Antique books on a library shelf

Undergraduate Philosophy Degrees

Philosophy is the careful, critical, and reasoned engagement with fundamental questions about human beings and the world they occupy. Philosophy addresses puzzles about the limits of human knowledge, the nature of thought, values and morality.

If you are intrigued by fundamental questions about the nature of right and wrong, belief and truth, faith and reason, then Philosophy is the subject for you. You will learn how philosophers from various historical traditions have thought about these issues, and how to respond to them in the twenty-first century.

A rich and varied programme

At Lancaster, we offer a diverse and flexible curriculum. Our programme offers the chance to explore the Anglo-American and Continental traditions of Philosophy in depth – but also to understand Global approaches and contributions to the subject. Our students are trained to reason deeply, critically, and creatively: to see connections between abstract ideas, pressing contemporary challenges, and practical solutions.

Our priority lies in developing the skills of clear thinking and writing — enduring skills that are valued by employers. Students engage with cutting-edge research in all areas of Philosophy: on the nature of relationship between mind, body and world, on our obligations to one another and to future generations, and on the nature of scientific knowledge and evidence.

Putting your studies into practice

You can apply for one of the internships offered every year by the Richardson Institute for Peace Studies, based in our department. These are research projects in external organisations such as NGOs, think tanks, charities and faith-based organisations. We also offer placement opportunities in a range of organisations, from roles in arts and heritage organisations, to media and marketing agencies.

The University runs short, overseas trips to give you the chance to experience a different culture. In the past these have included Malaysia, India, Ghana, China and the US, visiting the J.F.K Presidential library, the United Nations and the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Philosophy courses

Philosophy combines well with other academic disciplines. As well as our Philosophy degree, we offer a wide range of joint degrees combining Philosophy with other disciplines – see the list of Joint Honours degrees below.

Philosophy courses

We also offer several joint degrees combining Philosophy with other disciplines. Click view more courses for the complete list.

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Philosophy at Lancaster University

Meet the Philosophy team

Our Philosophy team bring together a rich and diverse set of knowledge, experience and interests.

Costanza Porro

As Political Philosophy Lecturer, I specialize in political, moral, legal, and feminist philosophy. My primary focus is the concept of equality, and I have written on why we should treat each other as equals and what it means to do so, focusing on the status of those punished for criminal offenses. I am passionate about feminist philosophy; in particular, I am interested in how our nature as vulnerable beings reliant on care and our need to provide care for others shapes our views on justice, rights, and equality. My current research delves into the role of care in a society of equals.

Philippe Major

I am lecturer in Philosophy. I work on the history of Chinese philosophy, with a focus on Confucianism in the 20th century. I am also interested in Zen Buddhism, ancient Chinese philosophy, and Continental philosophy. My work explores topics such as authority, modernity, epistemic hegemony, and the exclusion of non-western thought from the philosophy curriculum. I am currently working on a project that looks at patterns of resistance to the hegemony of Euro-American philosophical knowledge production in modern Confucian philosophy.

Leonie Smith

Leonie Smith is Lecturer in Metaphysics and Epistemology at Lancaster University and Director of the Undergraduate Philosophy Programme. Prior to this, she held a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at the University of Manchester, and was Lecturer in Philosophy at Cardiff University. Her research is on personhood and agency, and on the epistemic, ontological and material harms experienced by people marginalised by socioeconomic status. Leonie runs the 'Class in the Classroom' project, and also works with the Philosophy in Prison charity, co-designing and delivering programmes in the UK.

Vanessa Higham

Our Alumni

Our alumni share their experiences, tips and advice, including how their degrees led them to their current jobs. They have taken up a wide range of careers, ranging from Media Relations Officer in Her Majesty’s Revenue to Customs and Government Affairs Manager at Vodafone.

Our Alumni