About this course
Is there a god? Are our minds separate from our bodies? How much can we ever really know? On this 3-year BA Philosophy degree, you'll grapple with some of the most profound questions. You'll also develop critical thinking and analysis skills that will be essential in your future career.
This course will help you develop your own thoughts on abstract issues and introduce you to philosophical debate. You'll explore questions in core areas, such as:
- ethics
- epistemology
- metaphysics
- philosophy of mind
- political philosophy
You'll apply philosophical thought to practical questions on subjects including:
- global poverty
- future generations
- sex and gender
- artificial intelligence
As part of this course you can:
- get involved in many events, including talks by visiting philosophers and activities arranged by the student-led Philosophy Society
- take part in other Philosophy courses and events run by the Lifelonglearning team, where you can discuss philosophy in an informal, relaxed atmosphere
- develop research and presentation skills
- choose from a wide range of optional modules to follow your interests
- explore subjects as varied as aesthetics and Islamic philosophy
Year abroad
A year abroad will enhance your understanding of philosophy and let you experience a new culture. Discover more benefits and financial support options for studying abroad.
Apply using:
- Course name: Philosophy With A Year Abroad
- UCAS code: QV36
Year in employment
Enhance your employability by taking this course with an industrial placement year.
You'll spend this extra year applying the skills and knowledge you've learned so far.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

There is good support for finding jobs with a humanities degree, with job fairs and interviews with alumni to see how they used their degree to find a job.

Digital humanities have a dedicated facility for podcasting, which I used to make podcasts with the philosophy society. The courses are challenging, but interesting, and have helped me understand various topics in philosophy.
“I was interested in the diversity of topics and choice, it felt like we could design our own degree depending on if we preferred ethics or more metaphysical questions.”
Course location
This course is based at Avenue.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载.
天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202526
A-levels
ABB
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: BBB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
RQF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AB in two A levels
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
QCF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AB in two A levels
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 M2 M2 in three principal subjects
Welsh Baccalaureate
ABB from 3 A levels or AB from two A levels and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
T-Level
Not accepted for this course.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
- our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
- skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Foundation programmes for international students
A foundation programme will give you the language skills and subject knowledge you need if you're not qualified for direct entry to your chosen undergraduate course.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the foundation programme.
Find out more about undergraduate foundation programmes for international students.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
For Academic year 202627
A-levels
ABB
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: BBB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
RQF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AB in two A levels
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
QCF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AB in two A levels
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 M2 M2 in three principal subjects
Welsh Baccalaureate
ABB from 3 A levels or AB from two A levels and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
T-Level
Not accepted for this course.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
- our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
- skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Foundation programmes for international students
A foundation programme will give you the language skills and subject knowledge you need if you're not qualified for direct entry to your chosen undergraduate course.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the foundation programme.
Find out more about undergraduate foundation programmes for international students.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
BA philosophy ensures that your learning is progressive and the first year gives you a grounding for the rest of your studies.
We have a broad and flexible curriculum, and offer a combination of small group and one-on-one tuition each year.
You'll have the freedom to shape your degree to suit your interests by choosing modules from a wide range of options, including modules outside philosophy.
You can enhance your studies by selecting:
You don't need to choose your modules when you apply. Your academic tutor will help you to customise your course.
Year 1 overview
You'll take compulsory modules in areas such as ethics, mind and world, and reason and argument. We'll introduce you to core areas of philosophy and the contributions of major figures.
You’ll also choose from optional modules such as:
- faith and reason
- existentialism
- political philosophy
- puzzles about art and literature
Year 2 overview
You’ll take a compulsory module where you'll learn about the history of philosophy in the 17th and 18th centuries.
You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules to investigate the theories, views and arguments in central areas of philosophy. These include:
- moral philosophy
- aesthetics
- logic
- ethics of global poverty
Year 3 overview
For your dissertation, you’ll demonstrate your research and planning skills by completing an independent research project.
You’ll also select further optional modules. These usually cover topics which academic staff are actively researching, and will introduce you to the latest thinking.
Options include:
- studying the work of Nietzsche or Heidegger
- looking at classical Indian or Islamic philosophy
- philosophy of sex
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
Ancient Greek Philosophy
One can plausibly claim that two ancient Greeks, Plato and Aristotle, set the foundations for European philosophy and through it, much of contemporary philosophy. Therefore, a full philosophical education demands some understanding and critical engagement...
