Practical Philosophy

Entry requirements

You should usually hold a second-class honours degree (certain programmes may require a 2:1) from a recognised British or overseas university. Advice on recognition can be obtained from the Admissions Office. Non-graduates with appropriate professional qualifications will be considered on an individual basis by Programme Conveners; contact details can be found on the individual programme page. Applicants will be expected to apply and register for the full master's award.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Our MA Practical Philosophy will allow you to use philosophical ideas to engage with urgent social and political problems. Drawing on political philosophy, ethics, social philosophy, and the philosophy of law, this programme is driven by our belief that philosophy is at its best when it learns from and intervenes in the world around us.

You will explore philosophical debates on topics such as the relationship between law and morality, the ethics of animal experimentation, the operation of ideology, and the nature of class, gender, and race. Our core modules have student-led syllabi, with readings selected by each class to reflect their own interests, so that you can concentrate on the topics that really matter to you.

Whether you already have an undergraduate degree in philosophy and want to specialise in practical philosophy, or you come from a different background, this MA programme will provide you with the skills needed to conduct independent research, think logically and creatively, and construct and analyse arguments, as well as honing your writing abilities.

You will graduate with a solid foundation in practical philosophy, ready to pursue further study or confidently apply your critical and analytical reasoning skills in your chosen career – for example, writing sophisticated policy reports or undertaking research on social and political problems.

You will be taught through a combination of seminars and lecturers, and will benefit from individual research supervision. You will take six modules over the course of the degree, culminating in either a dissertation or an independent project.