Philosophy

UCAS code: V500

Here's what University of Southampton says about its Philosophy course.

About this course On this course, you’ll delve into the close study of the core areas of philosophy, such as ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and political philosophy. You’ll engage with some of the greatest minds in Western and non-Western philosophical traditions, and you’ll also apply philosophical thought to pressing practical issues, such as global poverty, climate change, animal ethics, sex and gender, and artificial intelligence.

A degree in Philosophy cultivates a deep understanding of human existence, thought, morality, and the nature of reality. Graduates are equipped with impeccable analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills – valuable assets in virtually any profession. This is reflected in our Graduate Outcomes where 95% of our Philosophy graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation" (Graduate Outcomes, 2022/2023, published 2025)

Key features of the course

• Customize your degree, with a wide range of optional modules, within Philosophy and across other disciplines.

• Benefit from small class sizes and personalized attention from lecturers and tutors, with a chance to explore your ideas in depth.

• Explore Non-Western traditions of philosophy that are rarely taught in UK universities, such as Chinese and Indian philosophy.

• Career skills are embedded at every stage of our courses

• Access to the Southampton Ethics centre, nurturing inter-disciplinary research and outreach, and the Hartley Library, home to the University Archives & Special Collections.

• Study and research through cutting-edge technology at the Digital Humanities facilities, such as virtual reality, 3D scanners and printers, and a 360 degree fully immersive audio-visual centre.

Student Support Our courses are taught by philosophy experts with an exceptional breadth of interests. We offer high number of contact hours on a wide range of programmes, with a focus on small-group teaching and one-on-one tuition. Beyond academics, you’ll have access to wellbeing resources, peer mentoring, and careers advice, all in a friendly, welcoming community.

Further information The BA Philosophy is a three-year, full-time course at our Avenue Campus. You can also apply to add a year abroad or placement year, extending your degree to four years. For details, visit our course page.

Over the three years of this Philosophy course, you will develop core skills in critical thinking and reasoning, and also delve into a range of historical and applied philosophical topics, as guided by your personal interests.

Year 1: Your foundational critical thinking and reasoning skills will be developed in modules such as: Reason and Argument, Ethics, and Ancient Greek Philosophy. Year 2: You will explore deep philosophical questions of mind, self, and freedom in your core modules, and tailor your degree with a wide variety of optional modules in the sub-disciplines of philosophy, such as epistemology, aesthetics, metaphysics, and moral philosophy. Year 3: You will personalise your degree through a self-directed dissertation project on a topic of your choice, and also choose from a range of specialist modules, each led by active researchers in the field. Topics covered by optional modules include: AI, animal ethics, Chinese philosophy, climate change, Indian philosophy, and sex and gender.

You will also have the option of further tailoring your degree by choosing optional modules outside of philosophy, with subjects including digital humanities and modern languages.

For a full list of modules available please visit the course page.

On this course you will learn through a range of activities that may include lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, individual and group projects, and independent learning (studying on your own).

You will be able to demonstrate what you have learnt through a variety of assessment methods, such as debates, essays, oral presentations, dissertations, individual and group projects.

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor who will offer support and advice throughout your studies. You will also receive feedback throughout your course, enabling you to identify areas for improvement before your work is formally assessed.