Philosophy (MLitt) 2022 entry
Philosophy is an interdisciplinary subject that examines and attempts to answer questions raised by human life and action, natural science, art and literature, language and communication, and history.
In the MLitt in Philosophy, you will study a wide range of topics within the discipline to broaden your understanding and investigate different research topics.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)
Course dates
- Start date: 5 September 2022
- End date: 30 September 2023
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
- A 2.1 Honours degree in or including philosophy. If you do not have an undergraduate degree in philosophy, you may be interested in the Conversion in Philosophy.
- If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
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
Home: £10,395
Overseas: £21,390
Application deadline
Friday 27 May 2022. We are experiencing a high volume of applications, and once the programme is full, no further applicants can be admitted. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to apply as early as possible. This may also allow them to be eligible for certain scholarships and can be important for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement (optional)
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 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.
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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 mostly 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 philosophy 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 postgraduate administrators by emailing pgpafs@st-andrews.ac.uk.
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 2021–2022 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2022 entry.
Students must take the following compulsory modules over the course of the programme.
- 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.
This module is taught in Stirling on Mondays. A coach will take you to and from Stirling without additional cost.
You will also have the opportunity to choose three modules from all of the postgraduate Philosophy modules across the Department. These modules may include some of the following:
- Aesthetics
- Classical Philosophy
- Current Issues in Philosophy 1
- Current Issues in Philosophy 2
- 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 Law
- Philosophy of Logic
- 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 require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students. See the University’s position on curriculum development).
The final element of the MLitt is an 8,000 to 10,000-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 2022 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:
- St Andrews Philosophy Club — meetings for visiting speakers
- Department of Philosophy at Stirling — meetings for visiting speakers
- the student Philosophy Society (PhilSoc) — programme of talks and events
- St Andrews research student weekly seminar
- annual reading party for postgraduate students
- There are discussion groups and seminars at the three St Andrews research centres associated with Philosophy:
There is also 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.
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.
"I have been able to choose my essays and write about a wide range of philosophical subjects that specifically piqued my interest. I have learnt that provided I work hard, refer to others when help is needed and have good friends to surround me, I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. "
- London, England
Contact
Department of Philosophy
University of St Andrews
Edgecliffe
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AR
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2487
Email: pgpafs@st-andrews.ac.uk
St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP)
For further information regarding the application process, please contact the SASP secretary by emailing pgpafs@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2487
Email: pgpafs@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.