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, Psychology, Politics or Theology. Philosophy can also be combined in a Joint Honours degree within the Natural Sciences degree or as part of a Combined Honours degree.
Philosophy is a new subject for many students, so in your first year, you follow a range of introductory courses, introducing the fundamental philosophical subject areas.
**Year 1**
In the first year, you will take the 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 works of philosophy.
You will take two compulsory modules in Theology and Religion:
Introduction to the New Testament
Introduction to Christian Theology.
In addition, you are able to choose one further module from those offered by Theology and Religion.
**Years 2 and 3**
In the second year, you will take Philosophy of Religion. In the second and third years, you will also have a choice of a wide range of Philosophy topics. 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 / Philosophy of Mind.
A similarly wide range of modules are available in Theology. In previous years these have included: Literature and Theology of the Old Testament / New Testament Theology: Exploring Paul and John / Death, Ritual and Belief / Christian Theology: The Essential Questions / The Making of Modern Christianity: Medieval and Reformation Europe / Philosophy and the Christian Religion 100–1300 / God, Freedom and the Soul / Topics in Christian Ethics / Science and Theology: Exploring the Interface / Religion in Contemporary Britain / Judaism / God and the Universe of Faiths / Religion and Film / The Postmodern God / The Theology of Thomas Aquinas.
You will also have the opportunity to study a subject in depth, by writing a substantial Dissertation of your choice.
**Study Abroad**
You can benefit from exchange schemes set up by Durham University which, at the time of writing, include:
Boston College (USA)
The University of British Columbia (Canada)
McMaster University (Canada)
Queens University (Canada)
University of Calgary (Canada)
The University of Hong Kong (China)
The National University of Singapore (Singapore)
University of Otago (New Zealand)
University of Western Australia (Australia).
For more information on this course, please see our website.
Course Details - Modules
Year 1
In the first year, you will take the 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 works of philosophy.
You will take two compulsory modules in Theology and Religion:
Introduction to the New Testament
Introduction to Christian Theology.
In addition, you are able to choose one further module from those offered by Theology and Religion.
Years 2 and 3
In the second year, you will take Philosophy of Religion. In the second and third years, you will also have a choice of a wide range of Philosophy topics.
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
Philosophy of Mind.
A similarly wide range of modules are available in Theology.
In previous years these have included:
Literature and Theology of the Old Testament
New Testament Theology: Exploring Paul and John
Death, Ritual and Belief
Christian Theology: The Essential Questions
The Making of Modern Christianity: Medieval and Reformation Europe
Philosophy and the Christian Religion 100–1300
God, Freedom and the Soul
Topics in Christian Ethics
Science and Theology: Exploring the Interface
Religion in Contemporary Britain
Judaism
God and the Universe of Faiths
Religion and Film
The Postmodern God
The Theology of Thomas Aquinas
Landscapes of Worship in Contemporary South Asia.
You will also have the opportunity to study a subject in depth, by writing a substantial dissertation of your choice.
We review course structures and core content (in light of e.g. external and student feedback) every year. Please note that the list of optional modules available in any year will vary depending on available teaching staff. The lists above provide an example of the type of modules which may be offered.
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:
VV56
Institution code:
D86
Campus Name:
St Mary'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
Specific subjects excluded for entry:
General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Information:
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.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Eighteen points (6, 6, 6) in Higher Level subjects.
**Contextual Offers**
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBB (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.
