University of Birmingham - College of Arts and Law
MA Philosophy
Birmingham, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
03 Jul 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 27,090 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students requiring a visa
Key Summary
Do we have free will? Is time travel possible? Can we justify religious belief? Study fundamental questions about the world and our existence in it with our MA Philosophy course.
Explore the area of philosophy that most interests you. With expert supervision from a vibrant community of philosophers, you’ll develop skills in critical thinking, communication and research to enhance your future.
Course Highlights
At Birmingham, we focus on philosophy with real-world relevance. Build your own Philosophy degree with our wide range of optional modules covering topics from global ethics to philosophy and mental health. Learn from a team of philosophy experts known for their research excellence.
Become part of a Department of leading philosophy academics with the highest-ranked research in the UK in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework based on Grade Point Average (Times Higher Education)
Build your own degree and focus on your interests, with a wide range of optional modules ranging from bioethics to philosophy and mental health.
Join a welcoming community and take part in research seminars, workshops and conferences
A supportive community
Be part of a lively, friendly and supportive philosophy community. As a postgraduate student, you'll play an active role in the life of the Department. Recently, students have organised and contributed to activities including research seminars, workshops, academic conferences, and reading groups.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
125th Anniversary Scholarships for International Students
We have a proud heritage of removing barriers to education. In 2025, we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a University. To mark this milestone, we’re offering £5,000 scholarships to students from a select number of countries.
Scholarships for International Students
At Birmingham, we believe in removing all barriers to education, so all of our talented students can achieve their full potential. As an international student you can take advantage of our wide range of University run scholarships as well as the many scholarships and bursaries from external funding organizations
- Dissertation
- Research Skills and Methods in Philosophy
Choose optional modules totalling 100 credits from the full range of modules offered by the Department of Philosophy.
- Analytic Theology: Philosophy and Religions in conversation
- Bioethics
- Epistemology
- Ethics and Global Ethics
- God, Freedom and the Meaning of Life
- Human Rights
- Philosophy and Mental Health
- Philosophy of Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Mind
- Topics in Global Justice
- Become part of a Department of leading philosophy academics with the highest ranked research in the UK in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework based on Grade Point Average (Times Higher Education)
- The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits. (The Graduate Market in 2024 and 2025 High Fliers reports)
By studying a postgraduate degree in Philosophy at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include the ability to articulate your ideas clearly, analytical skills, and the ability to present a strong argument.
Our Philosophy postgraduate students have gone on to work in careers such as 'Data Scientist/Data Engineer', 'Civil Servant' and 'Bid Writer' in organisations such as The Philosopher's Yard, ITV News and the UK Civil Service.
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Philosophy.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Dissertation – you'll undertake a 15,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you.
Autumn Term
September - December (11 weeks)
Full-time students normally take three modules per term in the first two terms. Part-time students usually take all compulsory modules in the first year and optional modules and the dissertation in the second year
There are two hours of seminar time per module per week, and an emphasis on guided independent learning.
One-third of your degree is your dissertation. You begin planning and submit a proposal for your dissertation during term one.
Spring Term
January - April (12 weeks)
Full-time students usually take three modules per term in the first two terms. Part-time students usually take all compulsory modules in the first year and optional modules and the dissertation in the second year
During term two you are assigned a supervisor for your dissertation and carry out research for your chosen topic.
Summer Term
May – August
There are no taught modules during term three. You’ll continue your research and writing ready to submit your dissertation at the end of August