Philosophy (BA)

Philosophy explores the big questions: Who are we? What is our place in the world? How should we live? What is reality? Philosophy approaches such questions through argument, but also through vision and imagination.

Philosophy concerns every aspect of our lives, practical as well as theoretical. Through its grounding in real social relations and human activities, it seeks to understand and address the whole spectrum of social, ethical, environmental and political issues of today. Through philosophy, we are able not only to understand life, but to shape it.

If your interests extend to life, the universe and everything, if you want to develop a rich set of life-enhancing skills and the power to influence positive change, then our philosophy degree is for you.

Year One – Level 4 (CertHE, DipHE & BA)

• Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits; optional; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Cultures and Philosophies of Politics (20 credits; optional)
• Death, Burial and the Afterlife (20 credits; optional)
• Exploring the Humanities (20 credits; compulsory)
• From Egypt to the Near East: Phenomena of the Mediterranean (20 credits; optional)
• Gender, Sex, and Sexuality: Historical and Critical Perspectives (20 credits; optional)
• Humans and Other Animals (20 credits; optional)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Morality, Ethics and Reason (20 credits; optional)
• Myths and Mythology: How Stories Shape the World (20 credits; optional)
• Power and Inequality (20 credits; optional)
• The Colonial Project and the Humanities (20 credits; optional)
• The Nature of Objects: Why Matter Matters (20 credits; optional).

Year Two – Level 5 (DipHE & BA)

• 20th Century Philosophy (20 credits; optional)
• Anguish and Death: Key Existentialist Texts (20 credits; optional)
• Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits; optional; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Confessing with Saint Augustine: God and Religion in the Twilight of the Roman Empire (20 credits; optional)
• Confucian Ethics (20 credits; optional)
• Cross Cultural Ethics: Christian and Islamic Approaches (20 credits; optional)
• Environment, Sustainability and Philosophy (20 credits; optional)
• Faith Seeking Understanding: God and Philosophy in the Middle Ages (20 credits; optional)
• Freedom, Agency and Responsibility (20 credits; optional)
• From Attic to Audience: Engaging with the Public through Residencies, Festivals, Performances and Publication (20 credits; optional)
• Humans, Animals and Machines: Exploring the Philosophy of Mind (20 credits; optional)
• International Independent Study Module (40 credits; optional) 
• International Independent Study Module (60 credits; optional) 
• Rationalists and Empiricists (20 credits; optional)
• Reality, Value and God: Debates in Metaphysics (20 credits; optional)
• The Ethics of Life and Death: Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics (20 credits; optional).

Year Three – Level 6 (BA)

• 20th Century Philosophy (20 credits; optional)
• Anguish and Death: Key Existentialist Texts (20 credits; optional)
• Confessing with Saint Augustine: God and Religion in the Twilight of the Roman Empire (20 credits; optional)
• Confucian Ethics (20 credits; optional)
• Cross Cultural Ethics: Christian and Islamic Approaches (20 credits; optional)
• Environment, Sustainability and Philosophy (20 credits; optional)
• Faith Seeking Understanding: God and Philosophy in the Middle Ages (20 credits; optional)
• Freedom, Agency and Responsibility (20 credits; optional)
• From Attic to Audience: Engaging with the Public through Residencies, Festivals, Performances and Publication (20 credits; optional)
• Humans, Animals and Machines: Exploring the Philosophy of Mind (20 credits; optional)
• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• International Independent Study Module (40 credits; optional) 
• International Independent Study Module (60 credits; optional) 
• Rationalists and Empiricists (20 credits; optional)
• Reality, Value and God: Debates in Metaphysics (20 credits; optional)
• The Ethics of Life and Death: Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics (20 credits; optional).

Level 3 (Foundation Year) 

• Academic Survival Skills (20 credits; compulsory)         
• Introduction to University Life (10 credits; compulsory)              
• Independent Investigation (10 credits; compulsory)                      
• Introduction to the Humanities (10 credits; compulsory)               
• Academic Writing (10 credits; compulsory)                
• Understanding Literature (20 credits; optional)   
• Talking to the Dead (20 credits; optional)   
• Being Human (20 credits; optional)   
• Understanding Democracy (20 credits; optional)   

Prospective students should be aware of the following:

• Not all optional modules are offered every year
• Optional modules are delivered subject to sufficient student numbers
• Language modules are optional/compulsory/core according to linguistic ability
• There are many Level 5 and Level 6 versions of the same module. Students can only take this module once; this depends on which year the modules are offered in.

The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following type of assessment: essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length, document analysis, book/ journal reviews, short reports and reflective journals, time tests, seen and unseen exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.

The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving. 

• Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

• Prof David Cockburn
• Dr David Morgans
• Dr Rebekah Humphreys
• Dr Tristan Nash

Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.

Philosophy is, in commercial jargon, the ultimate transferable work skill

• Administrative work
• Advocacy and government relations jobs
• Analyst jobs
• Committee work
• Education
• Environmental work 
• Ethics advisors and other advisory work
• Fundraising
• Law
• Media and journalism
• NGOs and charities
• Politics and Civil Service

The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.

Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.

Students are expected to submit two hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.

Optional Field trip:
Faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.

• Fieldwork (depending on where student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500
• Individual trips: c. £5 - £50

• Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (BA) - Distance Learning

Scholarships and Bursaries

Visit our Lampeter Accommodation section to find out more.

Our students do not explore all forms of human social and cultural behaviour by simply sitting and listening to how other anthropologists understand the world, they experience what is to live like them themselves.

We focus particularly on applying and engaging with theory to address social issues. We recognise that practical, first-hand engagement with ‘other’ cultures is the best way to understand the anthropological endeavour. If you choose to study with us you will be given plenty of opportunity to be an anthropologist — by applying the knowledge you learn in the classroom in the ‘real’ world.

If you would like to find out more, you can visit us on an Open Day.