Philosophy MA (Hons) 2021 entry
The MA (Hons) in Philosophy will familiarise you with the views put forward by the principal figures of the philosophical tradition. It will also provide you with the means of rationally and independently assessing arguments. Studying philosophy is about acquiring skills of criticism and analysis, of clear thinking and principled debate.
During your studies, you will explore some of the oldest and most complex questions asked by human beings from Greek antiquity to the present day. For example: what differentiates truth from falsehood, and reality from appearance? Are we really free in our decisions and actions, or is freedom an illusion? Are moral values objective, and if so in what sense? What justifies some in exercising power over others?
Key information
UCAS code
V500
Course type
Master of Arts (single Honours degree)
Course duration
Four years full time
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 June 2025
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Entry requirements
These grades are the overall standards required to consider you for entry. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
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- Standard entry grades: AAAB
- Minimum entry grades: AABB
- Gateway entry grades: BBBB
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- Standard entry grades: AAB
- Minimum entry grades: ABB
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- Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5)
- Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5)
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes, please see our entry requirements for more information.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entrance requirements as outlined on their pages.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, you will need an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.
How to applyDo I need to have studied this subject before?
No previous knowledge of philosophy is required.
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing science
- Geography
- Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
Other qualifications
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Reputation
The Department of Philosophy was ranked first in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2021 and the Complete University Guide 2021.
The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student academic experience in The National Student Survey 2020 as 92.7% of St Andrews final-year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.
Research in the Department was rated top in Scotland in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014.
The School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies has been awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze Award.
The University has secured a TEF Gold Award for the quality of teaching and the undergraduate experience.
Find out more about studying philosophy at St Andrews.
Course information
The MA (Hons) in Philosophy is a four-year course run by the Department of Philosophy. During your degree, you will be trained in precise and effective reading, as well as clear thinking and writing required for philosophical study.
In the first two years, as a sub-honours student, you will study some of the great texts in philosophy and be introduced to the fundamental questions discussed by philosophers from ancient Greece to the present day, exploring both theoretical and practical questions. This will lay the foundations required for an Honours degree.
Alongside Philosophy, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study at least one additional subject, sometimes two. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
During your final two years, as an Honours student, you will focus your studies on your particular philosophical interests and will be able to choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including:
- aesthetics
- artificial intelligence and philosophy
- critical theory and critical race theory
- epistemology (the study of knowledge)
- ethical and political theory
- formal logic
- metaphysics
- philosophies of logic, mind and language
- philosophies of film, creativity, law, economics and religion
- philosophy of the climate crisis
- feminist philosophy
- texts in the history of philosophy.
Final-year students may also choose to write a dissertation on a philosophical topic chosen in consultation with teaching staff. Students can work on the dissertation for either one semester or the whole year.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Graduates in Philosophy from St Andrews can expect to have acquired a highly developed sense of independent critical thinking and judgement and to be able to communicate ideas and arguments clearly and effectively.
Find out more about studying philosophy at St Andrews.
Modules
In the first two years of your degree, as a sub-honours student, you will take philosophy modules alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take one philosophy module per semester during your first two years (though you may take more), and two modules per semester during your third and fourth year.
Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.
Students must take the following compulsory first-year module alongside other philosophy modules:
- Reasoning: introduces the essential concepts and techniques of critical reasoning, formal propositional logic, and basic predicate logic.
Students interested in Philosophy can also choose from a number of other philosophical modules which cover topics including metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, ethics, history of philosophy, and political philosophy. Find a full list of first-year Philosophy modules in the module catalogue.
Students must take at least two philosophy modules in their second year. The following second-year modules are available for students to choose from:
- Intermediate Logic: further develops students’ understanding of formal logic by the study of a broad array of systems of logic.
- Foundations of Western Philosophy: introduces students to the foundational philosophical thought of Ancient Greece, from the pre-Socratics to the Hellenistic period.
- Meaning and Knowing: provides a comprehensive foundation in both epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and the philosophy of language.
- Moral and Aesthetic Value: provides an introduction to the philosophy of value, exploring what it is to make aesthetic or moral judgements or statements, and the status of these.
If you decide to take philosophy in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules in applied ethics, logic, and the history of philosophy.
