MRes Philosophy
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Research
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Course Overview
Our Philosophy MRes is ideal for students who want to explore philosophy at a postgraduate level. The flexible course structure allows you to tailor the course to your interests and needs. Whether you’re aiming for a philosophy PhD and a career in academia, research and teaching, or you simply want to continue your studies beyond undergraduate level, this course will take your philosophical studies to the next level.
In this course, you’ll explore your own ideas and interests, develop your ability to think independently, and design your own topics to explore. Our MRes gives you the skills you need to undertake your own research in philosophy. You’ll work closely with your academic supervisors to develop your own ideas and research. Our academics are leading researchers. They’ve published widely and have shaped the development of philosophy across the world. With their guidance, our research-driven programme, and a varied schedule of workshops and events, there is no better place to follow your passions and expand your mind.
You can take the Philosophy MRes by itself, or as the first year of a 1+3 programme if you’re applying for the PhD.
There is also the option to pursue a pathway in literature and philosophy as part of the MRes. This pathway allows you to explore the connections between literature and philosophy, including taking modules from our world-famous School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. This pathway replaces options previously available as part of the MA in Philosophy and Literature.
Whether you’re interested in a philosophy PhD, or you simply want to extend your experience, this course will take your philosophical studies to the next level.
As a Philosophy MRes student, you’ll work week-by-week on essays you choose and plan in collaboration with your tutor. You will work on three modules with at least two different tutors and will undertake a core methodology module. This means you will be able to sample several areas within philosophy and work with different mentors, before choosing your dissertation topic.
The philosophy department at UEA is dynamic, friendly and committed to nurturing your emerging philosophical voice. Our varied and inclusive research team can provide supervision in many areas of philosophy including, but not limited to, the following:
- Ancient Philosophy
- Applied Ethics
- Environmental Philosophy
- Epistemology
- Ethics
- Experimental Philosophy
- History of Analytic Philosophy
- Logic
- Metaethics
- Metaphilosophy
- Nietzsche
- Phenomenology
- Philosophy and Film
- Philosophy and Literature
- Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics
- Philosophy of Biology
- Philosophy of Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Education
- Philosophy of History
- Philosophy of Language/Linguistics
- Philosophy of Logic
- Philosophy of Mathematics
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Psychology
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of Social Science
- Political Philosophy
- Wittgenstein
Alongside your studies, you will attend a range of research events and seminars, including the postgraduate workshop (where you’ll share your dissertation plans and provide feedback on other students’ work) and the research seminar (with distinguished visiting speakers from Britain and abroad). You might also join the regular Wittgenstein Workshop, or other specialised research meetings and workshops organized by Faculty.
You’ll have an academic adviser from the advising team throughout the course of your studies. The adviser is there to provide academic and career guidance, and to support your wellbeing.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll take four taught modules over two semesters, starting with a compulsory module with seminars that explore the different approaches and methodologies that figure in the various traditions of Western philosophy.
Unless you are following the pathway in philosophy of literature, your three other taught modules (one in the autumn and two in the spring) consist entirely of guided study and essay writing with a supervisor, and are taught through one-to-one tutorials. To set up your supervision for these three modules, we match your interests as far as possible with an available expert in the department. You will then meet with the specified supervisor and together you will plan a sequence of tutorial deadlines and essay questions. The typical procedure is that your tutor agrees an essay topic with you, then you research and write your essay for a deadline two weeks later. After you submit the essay, you will attend a tutorial to receive feedback, discuss and agree the next assignment, and so on (much like the Oxbridge teaching system).
In the first semester, you’ll work with one tutor, and in the second semester with two, working on two different areas or topics. For assessment, you will submit two of the essays you have written for each module, after revisions that take account of the tutor’s comments.
Students following the pathway in philosophy and literature will replace one or more of the guided study modules with specialist modules including Criticism/Critique, Philosophy of Literature, Free Speech, Creative-Critical Writing, and more.
Alongside the four taught modules, there are regular workshops for all graduate students. Participating in these workshops is the main activity prescribed for the research training component of the dissertation module. At these workshops you’ll meet and discuss philosophical ideas with PhD students and other Master’s students. Some sessions are devoted to skills in the use of bibliographical resources, career development and research applications.
When the two semesters of taught modules are complete, you will start your dissertation: this is usually your task from May to September. This will be on a topic of your choice, agreed in consultation with the course director and under the guidance of a supervisor.
It is also possible to replace a supervised study module with an appropriate taught master’s level module, or to work with your tutor on language training along with your essay work (for example, developing your ability in Ancient Greek or German).
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
The main focus of this degree is on developing your independent research skills. So most of your learning is self-directed study in preparation for your essay tutorials. You’ll be able to make use of UEA’s state-of-the-art library facilities, learning how to locate relevant literature for your studies using the online databases and our many subscriptions to journals in the field.
You’ll receive one-to-one tuition on your essays for supervised study modules, and on your dissertation drafts during the summer term. In the core methodology module, you’ll be taught in a weekly seminar or small group session. You’ll receive written feedback on your coursework for this module.
In postgraduate workshop meetings, you’ll share your ideas for your dissertation and receive peer support and discussion. You’ll also discuss and give feedback to other graduate students on their work. These workshops are led by members of academic staff, and include discussions of a wide range of practical topics relevant to Master’s and PhD students.
The dissertation is your opportunity to develop a longer piece of written work. The one-to-one teaching for that task is geared towards advising on bibliography, and giving constructive criticism on draft sections, so that you can revise them and bring them together to form a coherent whole. This builds upon your earlier experience in the small essays for the supervised study modules. It also gives you a sense of what’s involved in preparing a PhD thesis, which might be your next step.
Our distinctive research environment offers an interdisciplinary outlook and a focus on methodological and metaphilosophical reflection. We are a leading center for Ludwig Wittgenstein and the Wittgensteinian tradition, and other staff research specialisms include philosophy of language and linguistics, philosophy of science, environmental philosophy, metaphilosophy, experimental philosophy, philosophy of literature, film and the arts, phenomenology, and ancient philosophy.
Assessment
We will assess each module through essays or other forms of coursework. For each supervised study module, you’ll submit a package containing the two best essays from the three that you have prepared, having refined them with advice from your tutor.
For the dissertation module, you will submit a more major piece of work of 12,000–15,000 words. Your credits for this module will include your contribution in the postgraduate workshops.
Your degree result will be based on your marks for all your modules and your dissertation.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Philosophy or a related subject
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in writing, 6.0 in listening, speaking and reading)
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PTE (Pearson): 76 (minimum 76 in writing, 64 in listening, speaking and reading)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO UEA run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
A 3000 word essay from your previous degree should be uploaded to your online application.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,500 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
This MRes is a great route into PhD research, which is the first step towards a career in higher education. You can make your PhD application during your MRes or after you have finished.
However, this MRes is also perfect if you do not yet have fixed career plans or are simply not content to end your studies with a BA. The course prepares you for many different careers because it fosters independence, initiative, personal time management and the ability to work with a mentor. It hones your intellectual and communication skills, and your ability to empathise with the views of others.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
- PhD research or higher education careers
- Computing
- Politics
- Journalism
- Teaching
- Charity and environmental work