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BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy
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UCAS code
V590 -
A level offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2026/27 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
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Year of entry
2026/27 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Explore how philosophical thinking applies to real-world moral, social, and political issues with our BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy.
We are one of the only universities to offer a focused BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy degree.
Studying ethics, value theory, and moral and political philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to:
- think logically and evaluate arguments critically
- challenge your own ideas and those of other people
- understand central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts, and figures
- focus your studies on moral philosophy and the theory of value.
You'll be taught by leading experts within our Department of Philosophy, whose research strengths lie in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You'll also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, especially Indian philosophy.
In small, interactive seminar groups, you'll engage in discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students
This degree offers you the chance to study a wide variety of topics, from a number of different philosophical traditions. There are three compulsory modules in your first year:
- Reason and Argument
- Great Works in Philosophy
- The Meaning of Life.
These modules give you an introduction to moral philosophy and the skills required for all philosophy. You can select three further modules of your choice, with the Languages for All programme.
In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your interests in more depth, with topics such as environmental and business ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion.
Additionally, in your second or final year you can explore the subjects of Ethics, Value and Philosophy from another cultural perspective at one of our partner universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Developing your skills
Our modules will enable you to become a fully independent learner, able to reflect critically on your progress, strengths, and the goals you wish to achieve. Our methods are designed to teach you the skills you need, both throughout your degree and future career.
During your first year, you’ll learn to present your ideas, orally and in writing, in a clear and effective way. You’ll undertake modules focused on honing your ability to make your own arguments and assess the arguments of others.
During your second year, you’ll develop your skills of research and enquiry, and how to effectively present arguments in public. In your final year, your modules will focus on developing independent research and self-awareness.
Thought-provoking modules
Our teaching is shaped by our academics' research and introduces you to a wide range of philosophical traditions, often linked to contemporary debates. You’ll be able to choose from a vast breadth of modules and study philosophy in connection to real-world issues, such as democracy, freedom, religion, and climate change.
We offer considerable variety in the topics that we teach, including:
- ethics
- aesthetics
- philosophy of law
- philosophy of colour
- philosophy of film
- artificial intelligence.
You can either choose diverse modules to broaden your knowledge, or themed modules to focus your interests, enabling you to make an informed choice as to how to specialise as you progress through your degree.
How you’ll be assessed
There are no examinations for any modules offered in the Department of Philosophy. We’ll assess you through a variety of methods aiming to support different learning styles and enabling you to reach your highest potential, including:
- essays
- presentations
- group work.
Placements
Placements provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, as well as allowing you to gain valuable, real-world experience.
You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your studies. For example, a previous student worked in a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
You can also choose our four-year BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy with Placement Experience course, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third year of study.
Our dedicated placement coordinator will support you throughout securing a placement, during the placement, and while transitioning back to university life.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan, or Australia. For more information, please visit the Department of Philosophy website.
Reading Internship Scheme (RIS)
You can also apply for a paid summer placement as part of our Reading Internship Scheme (RIS). RIS offers a wide variety of internships across a multitude of sectors, including research internships on campus or with external organisations. Internships run flexibly throughout the year – both part-time during the semester and full-time during the summer vacation. You will gain transferable skills and a greater understanding of research methods.
Explore another perspective
You can opt to study another subject alongside philosophy on our joint degrees. Popular choices include History, Politics, Economics, Psychology, and International Relations.