MLitt in Philosophy
Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
07 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,880 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* overseas / home: £11,680
Key Summary
Introduction
Philosophy is an interdisciplinary subject that examines and attempts to answer questions raised by human life and action, natural science, art and literature, language and communication, and history.
In the MLitt in Philosophy, you will study a wide range of topics within the discipline to broaden your understanding and investigate different research topics.
Part-time study
The Philosophy MLitt can also be taken as a part-time programme. Students will be expected to take three modules per year over two years, followed by an 8000-word dissertation.
Course details
The MLitt in Philosophy is a one-year postgraduate programme run by the St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP), taught by staff from both the University of St Andrews and the University of Stirling.
Highlights
- The St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme was ranked the third-best Philosophy programme in the UK in the latest Philosophical Gourmet Report
- Supervisors at both St Andrews and Stirling are available to oversee the MLitt dissertation
- You can choose any of the optional modules offered by the Department, allowing you to explore any combination of philosophical topics.
Admissions
Curriculum
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your program.
Compulsory
Students must take one compulsory module throughout the program (in Semester 1):
- Research Methods: aims to foster the range of skills required for independent research in Philosophy. Students may choose to join a seminar group most related to their interests.
Optional
You will also have the opportunity to choose four modules from all of the postgraduate Philosophy modules across the Department. These modules may include some of the following:
- Aesthetics
- Classical Philosophy
- Conceptual Engineering
- Current Issues in Philosophy 1
- Current Issues in Philosophy 2
- Current Topics in the Philosophy of Physics
- Ecophilosophy
- Introduction to Formal Epistemology
- Kant
- Origins and History of Analytic Philosophy
- Philosophy of Logic
- Philosophy of Mind
- Political Philosophy
- Texts in Contemporary Metaphysics
- Texts in the History of Political Philosophy
- The Philosophy of David Lewis
- Topics in Recent Moral Theory
- Wittgenstein.
If you wish to brush up on your knowledge of logic, or if you have limited prior experience in this area, there is also an optional weekly seminar, Basic Logic, held throughout the year.
Dissertation
The final element of the MLitt is an 8,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should be on an area of philosophy you are interested in. You will be encouraged to start considering a topic for the dissertation during Semester 2. All students are supported for their dissertation by a relevant supervisor from St Andrews or Stirling.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
Teaching format
Students on the MLitt in Philosophy have the opportunity to study a broad range of philosophical topics through lectures, seminars and reading groups. Modules are mostly taught in small groups, normally consisting of 4 to 15 students.
Those on the MLitt in Philosophy may sign up for any of the postgraduate taught modules offered by the philosophy departments at the universities of St Andrews and Stirling, building a timetable which best suits individual interests.
The course offers flexibility for those students who are not yet sure of their research interests, or who wish to gain a broader understanding of issues and debates across the discipline. This flexibility allows students to combine the modules which are of most interest: combining logic and ethics for example, or metaphysics and political philosophy.
The programme consists of six taught modules taken over two semesters (each assessed by coursework) and an 8000- 10,000-word dissertation in an area of your choice.
Support
Every MLitt student is assigned an academic mentor at the beginning of the year. Academic mentors offer individual guidance on academic life and advice on how best to apply for a PhD place.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
St Andrews and Stirling are both committed to helping as many students as possible continue in higher education through scholarship opportunities. There is a wide range of postgraduate scholarships available for you to apply for, either via the University or directly via charitable organizations.
The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate scholarships and other financial awards. These may be held in addition to external funding or awards from a government body. These may also cover (fully or partially) tuition fees, maintenance (living costs including accommodation), or both.
Scholarships are available based on academic merit and financial need. There are scholarships available for both home and overseas fee status. The scholarship team recommends reading the terms of each award carefully and applying to a range of funding sources.
Postgraduate scholarships
Postgraduate study is an investment in your intellectual development and career potential. The University of St Andrews provides scholarships to help as many students as possible continue in higher education.
Scholarship availability may depend on your area of study or fee status (for example, whether you are a 'Home' or 'Overseas' student).
Career Opportunities
Recent graduates in Philosophy have found openings in:
- Local government
- Television production (Sky Sports)
- The National Health Service
- The Co-operative Bank
- Insurance
- The Crown Prosecution Service
- Publishing
- Teaching English in Japan.
Further study
If you have completed the MLitt in Philosophy, you may be able to proceed to the SASP MPhil. This involves a 40,000-word dissertation, which is examined by an internal and external examiner at the end of the second year.
Students enrolled for the MLitt or MPhil are eligible to apply for a Philosophy PhD program.