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Philosophy BA (Hons)

UCAS code: V500 | Full-time | 3 years

Entry requirements

View entry requirements

UK/Ireland fees:

£9,250 per year

International fees:

£22,400 per year

Starts on:

Not a UK or Republic of Ireland student?
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Clearing 2024: find your place at Liverpool

We may have limited places for entry in 2024 for high achieving applicants.

Clearing is open for applications from international students, as well as UK and Republic of Ireland students who have their results. Limited places are available for high-achieving students.

About this course

God. Morality. Mind. Reality. Art. If you want to spend three years engaging with some of the most challenging and profound questions with which humanity has ever grappled, then Philosophy is the subject for you.

Introduction

As philosophers we ask many different questions. What am I? How should I live? What will humans be like in the future? How does language work? How can we take care of our planet?

Our expert staff will help you develop your own answers to these great questions through a combination of lectures on the answers given by great philosophers of the past and present, and seminars aimed at facilitating interaction between student and student, and student and teacher.

By the end of this programme, you will be able to understand complex and demanding texts, reason intelligently and imaginatively about ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological issues, and have a grasp of the advantages and problems of a wide range of metaphysical and ethical views.

Year one will be spent developing your foundational knowledge through a series of required modules, through which you will also acquire the skills to read and write about philosophy, and to undertake critical analysis. Your second and final years will allow you to tailor your studies to your own interests through a free choice of modules.

Year in Industry

This programme is available with a Year in Industry. Year Three is spent on a paid placement within an organisation in industry, broadly defined. You will be supported by the School of the Arts and the Department throughout, and your reflective written account of the experience will contribute towards your final degree result. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in Industry, please put the option code ‘YI’ in the ‘Further Choices’ section of your UCAS application form.

What you'll learn

  • Analytical, argumentative, communications and problem-solving skills
  • Creative, critical and independent thinking
  • Flexibility and adaptability
  • Efficient time and information management
  • The ability to organise and present a persuasive case
  • The ability to recognise relevant information
  • Understanding of some aspects of the history of philosophy, and various sub-disciplines of contemporary philosophy
  • Basic competence in elementary symbolic logic
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Entry requirements

Home entry requirements

If you've received your results, you can apply now. You’ll usually need to have achieved BBC or above at A level or meet our requirements for other accepted qualifications. Higher entry criteria may apply for a small number of courses.

If you live in a postcode area where you’re less likely to go to university, or if you’ve spent any time in social care, we’ll take this into account when considering your application. We may be able to make you a reduced offer for the course you want to study.

International entry requirements

International Baccalaureate

26 points overall with no score less than 4, including 5 in SL English or 4 in HL English plus 5 in SL Maths/Maths Studies or 4 in HL Maths/Maths Studies

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

443 from 2 electives plus one core subject (excluding Citizenship and Social Development) and a minimum grade 3 in core Mathematics. Grade 4 (with no component less than 4) in HKDSE English Language

India Standard XII

Overall average of 70% from four core subjects, a minimum of 75% in English dependent on exam board (not including Hindi, Regional Language, Environmental Education and PE) and a minimum of 50% for Standard X Maths.
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Course options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.

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Careers and employability

Graduating with a degree in philosophy will empower you to delve into the profound questions that shape human existence but also position you as a valuable asset in today’s competitive job market.

The School has its own placements and employability officer, and you will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement or a year in industry as part of your programme.

Graduates in Philosophy obtain work in fields such as:

  • advertising and marketing;
  • the arts, broadcasting, and journalism;
  • commerce and management;
  • the civil service, law, and politics;
  • teaching.

3 in 4 philosophy students find their main activity after graduation meaningful.

Graduate Outcomes, 2018-19.

Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year £9,250
Year in industry fee £1,850
Year abroad fee £1,385
International fees
Full-time place, per year £22,400
Year in industry fee £1,850
Year abroad fee £11,200
Fees are correct for the academic year 2024/25. Please note that the Year Abroad fee also applies to the Year in China.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about paying for your studies.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.

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Additional study costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about additional study costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to provide tuition fee discounts and help with living expenses while at university.

Check out our Liverpool Bursary, worth up to £2,000 per year for eligible UK students. Or for international students, our Undergraduate Global Advancement Scholarship offers a tuition fee discount of up to £5,000 for eligible international students starting an undergraduate degree from September 2024.

Discover our full range of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries

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Careers and employability

Graduating with a degree in philosophy will empower you to delve into the profound questions that shape human existence but also position you as a valuable asset in today’s competitive job market.

The School has its own placements and employability officer, and you will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement or a year in industry as part of your programme.

Graduates in Philosophy obtain work in fields such as:

  • advertising and marketing;
  • the arts, broadcasting, and journalism;
  • commerce and management;
  • the civil service, law, and politics;
  • teaching.

3 in 4 philosophy students find their main activity after graduation meaningful.

Graduate Outcomes, 2018-19.

Contact us

Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.

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Last updated 27 June 2024 / Programme terms and conditions