; and National Taiwan University of the Arts in Tapei, Taiwan; as well as Art Universities in Dijon, France; Zurich, Switzerland; Budapest, Hungary; and Tampere, Finland.

For more information, please visit the Reading School of Art website.

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

New international students: £20,300

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.

Placement year fees

If you spend a full year on placement, you will only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee for that year. For more information, please see our fees and funding pages or contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

As well as the practical experience gained on this degree, our students also graduate with a range of transferable skills, such as self-motivation, time management, and strategic thinking. They also develop greater self-confidence and are better able to express themselves.

97% of leavers are in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19; First Degree responders from Art). Many of our graduates develop successful careers as artists, writers and curators. These include a number of famous alumni, such as Turner Prize-nominated artists, and PhD students who are award-winning artists and curators at influential museums. Other graduates have found employment in galleries, education, art therapy, and film and video production. Recent employers include Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Christies, Microsoft, the BBC, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Manolo Blahnik.

91% of graduates from the Department of Philosophy are in work or further study 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19; First Degree responders from Philosophy). Studying philosophy enables you to develop a range of transferable skills in clear thinking, logical analysis, and the critical assessment of argument. Such skills are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing.