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Philosophy at UEA
Find out more about studying Philosophy at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMRes Philosophy
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Research
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MRes Philosophy at UEA?
This MRes Philosophy trains the precise thinking and confident argumentation skills that will help you thrive in a rapidly changing and competitive world. At UEA, you'll explore pressing questions about the environment, technology, ethics, and justice, alongside researchers who share your curiosity.
Why Choose UEA
- Scholarly mentorship: Work one-to-one with philosophers whose research aligns closely with your own intellectual interests
- Interdisciplinary pathways: Pursue your own pathway connecting philosophy with literature, politics, and contemporary critical studies
- Philosophy, applied: Develop the problem-solving, advisory, and communication skills that are highly sought after in consultancy, policy and research
What is MRes Philosophy?
This research master's gives you the tools and space to pursue the questions that matter most to you, combining close philosophical mentorship with rigorous methodological training.
Whether you want to explore broadly across ethics, political philosophy, phenomenology, and philosophy of cognition, or focus deeply on one area, the programme adapts to your intellectual ambitions.
Driven by curiosity, professional ambition, or both, you'll leave this programme ready for what comes next academically or professionally.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With a MRes Philosophy degree, you could launch a career in:
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Ethical consultancy: Advise organisations navigating complex moral, social, and technological challenges with rigour and clarity
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Publishing and editorial: Shape how ideas reach audiences, from academic journals to broader cultural and intellectual platforms
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Policy and public life: Bring philosophical clarity to bear on pressing questions in government, think tanks, and public debate
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Cultural and third sector leadership: Lead organisations committed to education, the arts, social justice, or environmental change
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Academic research: Pursue doctoral study and contribute original ideas to philosophical debates at the highest level
Career Support
UEA's Career Central(opens in a new window) offers tailored support for philosophy graduates navigating both academic and professional pathways.
You'll have access to one-to-one guidance, networking opportunities, and resources designed to help you articulate your skills confidently.
Our academic community will help connect you with alumni who have successfully translated their philosophical training into diverse careers.
After the Course
Many MRes graduates move directly into professional roles where analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication are highly valued.
Others go on to PhD programmes at leading institutions in the UK and internationally.
The research and supervisory relationships you build here often open doors that extend well beyond graduation.
Whichever path you choose, you'll leave equipped with the intellectual agility to adapt, contribute, and lead.
Study and Modules
Structure
The MRes Philosophy is designed around a simple but powerful idea: that the best way to develop as a philosopher is to do philosophy. You'll engage seriously with arguments, test ideas against evidence and objections, and learn to think across traditions.
Central to our MRes is a model of learning that mirrors what philosophers actually do: you'll write arguments, submit them to expert scrutiny, and refine them in response. These one-to-one supervision sessions, with philosophers whose research speaks directly to your interests, develop not just your philosophical understanding but your ability to think on your feet, absorb criticism productively, and communicate complex ideas with precision.
In your first semester, you'll start developing the methodological grounding that will shape how you approach your own research. Through seminars and structured research training, you'll explore the diverse approaches that shape contemporary philosophical inquiry: from analytic and continental traditions to pragmatist, phenomenological, and non-Western perspectives. This will give you critical vocabulary and research confidence to pursue your own questions with rigour, wherever they lead.
In your second semester, the dissertation will give you the space to pursue a philosophical question on your own terms, with expert supervision throughout. It’s where independent thinking, methodological rigour, and sustained argument come together, and where you discover what you’re genuinely capable of.
Philosophy at UEA has always been in conversation with neighbouring disciplines. The programme offers dedicated pathways connecting philosophical inquiry with literature, politics, and critical theory, including a specialist route developed in partnership with UEA's celebrated School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing.
Running throughout the year, our research training workshops bring together master's and doctoral students in a genuinely collaborative intellectual community. These sessions develop your research and bibliographical skills, provide opportunities to present your work and receive feedback, and prepare you for the environments — public debate, editorial rooms, and collaborative workplaces — where philosophical thinking is put to use.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Important Information
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, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
The MRes Philosophy places you, and your questions, at the centre of the learning experience. Supervision, seminars, and research training work together to develop your analytical depth, research independence, and philosophical voice. Throughout, you'll receive detailed written feedback designed to stretch your thinking and sharpen your arguments. UEA's library resources and digital collections ensure you have the tools to pursue your thinking as far as it goes.
Your first semester balances structured seminar teaching with one-to-one supervision, building the research foundations you need. As the year progresses, the emphasis shifts toward independent work, with supervision increasingly shaped by your own dissertation questions. Postgraduate workshops complement both phases of your learning, building your skills in presenting, defending, and discussing ideas in a collaborative setting.
Assessment
Assessment on UEA’s MRes Philosophy prioritises depth of argument, scholarly rigour, and the ability to respond constructively to critique.
Each supervised study module is assessed through essays, refined through ongoing supervision and feedback. Your dissertation is assessed as a substantial piece of original research, demonstrating your capacity for independent philosophical inquiry. Active participation in postgraduate workshops also contributes to your overall assessment, recognising the importance of collaborative intellectual engagement.
Your assessed work spans the full year, beginning with supervised essays and culminating in your dissertation submission. Your final degree classification reflects your performance across all modules and your dissertation, capturing the full arc of your development as an independent thinker.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.1
Degree Subject
Humanities
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Humanities
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 7.0 overall with minimum 7.0 in Writing and 6.0 in Listening, Reading and Speaking
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,750
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International Students: £25,000
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
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(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.