Philosophy seminar with Lina Jansson - Humanities

Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning and intercultural understanding skills essential for navigating complex global challenges.

Through philosophy, theology and religion, we explore the big questions from diverse perspectives. Philosophy is our attempt to understand the world around us and our place in it, while theology and religion are about making sense of the stories and practices people live by.

Philosophy

Philosophy offers a path to explore life's deepest questions and shape the world around you.

From ethics and metaphysics to social and feminist philosophy, our curriculum is designed to broaden your perspectives and deepen your critical thinking skills.

Our range of optional modules mean you can explore:

themes of crime and justice, race and gender, politics and theology
domains such as environmental and social philosophy
facets of human existence including AI, illness, recreation, and mental health
history of the Western, Asian, and Africana traditions.

Philosophy BA

Theology and religion

Religion is among the most profound, divisive, and enduring aspects of human life. Making sense of religion and its impact is essential to understanding other cultures.

You’ll investigate how religious ideas, practices, and identities develop over time. You’ll explore the insights theology and ethics bring to today’s big questions, and examine the influence of religious beliefs on science, philosophy, art, and literature.

As our expertise includes both ancient and contemporary religion, your modules range across the oldest texts and philosophies to the ethics of social media.

Ian Kidd (Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts) and Patrice Haynes (Assistant Professor in Philosophy, Faculty of Arts) discuss Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Nottingham.

Joint honours subjects

Did you know, you can study philosophy as part of a joint honours degree? You can choose from:

Foundation Year students can progress to a wide range of our joint honours degrees, while you can also build your own degree and study a range of subjects in our Liberal Arts course.

Why choose us?

Beginners welcome - you do not need any prior experience of theology, religion or philosophy. Our year one modules are designed to give you a university-level foundation
Freedom to explore - following an introductory programme in year one, deepen your knowledge of your favourite topics and explore new ones through a wide range of modules
Research-driven learning - engage with cutting-edge research and teachings from experts in the fields of philosophy, theology and religion
Ask the big questions - explore the many ways in thinking about what it is to be human
Confidence of thinking - develop the skills and confidence to argue your views
Career-ready skills - develop your presentation, organisation, teamwork and leadership skills for a wide range of professions
Explore real-world challenges - study across interdisciplinary themes with our ‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules
Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities

You may also progress to our courses from our Arts and Humanities Foundation Year, subject to eligibility.

Some key statistics

Top 25 for philosophy in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025)
11th in the UK for theology and religious studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
Top 20 in the UK for philosophy and theology and religious studies (Guardian University Guide 2025)
12th in the UK for theology and religious studies (Daily Mail University Guide 2025)
97% of philosophy students said we are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)

It's a very broad subject that touches on a lot of areas and opens you up to a lot of ideas and understandings about people. We’ve covered philosophy, history, media, literature, law and international relations. If you love thinking and to present arguments, sharing your views and challenging other people’s then I’d encourage you to study Theology and Religious Studies.

Read Francis' full profile >

Francis Adam

Theology and Religious Studies BA

The highlight for me was being able to create my own degree. There was so much more freedom of choice, so I could really pick the things I loved.

Read Jodi's full profile >

Jodi Kiang

UCAS code
VL52

Duration
3 years full-time

Start date
Sep 2026

See all

About our courses

Teaching methods on our course include:

Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Placements
Workshops

Weekly reading summaries, presentations and online quizzes and tests may also be used by individual lecturers.

Assessment

For assessments, you will encounter a combination of essays, exams, commentaries, dissertations, in-class tests, portfolios, presentations, reflective reviews, and written exams. This varied approach ensures that your learning outcomes are assessed comprehensively.

Additionally, personal tutors provide invaluable support, guiding you through academic challenges and personal development opportunities. Peer mentors, trained students from your department, offer further assistance in settling into academic and student life.

Work placement module

Through our work placement module, students have the chance to gain direct experience in a professional workplace environment. This part-time placement is supplemented with classroom reflection and support from our Careers service.

Philosophy in School Project

As part of our commitment to community engagement and student development, all philosophy students have the opportunity to participate in the Philosophy in Schools project. This initiative allows students to teach philosophy in local primary schools, honing their teaching and management skills.

Communicating Philosophy Module

Our unique Communicating Philosophy module offers students the chance to apply their philosophical skills to a range of different careers. Professionals such as lawyers and journalists provide insights into how philosophical concepts can be effectively communicated in various formats, from legal documents to press releases.

The programme equips students with valuable skills sought by employers:

analytical reasoning
effective communication
critical reasoning and articulating complex arguments
independent research
write clearly and persuasively

Our graduates go on to work across various industries, including but not limited to:

Business and finance including banking
Commercial, industrial, and public sector management and marketing
Sales and advertising
HR and recruitment
Media, Publishing, and Public Relations

Notably, we are consistently ranked among the top choices for graduate recruitment by UK employers in the annual High Fliers report.

Find out more about how you can use your degree.

''Studying Philosophy probably isn't the most conventional path into the automotive industry, but my time at Nottingham gave me more than just rigorous academic training. I left Nottingham with ways of thinking which have enabled me to thrive on a sought-after graduate scheme, and to secure an exciting job thereafter.''

- Luke Gallimore, BA Philosophy, now working as a Digital Manager in Volkswagen Group UK Ltd

We offer opportunities to study in many countries including Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA.

See our study abroad webpage for more information.

Please note: In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.

Offers are usually made without interview. Please note that students with non-standard entry qualifications, including mature students, may be invited for an interview.

We follow the university's flexible admissions policy and take educational and personal circumstances into consideration.

Further details are available on our applying pages.

Watch the video below:

Join us and be guided by our Admissions Manager, Maryam. With her expert guidance, you'll discover some common myths we hear from potential students. From your reference worries to your predicted grades, and everything in between, Maryam clears up some key points you need to know to start your university experience.

Faculty of Arts

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Faculty of Arts

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Faculty of Arts

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From societies to student media, you can try your hand at a whole range of activities.

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Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Philosophy

Theology and religion

Joint honours subjects

Why choose us?

Some key statistics

Francis Adam

Jodi Kiang

Our courses

Philosophy BA Hons

Philosophy (with Foundation Year) BA Hons

Philosophy and Theology BA Jt Hons

Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA Jt Hons

Classical Civilisation and Philosophy BA Jt Hons

English and Philosophy BA Jt Hons

History and Philosophy BA Jt Hons

Philosophy and Psychology BA Jt Hons

Liberal Arts BA Hons

Politics and Philosophy BA Jt Hons

About our courses

How will I study?

Placements, work experience and employability skills

Study abroad

Application and interview

Related articles

I know what career I'd like...

I'm unsure what career I'd like...

Get involved, make friends, learn new skills...

Signup to FYN hub

Find Your Nottingham hub