Skip to main content Accessibility
Home
Skip to main content Accessibility Home
  • Foundation
  • Undergraduate 2022
  • Undergraduate 2023
  • Postgraduate
  • Research
  • CPD
    •
  • Ukraine crisis
  • Student Home
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Student KLE
  • Staff Directory
  • Library
    •
  • Ukraine crisis
  • Intranet
    •
    Alumni
  • Faculties
  • Schools
  • Institutes
    •
  • China
  • Hong Kong SAR
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UK International
  • Rest of the world
    •

    Philosophy - BA (Hons)

    Keele Philosophy offers an exceptionally broad course with a wide range of modules so you can tailor your degree to your interests and career aspirations. It encompasses analytic and continental traditions and philosophical theories from around the world. You will be taught in a friendly department by Keele Philosophy's internationally regarded researchers, enabling you to develop a broad range of skills and expertise.

    Year of entry

    Course type

    • Single Honours

    UCAS code

    • V501

    Duration of study

    • 3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

    Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

    Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.











    Upon submitting this form, your enquiry will be forwarded on to our enquiries team who will contact you  to answer your question and provide further details about the course that you are interested in.

    Your Preferences




    What we’re going to do with your data and why?

    We will securely store your data and send you essential information (examples include updates on an application or booking confirmations for events such as Open Days).

    We would also like to send you useful information about studying at University (particularly Keele) and/or the courses that you have shown an interest in. To do this we need your consent and information on which communication channels you would like to hear from us on (please see opt-in boxes above).

    We will never sell your data to a third party. We only ever share data with companies involved in helping us communicate with you or helping us to manage your data (examples include; Online forms, Printers, Postal services, other University partners etc).

    How long are we keeping it?

    We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

    Unsubscribe

    By selecting no to the preferences above you will have unsubscribed, however, this does not mean that your data has been deleted. If you would like to invoke your right to be forgotten please refer to the section below.

    What to do if I change my mind?

    To change your preferences after you have closed this form, simply reopen the link to this page. For further information about how your data is held, including your right to be forgotten, please contact dpa@keele.ac.uk


     Book an open day Chat to students

    Why study Philosophy at Keele University?

    Discover new ideas, debate big questions with your lecturers and peers, and better appreciate the views of others
    Research-led teaching, providing insight into new and traditional topics, developing your analytical skills
    Tailor your degree programme based on your interests and career aspirations
    Discover diverse cultures through an International Year at a partner university across the globe
    Opportunity to gain professional experience in an additional work placement year within your studies

    Course overview

    Philosophy poses big questions about right and wrong, human life, the nature of reality and what we know about it. In Philosophy you will study classic and contemporary texts, think about ideas and formulate your own philosophical theories. You will explore central themes – such as moral and political philosophy, logic, epistemology, and the philosophies of mind, religion and science – and will consider key philosophical problems about the nature of the world, the mind and various solutions proposed.

    You’ll learn about different philosophical traditions past and present, including Anglo-American, Indian, Buddhist, Greek, French and German philosophy. You’ll enhance your logical and critical thinking skills, and develop the use of sound arguments to defend your views, while detecting fallacies and other argumentative weaknesses. You'll learn to present your work in a variety of ways, giving you transferable skills to find employment once you’ve graduated.

    Enhance your learning

    Royal Institute of Philosophy Lecture Series

    Hear from guest speakers about their philosophical research and engage in thought-provoking discussions with peers and visitors from other universities. You will have the opportunity to network with professionals and share your knowledge and opinions as well as experience debates on a larger scale to gain a wider insight into different theories and explanations of philosophy. This experience builds your awareness of new research and allows you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills.

    Work Placement Year

    On this course, you will have the opportunity to opt for a Work Placement Year in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies between Year 2 and 3. This will allow you to apply your knowledge and practical skills in a workplace environment enabling you to build key skills in communication, teamwork and project management. You will be able to demonstrate your abilities and creative thinking, working with fellow professionals as well as independently.

    You will be supported by staff in your preparation to apply for a work placement that suits your interests and career prospects. This opportunity will allow you to develop both personally and professionally during your studies which will assist you in your employment after university.

    Study Abroad

    International Year

    Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising this opportunity between 2nd and 3rd year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe. You will develop a new way of understanding the world and gain insight into various perspectives whilst learning in a different environment.

    On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title ‘with International Year’. This can be highly beneficial for your career prospects and through experiencing different cultures; you will not only grow as an individual, but you will also strengthen your knowledge and interests within society. You can find more information here.

