BA Philosophy, Business and Ethics

Think deeply and critically about the big ideas behind the behaviours and values of people and organisations with our three-year BA Philosophy, Business and Ethics degree.

This course is offered jointly by the triple-accredited Henley Business School and the University of Reading’s Department of Philosophy. With a strong focus on business ethics, the programme will help you apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios, and its versatility will enhance your employability and help prepare you for your career after graduation.

During this course, you will:

• gain a firm understanding of the practice, concepts, and theories of business management, as well as the skills and competencies that will help you apply them.
• confront your deepest beliefs and assumptions in a philosophical way to inform you about current debates in philosophy. You’ll develop a sense of the significance of philosophical thinking in dealing with contemporary issues.
• combine rigorous analysis of core philosophical and ethical theory with practical and real-world applications in business contexts. 

The study of ethics forms an integral component of both the philosophical and business sides of the programme, preparing you to think through the ethical and commercial dilemmas that real-world decision-makers face. 

About Henley Business School

Part of the University of Reading, Henley is one of the oldest business schools in the UK. It is among an exclusive group of business schools worldwide that hold triple accreditations for the quality of its teaching and research. 

Its business programmes are ranked 5th in the UK for careers after 15 months (Guardian University Guide 2021, subject results for ‘Business, Management and Marketing’).

About the Department of Philosophy

Reading’s Department of Philosophy is in the top 125 in the world for History, Philosophy and Theology (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). We are ranked 7th in the UK for graduate propsects in Philosophy. (Complete University Guide 2023).

Your learning environment

Your studies will include lectures, seminars, and practical workshops, and you’ll be assessed through a variety of coursework, examinations and class tests. Examples of coursework include essays and written reports.

During your first year, you’ll learn core philosophical ideas and the basic concepts and methods of critical thinking, basic logic, and the psychology of reasoning. Meanwhile, your business modules will provide a strong foundation in strategy, marketing, and organisational behaviour as well as either accounting or data analytics.

As you progress through the course, you’ll gain a deeper awareness of philosophical thinking, the skills of argument and presentation, and the methodology of philosophy. You’ll also explore the nature, origin and limits of human knowledge. You’ll study business ethics in depth, and have the opportunity to select from a range of other modules offered by Henley Business School.

You’ll also work with organisations on live projects – for example, projects linked to social responsibility. And in addition to your focus on philosophy, business, and ethics, you’ll have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of optional modules outside of your core subject areas. 

Opportunities for study abroad and placements 

You can choose to study this degree over four years, allowing you to spend your third year on a work placement or studying at one of our partner universities abroad.
Shorter placements and study abroad trips may also be available.