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With our BA Philosophy, examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong and challenge society's views about them.
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, especially Indian philosophy.
Philosophy is a flexible degree allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. You take six modules in your first year and only one is compulsory: Reason and Argument will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. You can also select modules from outside the department. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topics in more depth, with modules such as Ethics and Animals, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and Philosophy of Religion.
We achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy in the National Student Survey, 2020. You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. You will be encouraged to undertake work placements, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or third year.
Placement
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 final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
For more information, please visit the Philosophy website.
Overview
With our BA Philosophy, examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong and challenge society's views about them.
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, especially Indian philosophy.
Philosophy is a flexible degree allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. You take six modules in your first year and only one is compulsory: Reason and Argument will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. You can also select modules from outside the department. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topics in more depth, with modules such as Ethics and Animals, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and Philosophy of Religion.
We achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy in the National Student Survey, 2020. You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. You will be encouraged to undertake work placements, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or third year.
Placement
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 final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
For more information, please visit the Philosophy website.
Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.
Typical offer
BBB
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall
Extended Project Qualification
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDM
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0
For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.
Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students
For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.
Pre-sessional English language programme
If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
PP1RA | Reason and Argument | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
MM1F10 | Student Enterprise | DR Lebene Soga |
ML1IL | Introduction to Linguistics | DR Federico Faloppa |
ML1GEC | Greats of European Cinema | PROF Julia Waters |
LW1SOC | Law & Society | MRS Amanda Millmore |
LS1GL | Globalization and Language | DR Tony Capstick |
EC110 | The Economics of Climate Change | DR Stefania Lovo |
EC111 | Economic Policy and Social Problems | PROF Giovanni Razzu |
EC118 | Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World | PROF Ken Dark |
FA1MM | Modernisms & Mythologies | DR James Hellings |
CL1GH | Greek History: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age | DR Emma Aston |
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1TR | Texts, Readers, and Writers | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1SO | Ancient Song | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL1RH | Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
AR1FOR10 | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death [10 credit] | MRS Ceri Falys |
AR1FOR | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death | MRS Ceri Falys |
AR1EMP | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1REV | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
AR1REV10 | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present [10 credits] | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
AP1EM1 | Introduction to Marketing | MS Sandra Preciado |
AP1SB1 | Introduction to Management | DR Yiorgos Gadanakis |
PO1BRI | British Society | DR Dawn Clarke |
MT1CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO1INE | Inequality | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO1FRE | Freedom | DR Rob Jubb |
PO1IPI | Introduction to Political Ideas | DR Rob Jubb |
PP1WRI | Writing the Philosophical Essay | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1RG | The Right and the Good | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP1MM | Mental Machines | DR Nat Hansen |
PP1ML | The Meaning of Life | DR Luke Elson |
PP1GJ | Global Justice | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP1EL | Elementary Logic | DR Severin Schroeder |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
MM270 | Practice of Entrepreneurship | DR Norbert Morawetz |
ML2UNR | Unity, Nationalism and Regionalism in Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
ML2GF | Science, perversion, and dream in global fantastic literature | DR Daniela La Penna |
ML2STA | Society, Thought, and Art in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
LS2LAT | Introduction to English Language Teaching | MRS Suzanne Portch |
LS2LNM | Language and New Media | PROF Rodney Jones |
CL2RO | Roman History: From Republic to Empire | PROF Annalisa Marzano |
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL2CGH | Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander | PROF Timothy Duff |
AR2M8 | Medieval Europe: power, religion and death | DR Gabor Thomas |
AR2F17 | Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis | PROF Mary Lewis |
MT2CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO2PWS | Politics of the Welfare State | DR Brandon Beomseob Park |
PO2MIR | Modern International Relations | DR Joseph O' Mahoney |
PO2THI | Political Thinking | DR Alice Baderin |
PP2OID1 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 | MR George Mason |
PP2OID2 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 2 | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP2IDR1 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2IDR2 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 2 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2HKW2 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 2 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2HKW1 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2MM1 | Meaning and the Mind 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2MM2 | Meaning and the Mind 2 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2GP1 | Global Philosophy 1 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2EA1 | Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2EA2 | Ethical Argument 2: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2GP2 | Global Philosophy 2 | DR Shalini Sinha |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
GV3CC | Climate Change | DR Maria Shahgedanova |
GV3TRC | Tropical Rainforests, Climate & Lost Civilisations | PROF Frank Mayle |
GV3ESM | Ecosystems Modelling | DR Shovonlal Roy |
MM302 | Entrepreneurial Project | MR Keith Heron |
ML3LP | Language and Power | DR Federico Faloppa |
ML3IC | Identity and Conflict in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
LW3CRY | Criminology | PROF Paul Almond |
LS3IC | Intercultural Communications | DR Erhan Aslan |
BI3BI8 | Neurobiology | DR Nandini Vasudevan |
BI3EF7 | Urban Ecology | DR Phil Baker |
PO3FPT | Feminism and Political Theory | PROF David Marshall |
PO3USF | US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950 | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
PO3IPE | International Political Economy | DR Jonathan Golub |
PP3WMA | Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Mind and Action | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3SPA | Speech Attacks: bullshit, lies, propaganda | DR Nat Hansen |
PP3SSG | Society and State in Ancient Greece | PROF David Oderberg |
PP3SCF | The Scandal of Film | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP3RVK | Reason, Value & Knowledge | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3REL | Philosophy of Religion | MR George Mason |
PP3MED | Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Mediaeval Philosophy | DR Luke Elson |
PP3LA | Philosophy of Law | MR George Mason |
PP3AF | Are we free? | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP3BESR | Business Ethics and Social Responsibility | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3AEST | Aesthetics | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3FAI | Fairness | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3DIS | Dissertation in Philosophy | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP3CP | Chinese Philosophy | PROF John Preston |
PP3HGML | Happy, Good and Meaningful Lives | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3ILM | Independent Learning / Extended Essay | PROF John Preston |
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £19,500 per year
*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.
Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)
UK/Republic of Ireland students: £750
International students: £1275
Careers
Throughout our degrees, students complete career- and skills-related modules, encouraging them to think about what careers they would like and what skills they will need.
Philosophy will give you a range of transferable skills. In particular, skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and 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, local authorities and other universities. 92% of graduates from the Department of Philosophy are in work or further study 15 months after the end of their course [1].
Around one in four of our students continue their studies, including conversion courses and teacher training.
[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree responders from Philosophy.