    Alternatively, you may choose to study abroad for just a semester in your second year which will count towards your second-year grades. You may look to study in the USA, Europe, Australia, Canada or Asia to name a few possible destinations. Our Global Opportunities team will support you through the process, ensuring you are able to get the most out of your international experience.

    Learn a Language

    Discover languages at Keele, whether you are a complete beginner or already have a foundation of knowledge; we offer a flexible and guided route to developing your skills. We currently offer British Sign Language, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

    Related courses

    Next Steps

    insert-a start insert-a end

    Additional opportunities

    Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year Study abroad GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

    Entry requirements

    Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

    Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.

    A Level requirements

    • A Level requirement BBC

    GCSE requirements

    • English at C (or 4)

    BTEC

    • BTEC requirements DMM

    International Baccalaureate

    • 29 points 

    Access to HE Diploma requirements

    • Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.  

    If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    Preparation programmes for international students

    International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

    These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

    Next Steps

    insert-b start insert-b end

    Fees and funding

    Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

    Our Student Financial Support team offers confidential advice and guidance to help you to manage your money, so that you can make the most of your time at Keele. We can help you to resolve issues with your Student Finance, create a budget, and help you to explore your options if you’re facing financial hardship. We are also able to ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible, such as bursaries and scholarships.

    For more information visit our undergraduate fees and funding section.

    Next Steps

    insert-c start insert-c end

    Modules

    Next Steps

    insert-d start insert-d end

    Your future career

    96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)

    Enhance your employability

    Philosophy has a strong record for graduate employment among non-vocational degrees. You will gain highly developed skills in critical thinking, negotiating, and multiple approaches to problem solving, both of which are highly prized by employers. You will learn to organise your time and workload, to present your views confidently and to negotiate with others.

    This course will prepare you for employment in a broad range of careers with skills that are applicable for a variety of roles.

    You may wish to explore a career in:

    • Teaching
    • Police
    • Research
    • Business
    • Psychology
    • Marketing
    • Finance
    • Law
    • Computing
    • Charity
    • Further study

    Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

    From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

    Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

    Next Steps

    insert-e start insert-e end

    Teaching, learning and assessment

    Philosophy is taught by lecturers with diverse research expertise, sparking your imagination in a range of different topics, with consideration of past and present perspectives. You will engage with core and optional modules and will be able to tailor your degree programme based on your interests.

    You will learn to think creatively and engage with thought-provoking discussions with peers and academics, addressing problem questions and constructing reasoned arguments. This experience will allow you to build logical arguments and think critically about the topic at hand, enabling you to gain a better understanding of some difficult questions.

    You will be taught through lectures, tutorials, seminars and web-based learning to ensure you engage with a variety of activities, through group work as well as independent study; developing skills that will prepare you for employment.

    You will be assessed through various methods including:

    • Examinations
    • Essays
    • Presentations
    • Dialogues
    • Video-making
    • Portfolios
    • Dissertation
    insert-f start insert-f end

    Foundation year

    Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

    This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

    Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

    The information within this section is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

    Course Content

    Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

    This Foundation Year is a two-semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA (Hons) Philosophy degree. For example, the Foundations of Humanities 1 module introduces you to the broad range of source material across the Humanities disciplines – from media to history – which enable us to analyse political, social or economic perspectives and attitudes to individuals, marginal groups and ‘mainstream’ society.  Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do. 

    Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage. 

    Course Structure

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    Semester One Modules

    FYO-00247 Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing 15 credits
    FYO-00257 Foundations of Humanities 1 15 credits
    FYO-00259 Foundations of Humanities 2 15 credits
    FYO-00267 Foundations of Social Sciences (Option)  15 credits

    Semester Two Modules

    FYO-00271 University Research Portfolio 30 credits
    FYO-00261 Advancing Humanities 30 credits

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

    • Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
    • Relevant work experience

      AND

    • GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or 
    • IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

    How to Apply 

    Students need to apply for BA (Hons) Philospohy with Foundation Year (UCAS code: V5V0) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. 

    Direct Entry Students

    If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

    Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.
    insert-g start insert-g end insert-h start insert-h end

    Discover the Keele difference

    Campus life
    Campus life

    Everything’s on your doorstep at Keele, and you’ll soon feel at home and make friends wherever you go.

    Student finance
    Student finance

    We help students manage their money and ensure that they receive any funding for which they may be eligible.

    Enhance your degree
    Enhance your degree

    Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.

    Book an open day