Ethics
We all make moral judgements every day. Today you might have decided not to push into a queue because it would be unfair. You might think that murder is wrong but that it is still not permissible for the state to take an innocent life in retribution. You ...
Human Understanding and Understanding Humans
Human understanding comes in many forms, though science in particular is often today lauded as its highest form. But what is science, and how does it differ from other forms of human understanding? What distinctive challenges arise for science when—in the...
Reason and Argument
One of the main reasons the study of Philosophy is valued by employers is that it develops an ability that is invaluable in all sorts of contexts: the ability to reason rigorously and correctly. All Philosophy modules aim indirectly to develop this skill,...
Truth, Knowledge, and Objectivity
The central goals of enquiry are to discover what the world is like and how we ought to live. A simple and initially attractive picture is that there is a world independent of us that we can learn about via experience, and via reasoning. But both parts of...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:
Applications of Linguistics
This unit will introduce you to the main areas relevant to applied language studies.
Applied Ethics
In both public and private life, we face difficult and pressing ethical questions every day. Should we give a proportion of our wealth to those in developing countries? Should we allow doctors to perform abortions or euthanasia and, if so, under what circ...
Faith and Reason
Debates between believers and non-believers are often fierce and can appear intractable, while the differences between them leads to social tension, conflict, and even war. Non-believers frequently charge believers with irrationality; in response, believe...
Freedom and Responsibility
Human beings have free will, and that is why they are responsible for their actions and choices. Or so we tend to think. But is it really so? Are our choices and actions not determined by factors outside our control—are they not the inevitable upshot of c...
Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
Biological science tells us what items in our world are potentially edible, but culture decides what constitutes food. Culture informs us as to whether a specific item is appropriate, appetising, valued, desirable, prohibited, restricted, staple or medici...
Philosophical Perspectives on the Common Law
This module provides you with a critical introduction to the philosophical development of the common law through an examination of key concepts and principles within private and public law that are essential for full and critical engagement with the subst...
Puzzles about Art and Literature
Both individuals and society attach great importance and value to certain works of art, including poems, novels, films, plays, symphonies, and paintings. Most of us spend a considerable amount of our limited time and resources acquiring, creating, experie...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following module in year 2:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
You might watch a stunning film, hear a delightful song, enjoy a beautiful sunset, read a dreadful poem, attend an elegant dance, or see a garish building. Experiences like this can stimulate thoughts and feelings of great depth, and provide pleasure or d...
Anarchism in Theory and Practice
Debates in political theory tend to focus on what the best form of government would look like, and on values of the term 'best' in this context. This module aims to move beyond these more traditional debates and critically assess the political perspective...
Animal Ethics, Animal Minds
Human treatment of animals has always been a major ethical question, and one that is gaining increasing public attention. We use and interact with animals in a variety of contexts that can have a significant impact on their lives and wellbeing. This modul...
Corpus Linguistics: Working with large-scale text data
In this module, we introduce corpus linguistics as an approach to and method for analysing large-scale text data. We will develop an understanding of building and curating datasets, annotating data, and using quantitative and statistical measures for lang...
Data Environmentalism
Data is material. It is produced by people, it is made possible by resource extraction, it needs power to survive, it inhabits and resculpts the landscape. The use of data, then, contributes to climate catastrophe, but that role can be hard to see, hidden...
Data, Culture, and Justice
Data organise our present and shape our future. Those data are never neutral because they are the product of human labour, of choices made by people about what data to record, how to record it, and who is best equipped to do that recording. Drawing on wor...
Democratic Theory
Most states claim to be democratic. This module looks at the theory of democracy, including foundational questions about political inclusion, participation, and equality. As a result, students will develop a greater understanding of what democracy require...
Epistemology: Knowledge and Evidence
Epistemology is dedicated to questions about the nature and structure of knowledge and justified belief. Some central questions in epistemology include: - What is knowledge? Why is it valuable? - To gain knowledge from a reliable source, does one n...
Ethics of Global Poverty
Ethics of Global Poverty examines the duties of affluent people towards those living in poverty around the world. Among the questions we will examine are: What obligations do we have to help strangers in need? What bases might such obligations have? Are s...
Globalisation: Culture, Language and The Nation State
This module will problematize the concept of globalisation and explore and develop an understanding of its meaning in economic, political and cultural terms. Furthermore, we will examine the ideological struggle between competing forces over the nature an...
