Philosophy, Business and Ethics
University of Reading
UCAS Code: VN51 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Extended Project
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer. Eligible applicants would receive two offers, our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths B (or 5), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Higher
T Level
Minimum grade C in the Core Component.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
**Think deeply and critically about the big ideas behind the behaviours and values of people and organisations with our three-year BA Philosophy, Business and Ethics degree.**
This course is offered jointly by the triple-accredited Henley Business School and the University of Reading’s Department of Philosophy. With a strong focus on business ethics, the programme will help you apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios, and its versatility will enhance your employability and help prepare you for your career after graduation.
During this course, you will:
gain a firm understanding of the practice, concepts, and theories of business management, as well as the skills and competencies that will help you apply them.
confront your deepest beliefs and assumptions in a philosophical way to inform you about current debates in philosophy. You’ll develop a sense of the significance of philosophical thinking in dealing with contemporary issues.
combine rigorous analysis of core philosophical and ethical theory with practical and real-world applications in business contexts.
The study of ethics forms an integral component of both the philosophical and business sides of the programme, preparing you to think through the ethical and commercial dilemmas that real-world decision-makers face.
**About Henley Business School**
Part of the University of Reading, Henley is one of the oldest business schools in the UK. It is among an exclusive group of business schools worldwide that hold triple accreditations for the quality of its teaching and research.
Its business programmes are ranked 5th in the UK for careers after 15 months (Guardian University Guide 2021, subject results for ‘Business, Management and Marketing’).
**About the Department of Philosophy**
Reading’s Department of Philosophy is in the top 125 in the world for History, Philosophy and Theology (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). We are ranked 7th in the UK for graduate propsects in Philosophy. (Complete University Guide 2023).
Modules
The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.
Core modules for this course:
Reason and Argument;
The Meaning of Life;
Business in Practice: Markets, Marketing and Management;
Global Justice;
Developing Professional Excellence;
Social Responsibility in Action;
Business Ethics 1;
Dissertation in Philosophy or Management
Or
Independent Learning Module.
The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and July 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.
Tuition fees
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What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Business and management (non-specific)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Philosophy
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Business and management (non-specific)
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
As only a small number of students take courses in this subject area, there isn't much information on what graduates do when they finish, so bear that in mind when you review any stats. Management, finance and business roles are common, but it's a good idea to ask tutors what previous graduates taking specific courses went on to do when you're at an open day.
Philosophy
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Although there aren't a lot of jobs around for professional philosophers, philosophy degrees are a relatively popular option, with more than 2,000 students graduating in a philosophy-related subject in 2015 - a little down on previous years, but still healthy. Nearly a quarter of philosophy graduates take a postgraduate qualification, and it's a relatively common subject at both Masters and doctorate level — so if you think academic life might be for you, think ahead about how you might fund further study. For those who go into work, philosophy grads tend to go into teaching, accountancy, consulting, journalism, PR, housing, marketing, human resources and the arts while a few go into the computer industry every year, where their logical training is highly rated.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Business and management (non-specific)
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£35k
£44k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Philosophy
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£25k
£28k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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