What Will You Study
Our Philosophy degree allows you to study and debate important philosophical questions with expert academics and your peers. How should we live? Is there a God? Are we free to act as we wish if everything is determined by prior causes? Why should we obey the law? Can science discover all the facts that can be known?
These are some of the many challenging questions you will engage with in a Philosophy degree. At Lancaster, we approach these questions through the history of Philosophy – studying figures such as Plato, Descartes, Kant and Nietzsche – and also via contemporary philosophical debate.
In your first year, you’ll gain an understanding of some of the core areas of Philosophy by taking Introduction to Philosophy plus two other modules. In your second and third years, you can choose from a wide range of optional modules such as Philosophy of Mind; Ethics; and Philosophy of Science. There is also the option to engage in one-to-one study with a member of academic staff for your third year dissertation on a specific philosophical topic of interest to you.
Related Courses
- Economics and International Relations : BA Hons
- Economics and Politics : BA Hons
- English Literature and Philosophy : BA Hons
- English Literature and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Environmental Sustainability in Contemporary China : BA Hons
- Ethics, Philosophy and Religion : BA Hons
- Film and Philosophy : BA Hons
- French Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- French Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- German Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- History and International Relations : BA Hons
- History and Philosophy : BA Hons
- History and Politics : BA Hons
- History and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- History, Philosophy and Politics : BA Hons
- International Management in Contemporary China : BA Hons
- International Relations : BA Hons
- International Relations and Religious Diversity : BA Hons
- International Relations in Contemporary China : BA Hons
- Law with Politics : LLB Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Management, Politics and International Relations (Industry) : BSc Hons
- Mathematics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Peace Studies and International Relations : BA Hons
- Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Politics : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Philosophy with Chinese : BA Hons
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics : BA Hons
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics : BA Hons
- Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- Politics and International Relations : BA Hons
- Politics and International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Politics and Sociology : BA Hons
- Politics with Chinese : BA Hons
- Politics, International Relations and Management : BSc Hons
- Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Religious Studies and Sociology : BA Hons
- Religious Studies with Chinese : BA Hons
- Social Work, Ethics and Religion : MSocial Work Hons
- Spanish Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Politics : BA Hons
Modules
Many of Lancaster's degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to complement their main specialism. You will be able to study a range of modules, some examples of which are listed below.
Year 1
- Constructing Ethics: Christianity and Islam
- Epistemology
- Ethics: Theory and Practice
- History of Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Philosophical Questions in the Study of Politics and Economics
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of the Mind
- Western Philosophy and Religious Thought
- Aesthetics
- Continental Philosophy
- Darwinism and Philosophy
- Dissertation
- Dissertation with external collaboration
- Feminist Philosophy
- Future generations
- History of Twentieth Century Philosophy
- Indian Religious and Philosophical Thought
- Logic and Language
- Modern Religious and Atheistic Thought
- Political Ideas
- PPR in Education
- Reading Political Theory
- Seminar in Contemporary Moral Philosophy
- Special Subject: The Imagination
Core
Year 2
Optional
Year 3
Optional
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.
Entry Criteria
Grade Requirements
A Level ABB
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
Other Qualifications
International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects.
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Careers
Our Philosophy graduates have gone on to work in accountancy, local government, banking, the Civil Service, teaching, nursing, fashion and journalism. Others have pursued postgraduate degrees.
A Philosophy degree helps you develop skills in critical reasoning, clarity of thought and communication. These skills are very much at a premium in the employment market. Over 40% of graduate vacancies are open to students of any discipline. Employers look for clear thinking, broad vision, independence, the capacity to locate and analyse problems and exercise judgement in their solution, to present situations lucidly and argue effectively for favoured courses of action. Your degree will equip you with these skills.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focused critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Fees
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2018-19 entry fees have not yet been set.
As a guide, our fees in 2017-18 were:
| UK/EU (2017-18) | Overseas (2017-18) |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £15,680 |
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
Some science and medicine courses have higher fees for students from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. You can find more details here: Island Students.
Funding
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
Students also need to consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation it may be necessary to take out subscriptions to professional bodies and to buy business attire for job interviews.