How the Arts Work: A Practical Introduction to Cultural Economics
How are the arts getting back to work again after Covid-19? This is a critically important question for everyone who cares about them, artists and audiences alike. If you’re a student considering a career in the arts you’ll want to know where fresh opport...
Humanities and Professional Practice
This module offers you the opportunity to engage in one or two subject-related placements, totalling a minimum of 40 hours. It will enable you to explore how the skills and knowledge gained through your Humanities degree can be applied in the workplace, w...
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Psychology will touch on a number of core topics in Psychology including The Science of Psychology, Sensation, Perception, Memory, Social Cognition, Attitudes and Emotions, Interpersonal/Group Processes, Development & Health Psychology, an...
Kant’s Copernican Revolution in Philosophy
Among philosophers in the modern era, Immanuel Kant is widely acknowledged as the most important, original and influential. His challenging book, Critique of Pure Reason, asks what we can know about the nature of reality at the most fundamental level. Can...
Learning about Culture: Introduction to Ethnography
Logic
Ever since Aristotle, philosophers have been interested in developing formal systems of logic to refine our ability to distinguish valid from invalid arguments and to further our understanding of the nature of logic and validity. The aim of this module is...
Metaphysics: The Nature of Reality
Metaphysics is the study of what kinds of things there and what they are like in the most general terms. We have both a common sense picture of the world and a scientific picture of the world, and sometimes these two appear to conflict. Part of the job of...
Moral Philosophy
Moral philosophy is concerned with questions of right and wrong, good and bad, virtue and vice. Such questions are familiar: can it be right to lie to someone to avoid hurting their feelings? Is it okay to favour my friends and family, or should I be impa...
Philosophy of Religion
Can there be a proof that God exists? Or might phenomena such as suffering serve to show that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent being cannot exist? Such questions are central to the philosophy of religion; attempting to answer them leads us to ...
Queering the Digital
In this module, we will investigate and reflect on the various entanglements between Queerness and digital technologies. Drawing from foundational concepts in Queer theory and gender studies scholarship, this module deconstructs and reconceptualises domin...
Self, society, nature, and normativity
Belief in a universal human nature is out of fashion. Instead human beings are seen as profoundly shaped by their social, cultural, historical and linguistic context. But the latter vision poses problems of its own: it may seem to lead to a relativism tha...
Sweatshops, Sex workers, and Asylum Seekers: World Literature and Visual Culture after Globalisation
What can the voices and narratives of sex workers and asylum seekers depicted in world literature and visual culture tell us about the conditions and pressures of life in the contemporary world? How might considerations of narrative technique, genre, and ...
The Mind, The Brain, and Consciousness
Philosophy of mind explores questions about the nature of the mind and mental states – states such as perceptual experiences, beliefs, desires, and emotions. What is the mind? Is it an immaterial substance? Is it the brain? Is it something like a computer...
Year 3 modules
You must study the following module in year 3:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
Anarchism in Theory and Practice
Debates in political theory tend to focus on what the best form of government would look like, and on values of the term 'best' in this context. This module aims to move beyond these more traditional debates and critically assess the political perspective...
Business, Morality, and Markets
Business can be understood narrowly as the part of life in which we exchange services and goods. But in contemporary society, many of us spend a large part of our lives conducting business—either working within firms or for ourselves—and all of us engage ...
Classical Chinese Philosophy
Political and military tumult would not seem an ideal backdrop for contemplation, but out of China’s Warring States period emerged a rich variety of philosophical thought; indeed, this period became affiliated with the ‘Hundred Schools of Thought’. Some o...
Classical Indian Philosophy:?Self, Knowledge, and Liberation
Philosophy flourished in classical India for well over a millennium, with figures in this tradition producing works that are on a par with those of figures in ancient Greece and late antique and medieval Europe. In fact, figures in classical India contri...
Contemporary Theories of Justice
The aim of this module is to familiarise you with several important, but competing, theories of justice. Such theories give guidance on important questions of distributive justice (who ought to get what, when and why?), and provide, to varying degrees, gr...
Crime and Punishment
We often take it for granted that one job of the state is to catch and punish murderers, thieves, and fraudsters. But we shouldn’t take this for granted. Criminal punishment is one of the worse things the state is allowed to do to us, as it intentionally ...
Democratic Theory
Most states claim to be democratic. This module looks at the theory of democracy, including foundational questions about political inclusion, participation, and equality. As a result, students will develop a greater understanding of what democracy require...
