Consider fundamental questions about our own nature, and that of the world we live in
Year of entry: 2025/26
V500
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAB/A*BB/A*AC (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
Philosophy is an engaging yet demanding activity that will challenge your thinking, giving you a greater understanding of your own nature and that of the world around you. You will need genuine intellectual curiosity and a willingness to carefully weigh up different points of view.
We will give you the tools to think seriously and independently about major philosophical questions. Studying original texts from great minds both past and present, you will learn to form, develop and defend your own answers.
You will develop valuable skills in reasoning, analysis, creative problem-solving and communication. You'll graduate ready for a wide range of careers.
Taught by world-leading experts and with the opportunity to gain a solid grounding in the latest research, Philosophy at York enables you to become an independent scholar, growing and developing intellectually.
You have a wide range of options to choose from, reflecting the expertise of a large and diverse department. We offer modules in all the central areas of philosophy and you can tailor your degree to reflect your own areas of interest. The modules on offer may change from year to year. In each year you can also take ‘elective’ modules offered by other departments.
There are other opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
We also offer this course as a 3+1 programme.
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
In your first year, you'll gain a firm grounding in philosophy, learning how to study, think and write philosophically, and developing your skills in reasoning and argument.
We'll introduce you to some of the central areas of philosophy and challenge you to form your own opinions about the bigger questions. You'll explore ethics, be introduced to the language of logic, and question the fundamental nature of reality. You'll consider questions about the nature of knowledge, how we get it, and whether we can be sure that we have it! You will have the opportunity to explore philosophical ideas via engagement with classic texts from the history of philosophy, as well as through contemporary discussions.
In Beginning Philosophical Research, you will start developing as an independent researcher. As well as learning how to present your research in a traditional essay form, you will also learn how to present your research as a concise and engaging academic poster.
Option modules
You will study one option module. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will confirmed after you begin your course.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your second year you will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of optional modules, allowing you to pursue topics that interest you most in philosophy. In your core 'Philosophy and Society' module you will reflect on how philosophy is influenced by, and can influence, society. You will also develop your skills in communicating philosophy to non-philosophers by working in a team to produce a podcast on a philosophical topic.
You will study five option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. Students must take at least one module from Band A, and at least one module from Band B. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Band A
Band B
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your final year, you have the opportunity to propose your own philosophical project, working one-to-one with a supervisor to produce an in depth piece of independent research. The remaining choices of modules reflect many of the research strengths of the Department of Philosophy.
You will study either four or five option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The quality of the teaching and the variety of the modules available is fantastic. Philosophy as a degree covers so many topics so it's brilliant that York offers so many of them, normally with lecturers who are currently doing research in those areas. Teaching is always of a high standard and challenging - in a good way!Josephine, Philosophy graduate
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
This course gives a great deal of flexibility in terms of the modules you can choose to study. You may choose to buy your own copies of texts for some modules, although course books will be available from the library, and online reading packs are available for most modules.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
We offer £1000 Academic Excellence and Widening Participation Bursaries. See our funding page for further details.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Without exception the modules I took throughout my degree were interesting and challenging, encouraging me to think differently about the problems we were presented with. Philosophy has had a huge impact on my perception of myself and the world and has influenced the way I think through and approach decisions.Cecily, Philosophy graduate
As part of your degree, you can choose to take a credit-bearing module in a variety of languages - from Medieval Latin to Japanese, to Arabic or Chinese.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We’ll encourage you to be an active participant, taking part in discussions with academics and fellow students. You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, intensive small group sessions and practical workshops.
You’ll be assigned a personal supervisor to guide you through your course and support your academic journey.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 5-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of Philosophy. Most of your teaching will take place at various locations across Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
You'll be assessed in a number of different ways, depending on your course and the modules you study. Forms of assessment include:
Whenever you complete an assessment, you will receive feedback on its good and bad points, and guidance on how you can improve further.
You'll also receive feedback on assignments which don't count towards your final grade, helping you to understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement.
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Our student-run Philosophy Society is a vibrant and social way to extend your interest in philosophy.
for Philosophy, according to the Complete University Guide, 2023.
Philosophy graduates are equipped to enter a variety of jobs from health service management to banking, from tourism to government. Some continue in academic study and research, or take professional or vocational training to prepare for careers in, for example, education or law.
Our graduates have gone on to succeed in a wide range of careers, including:
Through reflection and study of decisions, and the application of philosophical tools, we can improve the quality of decisions that institutions take.Harry Evans, Philosophy Alumni
Senior Strategy Advisor, NHS
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB/A*BB/A*AC |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points |
| T levels | We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - AABBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| MOOCs | If you successfully complete our online course Logic: the language of truth do let us know, as you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