Philosophy Honours modules which have been offered in previous years include:
- Advanced Logic
- Advanced Metaethics
- Animals, Minds and Language
- Classical Philosophy
- Conceptual Engineering and its Role in Philosophy
- Contemporary Epistemology
- Contemporary Moral Theory
- Contemporary Philosophy of Language
- Continental European Philosophy from Descartes to Leibniz
- Core Works in Continental Philosophy
- Effective Altruism
- Kant’s Critical Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Paradoxes
- Philosophy and Literature
- Philosophy and Public Affairs: Global Justice
- Philosophy, Feminism and Gender
- Philosophy of Law
- Philosophy of Perception
- Political Philosophy
- Responsibility, Praise and Blame
- The Philosophy of Human Rights
- Timely Topics in Political Philosophy
- Work, Entitlement, and Welfare.
In fourth year, students may also undertake a 7,500-word dissertation on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
Teaching format
Philosophy sub-honours modules are primarily delivered through formal lectures (40 to 220 students) complimented by small group tutorials (fewer than 10 students whenever possible). Tutorials allow students to discuss their ideas, questions and problems with a tutor and with fellow students.
At Honours level, students attend smaller lectures (10 to 50 students) along with seminars (10 students), where you may often be asked to present and discuss your own work.
When not attending lectures and tutorials you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of philosophy. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all Philosophy staff on the Department of Philosophy website.
In addition to your studies in the Department of Philosophy, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.
The University’s student services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Assessment
Almost all the sub-honours modules in philosophy are assessed by a balanced combination of coursework and written examinations. At Honours level, most modules are assessed entirely by coursework, while some include written examinations.
Coursework includes essays, research projects, logic exercises and in-class presentations.
Written examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.
The Department aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2021 entry
| Home-funded | £1,820 |
|---|---|
| Rest of the UK | £9,250 |
| EU and overseas | £25,100 |
For overseas students, tuition fees will be fixed at this level for the duration of your programme.
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Joint Honours degrees
You can take Philosophy as part of a joint Honours degree alongside one of the following subjects.
Special joint degree notes
The joint option with Psychology can also be taken as a degree programme with British Psychological Society accreditation.
In taking a joint degree, you are required to take core modules in all of your subjects. Find out more about joint degrees.
Your future
Careers
Training in the sort of precise and effective reading, and clear thinking and writing, required for all philosophical study, makes a good preparation for many careers. The critical thinking developed by the study of philosophy is highly valued by many employers.
Recent Philosophy MA graduates have entered careers in:
- non-profit organisations (including Oxfam and Charityworks)
- banking
- management consultancy
- retail area management
- local government
- government organisations (including the NHS)
- television production
- publishing
- teaching.
Some graduates have also decided to pursue academic careers, either in philosophy or in other fields.
Many Philosophy graduates go on to study in other areas, for example, law conversion courses, and teacher training.
A significant number have gone on to pursue academic careers by enrolling in Masters, and then Doctoral programmes around the world.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Study abroad
Philosophy students may participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad website.
Student life
From the outset, the University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from ensures a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.
Philosophy students may be interested in joining the Philosophy Society which hosts talks from distinguished guest speakers covering a wide range of areas in philosophy. The society also organises a number of social events including pub quizzes, holiday parties and movie evenings, and it publishes its own undergraduate philosophy journal, Aporia.
The Department of Philosophy is located in Edgecliffe, a Scottish Baronial house situated on a small cliff with views across St Andrews Bay. Edgecliffe is home to a departmental library with over 5,000 volumes. Most Philosophy seminars and tutorials will take place here, with larger lectures taking place in nearby buildings.
The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As University buildings are located throughout the town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings, parks and beaches, providing a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. Find out more about the town of St Andrews.
Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.
“I appreciate and value the combination of lectures, small tutorials and workshops. If we have any questions, we are actively encouraged to stop by our lecturer’s office to discuss these further. I have cherished every single moment of learning and interacting with the vibrant international community around me and hanging out with my friends.”
Sophia (Hong Kong)
Contact
Department of Philosophy
University of St Andrews
Edgecliffe
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AL
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2486
Email: ugpafsadmin@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
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.
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.