Philosophy and Religion

Entry requirements

We would normally expect students starting a PhD or MPhil to hold a first class or a good second-class degree. In many cases PhD applicants have studied to MA level, though this is not compulsory. We accept students on a distance-learning basis, but they should have access to an academic library for easy access of research materials to consult in addition to the online facilities available through Bangor University library.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The aim of the MPhil degree is that you will have gained substantial specialist knowledge of a particular discipline and/or historical period, as a basis for more detailed research. You will have developed independent research skills appropriate for an academic post or a career in advanced research and written a substantial thesis, which may be extended subsequently into a thesis at doctoral level.

The aim of the PhD degree is to assist you to complete a major piece of research in the area of Philosophy and/or Religion, and to demonstrate suitable academic attainments for appointment to a university-level teaching or research post. At the end of the programme, you will possess a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls and will have made a significant, original and substantial contribution to research.

Research Excellence Framework (REF) score

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework recognised that more than three-quarters of Bangor’s research is either world-leading or internationally excellent. Based on the University submission of 14 Units of Assessment, 77% of the research was rated in the top two tiers of research quality, ahead of the average for all UK universities.

Information for international students

Students whose first language is not English are expected to have achieved an IELTS score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5.