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BA Philosophy
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UCAS code
V500 -
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
Examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right, and wrong – and challenge society's views about them – with our BA Philosophy degree.
Designed to broaden your perspective, this degree immerses you in philosophy's most important questions, introduces you to major traditions and methods, and allows you to explore a wide spectrum of topics through your studies.
Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to:
- think logically and evaluate arguments critically
- challenge both your own ideas and those of other people
- understand the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts, and figures.
You'll be taught by leading experts within our Department of Philosophy, whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You'll also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, particularly Indian philosophy.
In small, interactive seminar groups, you'll engage in discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. You'll be encouraged to undertake work placements, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or third year.
In the recent National Student Survey, 98% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025, 97.5% of responders from the Department of Philosophy).
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
We encourage you to take placements as they 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.
You can also choose our four-year BA 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.