Philosophy bachelor

To deliver structured yet flexible programmes of study, informed by current research, in which students critically evaluate, and think through for themselves, philosophical arguments and problems.
To provide students with a curriculum within which they study texts and questions central to the analytical tradition in philosophy, and, if students wish, texts and questions from outside that tradition; to develop, in partnership with students, students' subject-specific knowledge, cognitive, intellectual and transferable skills, and thereby prepare students for further academic study and employment.
To employ an appropriate variety of teaching and assessment methods to meet Philosophy's aims and the programmes' respective learning outcomes.
To use learning resources effectively and efficiently to meet Philosophy's aims and the programmes' respective learning outcomes.
To provide students with an effective induction programme, and academic and pastoral support, in order to enhance their progress and academic development.
There are 14 permanent members of the academic teaching staff and around 100 single honours philosophy student across all three years.
All permanent members of philosophy teaching staff are internationally recognised researchers publishing their work in journals and books and giving talks around the world.

Our students

Philosophy students in figures (2014):
Students on the course came from 6 countries
Their ages ranged from 17 - 32
The male / female ratio was 55 : 45

Meet our students
Most course units feature formal lectures supported by smaller tutorials or seminars, in which you will be able to explore the contents of lectures and recommended reading in greater depth. Tutorials and seminars are also key elements in improving your written and oral communication skills through group discussions, essay-writing and presentations.
Students are assigned an Academic Advisor, an academic member of staff who takes a friendly interest in your progress and can advise you on selecting course units and career opportunities.
In Years 1 and 2, course units are normally examined by a two-hour unseen exam (counting for two-thirds of the final mark) and approximately 3,000 words of essay work (counting for one-third of the final mark).
For course units in logic there are weekly worksheets, which form part of the assessment.
In Year 3 we deploy a broader range of assessment methods, including a second essay instead of an exam and oral presentations in tutorials. You also complete a dissertation in your final year.
The emphasis is on giving you a proper grounding in philosophy. You will take a course on Critical Thinking together with your choice of four of the following five courses:
Values We Live By
Discovering Reality
History of Philosophy
Mind and World
Philosophy and Social Science
In addition you will take a `free choice' course unit from courses across the University. Examples include political theory, art history, languages, and theology - or you can take the remaining philosophy course unit.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalCritical Thinking
PHIL10041
20
Mandatory
Introduction to Ethics
PHIL10021
20
Optional
History of Philosophy
PHIL10402
20
Optional
Introduction to Metaphysics and Epistemology
PHIL10622
20
Optional
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
PHIL10632
20
Optional
Philosophy & Social Science
PHIL10641
20
Optional
In your second year you will go into the study of Philosophy in much greater depth. The bachelor Philosophy course at Manchester is a modular course and you take 120 credits of courses over the year (around 6/8 individual course units).
You will choose at least one of the following (20 credits each): 

20 th
Century Analytical Philosophy
Philosophical Methods
Formal Logic
Plus at least one of these (20 credits each):
Ethics
Aesthetics
Plus 60 credits from philosophy and political theory course units, with a choice that typically includes the courses above as well as:
Philosophy of Mind
Phenomenology
Philosophy of Religion
Freedom and Equality
Philosophy of Science
For your final 20 credits, you can take an additional philosophy or political theory course unit or 20 credits of free choice units.

Free choice units

In your second year you can also take 20 units from across the University.

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- run by our Careers Service


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Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalJurisprudence
LAWS20101
20
Optional
Philosophy of Religion
PHIL20021
20
Optional
Formal Logic
PHIL20042
20
Optional
Locke, Berkeley, Hume
PHIL20212
20
Optional
Ethics
PHIL20231
20
Optional
20th Century Analytical Philosophy
PHIL20242
20
Optional
Philosophy of Science
PHIL20261
20
Optional
Philosophical Methods
PHIL20891
20
Optional
Aesthetics
PHIL20951
20
Optional
Existentialism
PHIL23002
20
Optional
Arguing About Politics: Political Theory in the World
POLI20602
20
Optional
Ideals of Social Justice
POLI20881
20
Optional
Displaying 10 of 12 course units for year 2
Display all course units for year 2
In your final year you take 120 credits overall which includes a substantial, independent piece of research on a topic of your choosing. This leads to a dissertation of either 7,500 words (20 credits) or 15,000 words (40 credits).
Your remaining 100/80 credits come as four or five course units in philosophy (or an approved course unit in Politics or Law).
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalDissertation (20 credit)
PHIL30000
20
Mandatory
Jurisprudence
LAWS20101
20
Optional
Dissertation (20 credit)
PHIL30000
20
Optional
Dissertation (40 credit)
PHIL30030
40
Optional
Philosophical Logic
PHIL30041
20
Optional
Metaphysics
PHIL30212
20
Optional
Philosophy of Language
PHIL30311
20
Optional
Philosophy of Action
PHIL30552
20
Optional
Personhood and Freedom of the Will
PHIL33242
20
Optional
Pluralism, Democracy and Citizenship
POLI30052
20
Optional
Theories of Rights
POLI32122
20
Optional
Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 3
Display all course units for year 3
`Though Philosophy mostly involves quiet independent study, the course at Manchester is taught by extremely competent staff who encourage intelligent debachelorte in tutorials. The topics are thorough and well organised, not only providing me with a broad understanding of what Philosophy is and why it is important, but also with general transferable skills of analysis. I am going on to try my luck at journalism and truly believe that had I not done the degree I did, where I did it, I would be much less likely to succeed.'

