University undergraduate student using a touch screen in the Monica Partridge Building Digital Hub. Friday November 5th 2021.

Philosophy BA

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Course overview

Philosophy can be transformative. You can do it for its own sake as well as for its ability to shape lives, institutions, and society.

You might be full of curiosity and wonder, anger and injustice, confusion or a desire to make sense of yourself and the world. Philosophy covers all these bases. And more.

The first year introduces you to the essentials of ethics, reasoning and logic while also expanding your sense of what philosophy can do. You explore Western philosophies from ancient Greece onwards as well as world traditions. We’ll also teach you how to apply philosophy to contemporary issues.

 

Indicative modules

Mandatory

Year 1

Mind, Knowledge, and Ethics

Mandatory

Year 1

Reasoning, Argument, and Logic

Optional

Year 1

Metaphysics, Science, and Language

Optional

Year 1

Philosophy of Religions

Optional

Year 1

Philosophy and the Contemporary World

Optional

Year 1

History of Philosophy: Ancient to Modern

Optional

Year 1

Gender, Justice, and Society

Optional

Year 2

Social Philosophy

Optional

Year 2

Topics in Asian Philosophy

Optional

Year 2

Freedom and Obligation

Optional

Year 2

Mind and Consciousness

Optional

Year 2

Normative Ethics

Optional

Year 2

Being, Becoming and Reality

Optional

Year 2

Philosophy of Art

Optional

Year 2

The Nature of Meaning

Optional

Year 2

Knowledge and Justification

Optional

Year 2

An Introduction to Metaethics

Optional

Year 2

Intermediate Logic

Optional

Year 2

Space, Time and Motion

Optional

Year 2

Islamic Theology and Philosophy

Optional

Year 2

Buddhism and the World

Optional

Year 2

Continental Philosophy

Optional

Year 2

Employing the Arts

Optional

Year 2

Arts Work Placement Module

Optional

Year 3

Advanced Logic

Optional

Year 3

Marx

Optional

Year 3

Buddhist Philosophy

Optional

Year 3

Dissertation in Philosophy

Optional

Year 3

Communicating Philosophy

Optional

Year 3

Environmental Ethics

Optional

Year 3

Philosophy and Mortality

Optional

Year 3

Knowledge, Ignorance and Democracy

Optional

Year 3

Advanced Topics in Aesthetics

Optional

Year 3

Play, Games and Recreation

Optional

Year 3

Dirty Talk: Feminist Philosophy of Language

Optional

Year 3

Mind, Psychology and Mental Health

Optional

Year 3

Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence

Optional

Year 3

Authenticity and Existentialism

Optional

Year 3

Equality

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About modules

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. This content was last updated on Monday 16 September 2024. Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

We all know from recent experience that the world is too often complicated and difficult. Philosophy at its best helps us understand and cope with the world. At Nottingham, we teach in that spirit.

Different types of philosophy suit different methods of teaching. You might get involved in small-group study of texts or learn alternative styles of presentation - from press releases to legal briefs.

Teaching quality and support

Our staff know that philosophy can deal with complicated and sensitive ideas and take pride in their teaching:

  • in the 2022 National Student Survey 97% of students surveyed agreed that staff were good at explaining things - we know how to teach in-depth concepts
  • most of our permanent teaching staff have nationally recognised teaching qualifications (Advance HE, PGCHE)
  • tutor's contributions to high quality teaching and learning are recognised through our annual Lord Dearing Awards. View the full list of recipients.

If you have worries about your work we won't wait for them to become problems. You'll have a personal tutor who will support your academic progress and help find solutions to any issues.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Placements
  • Workshops

A combination of essays and exams are the norm for most modules. Weekly reading summaries, presentations and online quizzes and tests may also be used by individual lecturers.


Assessment methods:

  • Commentary
  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • In-class test
  • Portfolio (written/digital)
  • Presentation
  • Reflective review
  • Written exam

We provide a structure of lectures, seminars and tutorials around which you organise other study and commitments. Our typical expected contact time with you is: 

  • Year one - at least 12 hours
  • Year two - at least 9 hours
  • Year three - at least 9 hours 

As well as your timetabled sessions you'll spend your time in self-study, including course reading and seminar preparation. We also encourage lots of group activity - philosophising is more fun and more rewarding when done together.

Weekly tutorial support and the accredited Nottingham Advantage Award provide further optional learning activities, on top of these class contact hours. In addition, we have an 'open door' policy so your lecturers can be available outside your scheduled contact time to help you study and develop. This can be in person and online.

As a guide 20 credits (a typical module) is about 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study).

Class sizes vary depending on topic and type. A popular lecture may have up to 200 students attending while a specialised seminar may contain 10 students.

Your lecturers will be from our academic staff, many of whom are internationally recognised in their fields.

Philosophy doesn’t lead to a single specific career - it leads into a huge range of professions!

A degree in philosophy will equip you with key professional skills, including:

  • analytical reasoning
  • articulating complex arguments and lines of reasoning
  • constructive criticism and discussion
  • seeing the things your colleagues miss
  • presenting and persuading

A person with good philosophical skills is:

  • resilient - as the nature of work changes you can adapt
  • flexible - you can choose across different sectors as you develop and grow and opportunities arise
  • creative - come up with new ideas and responses to developing situations

Philosophers go on to work in law, politics, the media, education, the charity sector, business, management, the arts – to name just a few. We also have a good record of our undergraduates progressing to Masters and PhD study.

Find out more about your opportunities with philosophy.

Graduate profiles

"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 2015. Now Head of Product Management, Monstarlab

Meet more of our graduates and how they think Philosophy has equipped them for the future.

Key fact

Only 14% of employers state that specific degree subjects are a selection criterion. (Institute of Student Employers recruitment survey 2019)

Average starting salary and career progression

78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £23,974.

HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017 to 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.


Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.


Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.


The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

University undergraduate student Cole Pearce studying in Nightingale Hall accommodation's library, University Park. November 5th 2021.

Studying philosophy here is great - there's so much freedom to choose. The lecturers are extremely approachable and break down even the most difficult concepts with ease.

Michaela Lawson

BA Philosophy

Course data

Open Day June 2022