Exploring the Hidden Assumptions in Education
Education is closely connected to some of the most profound questions of the human experience and social life more broadly. In this module you are invited on an exciting journey to explore the ethical assumptions, truth claims, and purposes that underlie ...
Fantasy Film and Fiction
Fantasy film and fiction spans a wide range of texts, from Gothic 'classics' and feminist fairy tales, to Utopian literature and musicals. Analysing fantasy texts alongside psychoanalytic and cultural theories will enable you to engage with questions conc...
Happiness and Wellbeing
It seems clear that people’s lives can go well or badly. But what is it for one’s life to go well? Does it consist in feeling good more often than feeling bad? Or getting most of what you want? Or does it consist in achievement, friendship, knowledge and ...
Heidegger and the Philosophy of Being
This module aims to introduce and explain some central themes of Heidegger’s early masterpiece, Being and Time. It will explore central concepts such as Being-in-the-world and authenticity and how they relate to established philosophical issues, including...
How the Arts Work: A Practical Introduction to Cultural Economics
How are the arts getting back to work again after Covid-19? This is a critically important question for everyone who cares about them, artists and audiences alike. If you’re a student considering a career in the arts you’ll want to know where fresh opport...
Islamic Philosophy
There is a rich and often overlooked tradition of Islamic philosophy, or 'falsafa'. This module focuses on the classical period of the Islamic Golden Age, from Al-Kindi, via Ibn Sina (also known as Avicenna), to Ibn Rushd (also known as Averroes). The cla...
Other Minds
For most of us, there is nothing more fundamental than our ability to interact with other people. We cooperate and compete in complex ways. Competing and cooperating in these complex ways requires that we understand and respond to many aspects of each oth...
Philosophical Pessimism
Philosophical pessimism argues in various ways that life is negative in value, the most extreme position being that it would have been better not to have existed. It provides a challenge to many philosophical and commonsense assumptions about value. In th...
Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
The science of psychology and the project of artificial intelligence raise profound philosophical issues as they attempt to understand, simulate and even go beyond human thought. Some concern the kind of explanation that these ventures seek: If we underst...
Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
In this module you will explore some major philosophical questions related to sex, sexuality and gender. We will consider general questions about the nature of sex, sexuality and gender: What makes an act sexual? What is a sexual orientation? What is gend...
The Ethics of Climate Change
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. Climate change is having an increasing impact on individual lives, and on social and political relations and institutions. This module examines the moral and political philosophical issu...
Truth, Opinion, and Ideology
It is commonplace to hear people say such things as, "You should believe that the climate is changing—that's what the evidence tells us", or "You ought not to believe that the earth is flat—that's just not true". These judgements concerning what people ou...
Writing Queerness
Once upon a time, no one called themselves queer; now it names everything from a kind of person to a type of weather. Queerness seems necessary, ubiquitous, paradoxical – but why? Ranging from the eighteenth century to the present day, this module will ex...
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- debates
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- debates
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Year 3
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
How we'll assess you
- debates
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
Your assessment breakdown
Year 3:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Giulia Felappi is the course leader.
Careers and employability
Employability skills
This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.
The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:
- Research
- Critical thinking
- Self-management
- Communication
- Creativity
- Problem solving
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 skills overview
Career pathways
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
Local Council Libraries,
universities,
schools,
colleges,
museums,
Galleries,
Publishing,
media groups,
Local government,
heritage service providers,
National Government,
Association of Police and Crime Commissioner,
Police Services,
Law Firms,
Hospitality,
tourism.
- Social researcher
- Policy officer
- Journalist
- Business analyst
- University lecturer
- Academic researcher
- Secondary school teacher
- Project manager
- Recruitment consultant
- Careers adviser
- Human resources officer
- Intelligence analyst
- Marketing executive
- Account manager
- Local government officer
- Management consultant
- Solicitor
- Management trainee
- Intelligence and data officer
- IT resourcer
- Marketing executive
- Recruitment consultant
- Researcher
- Account executive
- Archive assistant
- Publications coordinator
- Trainee accountant
Job prospects for BA Philosophy graduates
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.

Work experience opportunities
Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载.
Careers services and support
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV and interview skills and workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay ?9,535.
- EU and international students pay ?24,200.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under ?36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
What happens after you apply?
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Related courses
Philosophy (BA) is a course in the Philosophy subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area: