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2026/27

BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy with Placement Experience

  • UCAS code
    V591
  • A level offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Explore how philosophical thinking applies to real-world moral, social, and political issues – and explore philosophical concepts in a professional setting – with our BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy.

We are one of the only universities to offer a focused BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy with Placement Experience 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. 

Professional placement

This four-year degree includes an integrated, year-long work placement between your second and final year of study.

Supported by our dedicated placement team, you'll gain real-world experience and a range of transferable skills that are highly valued in the workplace. Your placement will enable you to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, and also provide opportunities for you to build your network.

We have excellent links with a diverse range of employers from industry, the public sector and the charity sector, meaning that we can help you find placements for a variety of career paths.

Over the years, students in the Department of Philosophy have completed a wide range of placements. Roles have included:

  • Education and Engagement Assistant
  • HR Intern
  • Communications Co-ordinator
  • Azure Specialist.

Students have worked at organisations such as the House of Commons, the University of Reading, Microsoft, and Enterprise Mobility.

Recent placements have also enabled students to examine philosophical issues in the workplace – for example, working at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.

If you would prefer to study this course without a placement year, you can choose our three-year BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy course.

Placement support

Our dedicated placement co-ordinator will support you throughout securing a placement, during the placement, and while transitioning back to university life.

From your first year, we will guide you through the career planning process and support you in identifying paid placements suited to your individual career interests. We'll also review your CV and application forms, build your confidence for interviews, tests and assessment centres, and help you prepare for receiving feedback.

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.

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. 

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: The home tuition fee for 2026 entry is £9,790. The home tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study.

New international students: £25,850 for 2026/27. The international tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study as set out in your student contract. For more details, please visit our Fees for International Students page.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the University of Reading sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

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.

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.

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.

Become a Global Sustainability Leaders Scholar

This exciting new undergraduate scholarship scheme is focused on creating a community of global sustainability leaders of the future. We are offering up to 400 scholarships per year, for high-achieving students from the UK and overseas.

Each scholar will receive £6,000 a year for maintenance and living costs, for up to four years of full-time study on their course (subject to terms and conditions).

Find out more about the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship scheme.

Throughout your BA Ethics, Value and Philosophy with Placement Experience degree, you'll complete specific modules that encourage you to think about what careers you might like to pursue and what skills you'll need.

In addition, our Careers team will support you with:

  • CV writing, placement applications, and interview techniques
  • developmental workshops, career advice sessions, and recruitment events
  • career mentoring and training sessions.

Your placement will provide you with experience of applying for roles and a year’s worth of valuable work experience to help you stand out. Many students in the School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics are offered jobs from their placement providers after they have completed their placement.

Studying philosophy will equip you with a range of transferable skills. You'll develop skills in clear thinking, strong moral reasoning, communication, logical and ethical analysis, and the critical assessment of argument.

These skills are all greatly valued in a variety of professional careers, such as:

  • law
  • environmental and business ethics
  • media and cultural analysis
  • politics
  • public policy
  • management
  • ethics consultancy
  • marketing. 

Recent graduates have found employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government, and recent employers have included the Ministry of Defence, Cambridge University Press, Yellow Media Works, local authorities and other universities.

Overall, 100% of our graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2025, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23; includes all Philosophy responders). Around one in four of our students continue their studies, including conversion courses, and teacher training.

Build the skills to succeed in your career – and contribute to a sustainable future

At the University of Reading, we help you turn your environmental and sustainability values into opportunities that make a difference to your career and the wider world.

Employers are already reshaping their businesses to respond to climate change, and they increasingly value graduates with expertise in environmental stewardship – one of the fastest-growing skill areas (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025).

During your time at Reading, you’ll have access to a wide range of opportunities and support. This will help you graduate with the knowledge and confidence to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges in your career.

In 2025, the University of Reading won the AGCAS Green Careers Award. Judges highlighted the impact of our Careers service and the positive outcomes our students achieve.

Explore climate and sustainability initiatives you can get involved with as a student at Reading.