Philosophy
A comprehensive guide to studying Philosophy at university.
- "The subject is extremely broad and so remains interesting. You can study anything from Aristotle to contemporary feminism." - Adam, 1st year *BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics Student, York*
- "The subject exposes you to a lot of open minds. It can be extremely eye opening and I have found that I actually apply what I learn in my day to day life." - Andrew, 3rd year *BA Philosophy, Exeter*
- "There is less reading than I expected. Although the reading that there is takes longer than I at first expected." – Kate, 1st year *BA Philosophy and Theology, Oxford*
- - "A lot rides on your lecturer due to the low contact hours. If you end up with a bad lecturer, then the subject will require a lot of personal work." – Adam, 1st year *BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics Student, York*
- - "Can become a little bit too dull if things become too abstract, which sometimes happens." – James, 2nd year *BA Philosophy Student, UCL*
- - "Studying philosophy is very individual and can be a touch isolating. Also, the marking system is very subjective and it seems to me that it is sometimes unfair" – Josh, 3rd year *BA Philosophy Student, Liverpool*
Studying Philosophy at a UK university offers a deep dive into fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and more. Through engaging lectures, seminars, and reading classic texts, students develop critical thinking, argumentation, and analytical skills.
The curriculum covers various philosophical traditions, from ancient to contemporary thought, encouraging students to formulate and defend their own philosophical positions.
Assessments typically include essays, exams, and presentations, fostering articulate and persuasive communication. Philosophy students often engage in lively debates, exploring diverse perspectives and honing their ability to construct reasoned arguments. Graduates are equipped for diverse careers requiring analytical thinking, such as law, journalism, academia, and beyond.
Philosophy graduates go into a wide variety of careers as the subject equips you with a variety of transferrable skills.
Many go into teaching or further study, some go into charities and NGOs, the civil service, business, or take law conversion courses.
There is no ordinary career for philosophy students. Prestigious employers include Mercer, the Civil Service Fast Stream or Teach First.
Note: these employers are highly competitive and look for students from prestigious universities.
Further, philosophy is often just one of many subjects they take students from. As such, the university your degree comes from and the grade of the degree itself are often far more important factors than the subject you study