What Will You Study
A joint degree in Philosophy and Politics allows you to study and debate philosophical questions such as How should we live? Is there a God? Whilst exploring some of the themes, concepts and events that have shaped the contemporary political scene. Learning from academics in the field you will be given the opportunity to develop an understanding of contemporary issues in both subjects. For example, what obligations do we have to the state? Can ideas change the world? How should we think about right and wrong, truth and falsity?
You’ll begin your degree with first-year modules including Introduction to Philosophy, and Politics in the Modern World. In your second and third years, you can choose modules from a selection of subjects such as Nineteenth Century Philosophy; Issues in Contemporary Politics and Philosophy; Modern Political Thought: Liberty, Theory and Practice, and Government and Politics of the United States.
Related Courses
- Economics and International Relations : BA Hons
- Economics and Politics : BA Hons
- English Literature and Philosophy : BA Hons
- English Literature and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Literature and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Ethics, Philosophy and Religion : BA Hons
- Film and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Film and Philosophy (Placement Year) : 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 International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Philosophy : BA Hons
- History and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Politics : BA Hons
- History and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- History, Philosophy and Politics : BA Hons
- History, Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- International Relations : BA Hons
- International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- International Relations and Religious Diversity : BA Hons
- Law with Politics : LLB Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Management, Politics and International Relations (Industry) : BSc Hons
- Mathematics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Peace Studies and International Relations : BA Hons
- Peace Studies and International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy : BA Hons
- Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Philosophy with Chinese : BA Hons
- Philosophy with Chinese (Placement Year) : 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 and Sociology (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics with Chinese : BA Hons
- Politics with Chinese (Placement Year) : 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
- Spanish Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Politics : BA Hons
Modules
Year 1
- Constructing Christian Ethics and Politics
- Epistemology
- Idealism, Empiricism & Criticism in 18th Century Philosophy
- Indian Philosophical and Religious Thought
- Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Mind-Body Problem
- Moral Philosophy
- Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
- Philosophical Questions in the Study of Politics and Economics
- Philosophy of Science
- Politics and History of the Middle East
- Politics of Development and Global Changes
- Power in British Politics: The Role of the Prime Minister
- Public Policy
- Russian International Politics
- The Government of the United States
- The Politics of Development: Latin America
- The Politics of Race
- Understanding Key Economic Concepts: Economics for the Real World I
- Understanding Liberty: Theory and Practice
- Values and Objectivity
- Aesthetics
- Africa and Global Politics
- Britain in the World
- Contemporary Issues in Human Rights
- Contemporary Issues in the Middle East
- Continental Philosophy
- Darwinism and Philosophy
- Dissertation
- Dissertation with external collaboration
- Dissertation with field studies
- Environmental Philosophy (Special Subject)
- Feminist Philosophy
- Future generations
- Indian Politics, Society and Religion
- International Political Economy of Globalization
- Islamic Politics
- Logic and Language
- Media, Religion and Politics
- Modern Religious and Atheistic Thought
- Politics Employability and Engagement through Outreach
- Politics of Cultural Diversity
- Politics of Global Danger
- PPR in India
- Race and American Politics
- Religion and politics
- Religion and Violence
- Special Subject: Complexity, Pragmatism and Policy
- Special Subject: The Imagination
- The Ethics of Belief and Ignorance
Core
Optional
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 to complement your main specialism. 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 please visit our Teaching and Learning section.
The following courses do not offer modules outside of the subject area due to the structured nature of the programmes: Architecture, Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine and Biomedical Science.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, 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
During your degree you will have the opportunity to develop your ability to analyse and assess situations while also being able to communicate ideas effectively. We also support you to develop skills such as research, critical reasoning, clarity of thought and communication, providing you with the chance to explore careers in a number of different areas.
A Philosophy and Politics degree provides you with the opportunity to develop knowledge and transferable skills relevant to a range of different future careers. You may be interested in careers such as teaching, journalism, corporate planning, civil service, international charities and international business. We will help you determine your direction and aim to support you in getting there.
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
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2020/21 are:
| UK/EU | Overseas |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,700 |
Tuition fees for programmes are set annually for all new and continuing students. If you are studying on a course of more than one year's duration, the fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. Such increases are normally calculated based on increases in the costs incurred by the institution, or in relation to UK government regulations which set the maximum fee for certain categories of student.
For the majority of undergraduate students, the most recent annual increase was 2.8%. Any change in fee rates will be communicated to students and applicants prior to the start of the academic year in question, and normally at least eight months prior to enrolment. Further details can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
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.