BA PHILOSOPHY
BA PHILOSOPHY
Explore fundamental philosophical questions – about ethics, consciousness, God, and the universe.
Use philosophy to tackle important current issues – climate justice, freedom from oppression, and critical thinking in a post-truth world.
Prepare to excel in a whole host of careers – teaching, law, environmental work and more!
Studying philosophy is one of the most exhilarating ways to spend your student years. It’s also life-changing, prompting you to reflect on your values and your contribution to the wider world. If you want to ask difficult questions and challenge the things that others take for granted, you’ll thrive on this degree.
About
Philosophy is a fantastic degree choice for independent thinkers, and – beyond studying it for its own sake – it will help you prepare for any number of careers that involve asking questions, gathering evidence, drawing conclusions and communicating your arguments, such as law, politics, journalism, and even advertising.
You don’t need to have studied Philosophy before to join our degree programme. You simply need to be prepared to get stuck in – and to challenge everything. Your studies will begin with carefully designed introductory modules, which lay the foundations across all fields.
You will study great contemporary thinkers as well as those from the past, grapple with puzzles about ethics, God and religion, about the mind, and about language and how it relates to the world. What is there? How do we know? Does science have all the answers? What if there is a God? When, if ever, has anyone found the answers to these questions? These are just a few of the questions you’ll investigate. You can explore the philosophies of the non-Western world, engage with burning political or environmental issues, or examine the thinking behind literature or film. And your teachers will be scholars currently engaged in cutting-edge research in all these fields.
You can build your own tailored studies through your second and third years, when you’ll have an open choice of philosophy themes to follow. Examples include environmental philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of language, ethics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, logic, philosophy of art, literature and film, and various opportunities to study the work of ancient and modern thinkers including some non-Western philosophy. In your final year you might choose to undertake a one-to-one dissertation or enrol for a small group special subject.
Your degree also allows youto, if you wish, take one or two modules each year from complementary subjects outside of philosophy. Themes currently on offer include languages, politics, gender studies, film studies, history, literature, or students can design their own theme in discussion with their adviser.
Philosophy thrives on discussion. That is why you will explore and debate topics with your lecturers and fellow students in small discussion groups – as well as through lectures and independent study. You’ll also develop your thinking and communication skills through a variety of types of written work and exercises, some for practice, some for assessment.
Throughout your time at UEA you’ll work in close partnership with our lecturers and professors, who have produced work that’s discussed the world over. Studying at the forefront of philosophical thinking, you’ll be listening to your lecturers as they develop new ideas, and helping them to identify new ways forward.
Even when studying texts from the past, Philosophy involves fresh thinking, so our module content is newly worked over every time it’s delivered and discussed.
Are Some Risks Too Big To Take?
Study Philosophy at UEA
The Precautionary Principle
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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.Placement Year and Study Abroad
You can expand your horizons by choosing to spend a semester of your second year studying abroad at one of UEA’s partner universities. You spend the autumn semester completing three modules at UEA, then transfer overseas in the spring.
You will not only experience life in a different country and make international connections, you’ll also make yourself even more attractive to prospective employers, who value the skills of resourcefulness and resilience that studying abroad will bring you.
For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website.
Are Some Risks Too Big To Take?
Study Philosophy at UEA
The Precautionary Principle
UEA Award
Ask a Student
After the Course
Philosophy degrees from UEA are a tried and tested route into a range of careers, including law, journalism, the civil service, the cultural industries, teaching and lecturing, charity and environmental work, and politics. This is due to the unique range of skills you will have developed by studying philosophy. They include:
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Precise and effective communication skills
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The ability to analyse data and information
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Reasoning, problem-solving and persuasion skills
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Listening carefully to others, with empathy and rigorous attention to detail
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Innovative and original ideas supported by reasons
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A commitment to justice, fairness, integrity, and the desire to do things that are praiseworthy
Career destinations
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Law
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Journalism
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Civil service
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Cultural industries
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Teaching or lecturing
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Charity and environmental work
Are Some Risks Too Big To Take?
Study Philosophy at UEA
The Precautionary Principle
UEA Award
Ask a Student
Assessment for Year 1
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.
Assessment for Year 2
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.
Assessment for Year 3
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.
Assessment for Year 1
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.
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.Students will take 120 credits, all or most of which will be from Option Range A (minimum 80 credits, maximum 120 credits). Any remaining credits will be taken from Option Range B. Students are permitted to take 20 or 40 credits from Options Range B (subject to satisfactory progress) to continue with their chosen subsidiary route. Students must ensure they take an even balance of credits in each semester.
Assessment for Year 2
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.
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.Students can take only ONE dissertation but may take a further Philosophy Special Subject in addition, if suitably qualified. Students wishing to take the Philosophy dissertation or special subject modules must complete the form circulated in advance of the Enrolment Fair. Students should aim to pick an even balance of credits in each semester. Students can take a maximum of 30 credits of level 5 modules in their final year of studies.
Assessment for Year 3
Each of the modules you choose will have its own designated assessment method. Our modules employ a wide range of methods of assessment to suit diverse learning styles including essays, logbooks, shorter exercises, podcasts, and more. All modules provide feedback and guidance in advance to help you improve your work before the final submission. Most of our modules are assessed through coursework. In a small number of optional Spring modules in your first and second year, assessment will involve an exam
In the final year, most modules are assessed by a larger piece of your own work or a number of more in-depth essays.
Your final degree result is based on the marks for all your modules in the last two years, weighted 40:60 so that more importance is attached to the fully mature work of your third year.