Philosophy

UCAS code: V500

Here's what Birkbeck, University of London says about its Philosophy course.

Birkbeck’s BA Philosophy gives you the chance to explore ancient answers and new perspectives on our place in the world. Join us as we explore questions such as: what makes something good or just? Is the human mind just a lump of grey matter? Why are democracies preferable to autocracies? Do we have free will? Does God exist? Who decides what counts as beautiful?

Why choose this course?

• This philosophy degree is taught by some of the country’s leading researchers who are also passionate about teaching this subject.

• We provide a welcoming and supportive academic learning environment, driven by a focus on collaboration, discussion and debate.

• Studying in the heart of London means you can also take advantage of the philosophical stimulation and community brought by leading societies such as the Aristotelian Society, the Royal Institute of Philosophy, the London Aesthetics Forum and the London Mind Group.

What you will learn

On this course you will acquire central philosophical abilities through dedicated modules on logic or critical thinking. You will also gain a firm foundation in:

• ethics

• political philosophy

• history of philosophy

• metaphysics

• epistemology.

You will then be able to choose option modules that best suit your passions and interests, and you can elect to pursue a dissertation project with the support of a supervisor in your final year.

How you will learn

This course is taught through lectures followed by small-group discussion seminars. If you decide to undertake a dissertation you will also engage in multiple one-to-one tutorials with your supervisor.

You can study this course full- or part-time. You can also choose your own timetable for the core/compulsory modules selecting whether to study them in the daytime or the evening. Some option modules may also be available to study in the daytime, as well as the evening.

Please note that Foundation Year classes are available in the evening only until you progress on to the main degree.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. The Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• Birkbeck is a leading centre for philosophical research in the UK. All of our established members of academic staff are active researchers, and our excellence in both teaching and research is consistently reflected in UK and international surveys.

• We have a specialist philosophy library at 30 Russell Square. The main philosophy collection is held in the Birkbeck Library, which has an extensive range of books and online resources.

• We are a member of the University of London’s Institute of Philosophy. Our students therefore belong to a large, intercollegiate community of philosophers, and are welcome at a range of seminars, lectures, talks and conferences.

Careers and employability

Our BA Philosophy provides you with a thorough grounding in the central areas of philosophy, while giving you highly transferable skills such as:

• independent judgement

• critical thought

• the ability to analyse complex ideas and arguments.

Graduates can pursue career paths in education, research, politics and journalism. Possible professions include:

• higher education lecturer

• civil service fast streamer

• local government officer

• journalist.

See the British Philosophical Association for more information on careers for philosophy graduates.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Modules run over the course of an academic year: Level 4 modules are assessed by a combination of coursework (either short writing assignments or logic exercises) and a short-answer examination; Level 5 modules are assessed by a combination of essay (2000 words) and a take-home, short-answer examination; Level 6 modules are assessed entirely by essay (3000 words).