Robert Knowles
, Philosophy student.
`Manchester is a fantastic and diverse city that, clichéd though it may be has something to offer everyone, a characteristic that is reflected in the University. The Philosophy department in particular is highly supportive and happy to offer advice in all aspects of university life and study. The structure of the course gives you a taster of most of what Philosophy has to offer and then encourages you to explore those areas that are of greatest interest to you. I found this to be an invaluable opportunity, absent from many other disciplines; I am confident that after graduating I will be among the most employable candidates leaving the University.'

Kristina Boneva
, Philosophy student.
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Take a 360 tour
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Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Our recent graduates from Philosophy, and related graduates from the School of Social Sciences, have gone to:
Manchester City Council, Royal bachelornk of Scotland, Palgrave MacMillan, Lloyds TSB, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, TeachFirst, Siemens, The University of Manchester. (Source: DLHE)
See also:

Philosophy careers


Our philosophy alumni


Throughout your studies and after you graduate you will have to access our Careers Service
, which can help you:
find summer internships or work experience;
apply for jobs and provide practice interviews;
access online and interactive services such as practice psychometric tests.
A favourite with employers, the University also organises careers fairs and events throughout the year to give you a chance to meet graduate recruiters.
You can improve your employability by choosing course units in Year 2 from:

the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning


the Manchester Leadership Programme
or Manchester Enterprise Centre
an extensive list of optional language modules
`Their specialised Philosophy Careers Workshop has helped highlight the many desirable and transferable skills that I have picked up throughout the course of my degree. While Philosophy is a challenging degree, the support and guidance that lecturers and tutors readily offer has definitely made it one of the most rewarding!' Kristina Boneva, Philosophy student.

Find out more and register for an Open Day


Post-offer visits

If you are made an offer we will email you an invitation to visit us late January, February or early March. These afternoons are organised by the School of Social Sciences and include a tour, a talk, refreshments and a chance to talk to students, lecturers and recruitment staff.

Other opportunities to visit Manchester


If you are visiting Manchester and would like to visit our admissions office please make an appointment in advance. (Call +44 (0)161 275 4470/1473 or email socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
)

34 points overall. 6,5,5 at Higher Level. No lower than 5 in any subject.
We would expect applicants to achieve three subjects at A2 and two subjects at B2 in the Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level qualification.
Grades AABBB.
Grades ABB.
A pass in the Welsh bachelorccalaureate is accepted as equivalent to a grade B in an A-level subject.
Applicants studying the European bachelorccalaureate are expected to achieve 77% overall and no lower than 80% in English.
The University of Manchester has a rich academic heritage and is one of the world's leading research-intensive universities. It also has a long history of welcoming international students and seeks to continue this tradition by admitting excellent students from across the world.

Our country specific entry requirements and requirements for foundation years can be found on our International Entry Requirements page
. If you cannot find your country or have any questions about our entry requirements then please contact socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
Studying BTEC Extended Diploma?
You are expected to achieve two Distinctions alongside an A-level in an appropriate subject at grade A. See the list of subjects in the A-level section above.)
Typical applicant - A mature student returning to education after a number of years.
Typical offer - Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 level 3 credits (15 Distinctions / 30 Merits).

Contact: Tom McCunnie tom.mccunnie@manchester.ac.uk
.
Applicants are expected to achieve D3, M1, M1 in the Cambridge Pre-U. Applicants can either take three Pre-U qualifications or study them in conjunction with A-level subjects.
We would expect applicants to complete the Progression Diploma with no lower than grade A and also to achieve an A-level with grade B or above.

Contact: Tom McCunnie
tom.mccunnie@manchester.ac.uk
.
If you have followed a non-standard educational route (eg home educated) we will consider your application against the standard entry criteria for the course to which you apply.
You must also provide a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

UCAS provides guidance on how to get a reference
Return-to-learn students are those who have had a substantial period away from any formal learning. Often such learners have pursued careers or raised a family. The University understands that students come from many different bachelorckgrounds, with varying qualifications, careers and skills, but they often bring to their studies a high degree of motivation and experience.
The University recognises that standard selection measures and procedures may not enable these learners to demonstrate fully their suitability for their chosen course. Where appropriate, admissions officers will seek and consider alternative evidence in order to give such learners equivalent consideration. Where they deem this alternative evidence meets entry criteria fully the learner will not be required to meet the standard academic entry requirements.
All applicants are expected to have a minimum of grade C in GCSE English Language or equivalent.
For international students equivalent qualifications would be:
IELTS of 6.5 overall with no lower than 6 in any component.
TOEFL (IBT) 92 overall with minimum of 21 in listening and speaking, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking.
iGCSE English (First Language) grade C
iGCSE English (Second Language) grade B

If you have other English language qualifications and want to enquire about whether you meet our English language requirements then please contact socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Application and selection
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS


Find out more about the application process
Potential candidates are expected to demonstrate why they have chosen this particular degree in their personal statement and express why the course interests them.

Applicants submitting mitigating circumstances

If you are submitting information about mitigating circumstances that have affected, or are likely to affect, your academic performance, you should include this in the referee's report.
We cannot usually take into account information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting school.
(Examples of mitigating circumstances include family illness, problems with school facilities or an unusual curriculum followed by your school of college.)
Applications are considered on the bachelorsis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements, the academic reference and personal statement.
We welcome applications from anyone who is returning to education.
Contact: Tom McCunnie tom.mccunnie@manchester.ac.uk
Applicants classed as international students who are studying Foundation Year Programmes, will be considered on the bachelorsis they have completed their High School education in full.
Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation. Deferred entry is granted on the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only. NB Some English Language test results, such as IELTS of TOEFL, are only valid from two years from the test date.
We consider applicants who are resitting.
Contact: socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you can apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may refer bachelorck to previous applications or registrations at the University.
If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should include additional evidence of your suitability for the course.
If you are applying through clearing you will need to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing places will be subject to availability.
Course details