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Philosophy (MLitt) 2020 entry

Philosophy is a highly interdisciplinary subject that examines and attempts to answer questions raised by human life and action, by natural science, by the study of art and literature, by the nature of language and communication, and by history.

The MLitt in Philosophy offers the opportunity to study a wide range of topics within the discipline in order to broaden your understanding and investigate different research topics.

Applications for 2020 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

Course type

Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)

Course dates

  • Start date: 7 September 2020
  • End date: 30 September 2021

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Course duration

One year full time or two years part time

Entry requirements

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Tuition fees

UK and EU: £9,450
Overseas: £19,400

Application deadline

1 August 2020. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.

Application requirements

  • CV
  • personal statement (optional)
  • sample of academic written work (2,500 words maximum)
  • two original signed academic references
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

Course information

The MLitt in Philosophy is a one-year taught postgraduate programme run by the St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP), taught by staff from both the University of St Andrews and the University of Stirling. 

Highlights

  • Philosophy at St Andrews was ranked top in Scotland and fifth in the UK in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014.
  • The St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme was ranked the third best Philosophy programme in the UK in the latest Philosophical Gourmet Report.
  • Supervisors at both St Andrews and Stirling are available to oversee the MLitt dissertation.
  • You can choose any of the optional modules offered by the Department, allowing you to explore any combination of philosophical topics. 

Teaching format

Students on the MLitt in Philosophy have the opportunity to study a broad range of philosophical topics through lectures, seminars and reading groups. Modules are taught in small groups, normally consisting of 4 to 15 students. 

Those on the MLitt in Philosophy may sign up for any of the postgraduate taught modules offered by the departments at the universities of St Andrews and Stirling, building a timetable which best suits individual interests. The course offers flexibility for those students who are not yet sure of their research interests, or who wish to gain a broader understanding of issues and debates across the discipline. This flexibility allows students to combine the modules which are of most interest: combining logic and ethics for example, or metaphysics and political philosophy.

The programme consists of six taught modules taken over two semesters (each assessed by coursework) and a 15,000-word dissertation in an area of your choice.

Every MLitt student is assigned an academic mentor at the beginning of the year. Academic mentors offer individual guidance on academic life and advice on how best to apply for a PhD place. 

Part-time studies

The Philosophy MLitt can also be taken as a part-time programme. Students will be expected to take three modules per year over two years, followed by a 15,000-word dissertation. For more information about part-time study, please contact the SASP secretary by emailing sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Greek philosophy busts

The MLitt in Philosophy is run by SASP

More information on the application process can be found on the SASP website

Modules

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2019–2020 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2020 entry.

Students must take three compulsory modules over the course of the programme. 

Semester 1

These two modules are taught in Stirling on Mondays. A coach will take you to and from Stirling without additional cost.

  • Current Issues in Philosophy 1: focuses on epistemology and ethics.
  • Research Methods: aims to foster the range of skills required for independent research in Philosophy. Students may choose to join a seminar group most related to their interests.

Semester 2

  • Current Issues in Philosophy 2: explores philosophy of language and philosophy of mind.

You will also have the opportunity to choose three modules from all of the postgraduate Philosophy modules across the Department. These modules may include:

  • Aesthetics
  • Classical Philosophy
  • Introduction to Formal Epistemology
  • Intuitions and Philosophical Methodology 
  • Kant
  • Moral and Political Philosophy in the Nineteenth Century
  • Origins and History of Analytic Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Logic
  • Philosophy of Law
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Political Philosophy
  • Texts in Contemporary Metaphysics
  • Texts in the History of Political Philosophy
  • Topics in Recent Moral Theory
  • Wittgenstein.

If you wish to brush up on your knowledge of logic, or if you have limited prior experience in this area, there is also an optional weekly seminar, Basic Logic, held throughout the year.

Optional modules are subject to change each year, and some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).

The final element of the MLitt is a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should be on an area of philosophy you are interested in. You will be encouraged to start considering a topic for the dissertation during Semester 2. All students are supported for their dissertation by a relevant supervisor from St Andrews or Stirling.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.


The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2020 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

Conferences and events

The MLitt is enhanced by a busy programme of conferences, workshops and visiting speakers from universities in the UK and abroad. This includes:

This is accompanied by a wide range of student-led reading groups and informal seminars.

Funding

Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.

Other taught postgraduate scholarships

St Andrews and Stirling are both committed to helping as many students as possible continue in higher education through scholarship opportunities. There is a wide range of postgraduate scholarships available for you to apply for, either via the University or directly via charitable organisations.

Find out more about postgraduate scholarships at the University of St Andrews.

You are also eligible to apply for funding opportunities available via the University of Stirling.

After the MLitt

Research degrees

If you have successfully completed the MLitt in Philosophy, you may be able to proceed onto the SASP MPhil. This involves a 40,000-word dissertation, which is examined by an internal and external examiner at the end of the second year.

Students enrolled for the MLitt or MPhil are eligible to apply for a Philosophy PhD programme.

PhD in Philosophy

Careers

Recent graduates in Philosophy have found openings in:

  • local government
  • television production (Sky Sports)
  • the National Health Service
  • the Co-operative Bank
  • insurance
  • the Crown Prosecution Service
  • publishing
  • teaching English in Japan.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Contact

Department of Philosophy
University of St Andrews
Edgecliffe
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AR

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2487
Email: sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk

Philosophy website

St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP)
For further information regarding the application process, please contact the SASP secretary by emailing sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2487
Email: sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk 

SASP website

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online (PDF, 84 KB).

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