Students on this course learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials (Politics & Philosophy), informal but scheduled one-on-one support, and self-directed learning, such as research, reading, and writing.
All of these are supported by a virtual learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller groups than lectures, with tutorials often involving no more than eight students working with a professor or lecturer; seminars and workshops can be larger but are still small enough to allow one-on-one interaction with tutors; some of these also allow hands-on experience of the kind of work professional political scientists perform.
This emphasis on small-group teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience rather than the quantity of formal sessions. In fact, the degree is designed to feature fewer formal sessions and more independent research as you move from your first to your final year.
Small-group teaching and one-on-one attention from the personal academic advisor (provided for all students when they enter the course) are part of the learning experience throughout, but by the final year classroom time gives way, to some extent, to independent research, including a capstone dissertation—supported by one-on-one supervision—that makes up a third of final year credits.
In this way the degree systematically transforms you from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, ready for professional or postgraduate life. These formal teaching arrangements are supported by “drop-in” surgeries with teaching staff and induction sessions that begin in the week before the start of the course and continue at key times throughout each year of the degree.
You can also attend an extensive programme of research-focused seminars where staff and visiting scholars present their cutting-edge research.
Course Details - Modules
Description
The study of philosophy at Durham does not follow one particular school. The Department is unique in the UK in its wide-ranging expertise in anglo-american analytical philosophy and continental philosophy. Each of these has its own distinctive set of issues and approaches to resolving them. We also have special expertise in the philosophy of science, and social science, and the history of science and medicine. So at Durham, you will follow one of the widest-ranging philosophy degrees in the country.
At Durham, you will have the opportunity to study Philosophy as a Single Honours degree, or with another subject including: English, Music, Psychology, Politics or Theology. Philosophy can also be combined in a Joint Honours degree within the Natural Sciences course or as part of a Combined Honours degree.
Philosophy is a new subject for many students, so in your first year you will follow a range of introductory courses, introducing the fundamental philosophical subject areas.
Year 1
In their first year, you will take the Philosophy core modules of Ethics and Values, Knowledge and Reality, and Reading Philosophy. The first two of these concern the two broad divisions of Philosophy, into Metaphysics and Theory of Knowledge on the one hand, and Moral Philosophy on the other.
Reading Philosophy is a text-based course which examines in depth classic philosophical works.
You will also take two core modules in Politics, Democratic Political Systems, and Political Theory, and one module from a range of electives. Examples of possible modules include:
International Security, Interdependence and Organisation
Global Regions in International Relations
Introduction to International Relations
Introduction to Comparative Politics.
Years 2 and 3
In the second year, you will take Moral Theory and Political Philosophy.
In the second and third years, you will also have a choice of a wide range of topics within Philosophy.
In previous years these have included:
Moral Theory
Modern Philosophy I and II
History of Science and Medicine
Issues in Contemporary Ethics
Philosophy of Religion
Political Philosophy
Metaphysics
Language, Logic and Reality
Twentieth Century European Philosophy
Philosophy of Science
The Philosophy of Economics and Politics: Theory, Methods and Values
Applied Ethics
Philosophical Issues in Contemporary Science
History and Philosophy of Psychiatry
Biomedical Ethics Past and Present.
A similarly wide range of modules are available in Politics.
In previous years these have included:
International Theory
The Politics of Pacific Asia
Foundations of Western Political Thought
Sovereignty, State and Empire
Global Political Economy
Middle East in the International System
Democracy and Democratic Theory
Class, Nation and British Politics
The Ethics of Violence in International Relations
Culture and Conflict in American Politics
The New Germany
Nations and Nationalism
Israel: Politics and Society
Evolution and Development of Military Occupation
Parties, MPs and Parliamentary Politics in Britain.
You will also have the opportunity to study a subject in depth, by writing a substantial dissertation of your choice.
Placement Year
You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more on our website
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
LV25
Institution code:
D86
Campus Name:
St Aidan's College
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Specific subjects excluded for entry:
General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Information:
Please see the website for a list of accepted social science and humanities subjects.
Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
To include 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including an accepted social science or humanities subject.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Subject specific requirements:
To include at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level ABB (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/contextualoffers/
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/entry/
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses.
It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course.
Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
