university of bristol phd philosophy

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Philosophy PhD

University of bristol, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

• Department of Philosophy
• Centre for Science and Philosophy

The principal research areas of the Department of Philosophy are:

• philosophy of science;
• philosophy of mathematics and logic;
• epistemology, philosophy of mind and language;
• ethics and political philosophy;
• philosophy of medicine and biology;
• metaphysics of science.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.

MPhil/PhD in Philosophy

Manchester metropolitan university, master's by research in philosophy, ma philosophy, phd in religions and philosophies, soas university of london, mphil in religions and philosophies.

Undergraduate study

Join our inspirational community to explore fundamental questions and expand your thinking with a broad choice of units and specialisms.

Renowned department

One of the country's largest philosophy departments, Bristol is ranked in the UK top 10 for the subject (Complete University Guide 2024).

Interdisciplinary learning

Our joint honours courses span three faculties, so you will study alongside students from a variety of disciplines.

Vibrant community

Get involved with local outreach events, join our student societies, or visit our department's 'Kierkegaarden' allotment.

Philosophy courses for 2024

Single honours.

• BA Philosophy (V500)

Joint Honours

• BA English and Philosophy (QV35)
• BSc Mathematics and Philosophy (VG51)
• MSci Mathematics and Philosophy (GV15)
• BSc Philosophy and Economics (VL51)
• BSc Philosophy and Economics with Study Abroad (VL54)
• BA Philosophy and French (RV15)
• BA Philosophy and German (RV25)
• BA Philosophy and Italian (RV35)
• BSc Philosophy and Politics (VL52)
• BA Philosophy and Portuguese (RV55)
• BA Philosophy and Russian (RV75)
• BA Philosophy and Spanish (RV45)
• BA Philosophy and Theology (VV56)
• BSc Physics and Philosophy (FV35)
• MSci Physics and Philosophy (FVH5)
• BSc Sociology and Philosophy (LV35)

Philosophy at Bristol

Studying philosophy at Bristol gives you the opportunity to delve into some of the deepest questions that have puzzled great thinkers. You will learn the basics of logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and political philosophy and explore your interests through specialised units and independent research.

The department is largely based within the 'analytic' tradition in philosophy, but some continental philosophy is taught. Areas of special strength include philosophy of mind and language, ethics, political philosophy, logic and philosophical logic, philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of science (especially biology and physics).

You will be part of a heritage of philosophy in the South West that includes John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.

Studying Philosophy leaves me with wide-ranging career options, so whatever I choose to do I know I'll have a strong grounding in being able to academically evaluate, unpick arguments and think more widely about issues.

Career prospects

Philosophers are highly employable. A wide range of employers value analytical skills, such as flexibility of thought and the capacity for developing coherent and compelling arguments.

Many philosophy graduates go on to make excellent lawyers, journalists, teachers, consultants, entrepreneurs and leaders in business or other professions.

Course structure

During your degree, you will gain a broad understanding of philosophy, and you can also deepen your knowledge with a choice of optional units each year.

Our first-year units introduce you to philosophy and its methods. You will gain a basic knowledge of some of the fundamental problems of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and political philosophy, as well as a competence in both formal and informal logic.

In the second year, you will take a mandatory unit in realism and normativity. You may also have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at one of our worldwide partners. Visit the Centre for Study Abroad to find out about study abroad our options.

By the final year, you will be in a position to specialise and undertake independent study. Third-year optional units have recently included:

• Virtue and Well-Being
• Evil, Deviance and Crime
• Probability and Rationality
• The Social Epistemology of the Internet
• Philosophical Issues of the Physical Sciences.

Our academics and students are regularly involved in philosophy education outreach events and projects with the general public, thanks to strong links with schools and community groups across the city.

The department's allotment, known as the 'Kierkegaarden', is maintained by students and academics - encouraging discussion around ethics of the environment as well as providing delicious food.

Extend your discussions outside the classroom with like-minded friends in the Philosophy Society. There's also a society for Physics and Philosophy students, Paradox, and science-based debates in Paradigm.

• Home »
• University of Bristol »
• Graduate School of Arts and Humanities »

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

University of bristol: philosophy, doctor of philosophy - phd, full-time, 4 years starts sep 2024.

The Department of Philosophy has a reputation for high-quality research across the subject. We are particularly well known for our strength in logic and the philosophy of science and mathematics, as well as expertise in ethics, formal epistemology, metaphysics of science, phenomenology and the philosophy of medicine.

We have an exciting seminar/colloquium and conference programme, including regular seminars in philosophy and history of science, medicine, mathematics and logic, as well as weekly departmental seminars with visiting speakers, various reading groups, and joint sessions run with the Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Politics, English, History and Medicine. We also host the Centre for Science and Philosophy, which promotes the interpretation of science through collaboration with other disciplines.

The principal research areas of the Department of Philosophy are:

- philosophy of science;

- philosophy of mathematics and logic;

- epistemology, philosophy of mind and language;

- ethics and political philosophy;

- philosophy of medicine and biology;

- metaphysics of science.

Possible start dates are January 2024, September 2024, January 2025. Please see the programme page on our website for more information.

Part-Time, 8 years starts Sep 2024

Full-time, 1 years starts sep 2024.

The MA in Philosophy will give you a thorough grounding in the core knowledge and skills required for philosophical research, while also allowing you to pursue your own philosophical interests in depth.

Bristol ranks as one of the top ten philosophy departments in the UK in the Philosophical Gourmet Report and QS University Rankings. Our staff have diverse research interests and expertise across a wide range of philosophical areas.

You can design a path to match your interests by choosing one of the following seven specialist pathways, each dedicated to a key area of contemporary philosophical research:

- **Ethics**

- **Epistemology and Metaphysics**

- **Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics**

- **Philosophy and History of Science**

- **Philosophy of Biological and Cognitive Sciences**

- **Philosophy of Physics**

- **Political Philosophy**

Each pathway has distinct mandatory units, providing the foundation to develop specialist expertise in a particular area of philosophy. Your dissertation is an opportunity to work on an extended and original piece of research on a topic of your choosing, with guidance from a research supervisor. You will develop a deep knowledge and understanding of key areas of philosophy and a sophisticated ability to critically evaluate and assess philosophical theories.

You will be an active member of the department's flourishing research culture and will be encouraged to take part in our regular events, including research seminars, workshops and reading groups. There is also a dedicated weekly postgraduate seminar with a friendly and supportive environment.

Part-Time, 2 years starts Sep 2024

Master of philosophy - mphil.

Not what you are looking for?

Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Sign up now!

Take 2 minutes to sign up to PGS student services and reap the benefits…

• The chance to apply for one of our 5 PGS Bursaries worth £2,000 each
• Fantastic scholarship updates
• Latest PG news sent directly to you.

• Undergraduate study
• Find a course
• Why choose Bristol?
• Accommodation
• Fees and funding
• New undergraduates
• Postgraduate study
• Find a programme
• How to apply
• New postgraduates
• International students

Undergraduate applicants

• Schools & faculties
• Business & enterprise
• People & contacts
• Current students
• Current staff

Unit and programme catalogues

• Unit catalogue
• A-Z list of all units
• A-Z list of all open units
• Programme catalogue

Academic year

University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2020/21 > Unit catalogue > Faculty of Arts > Department of Philosophy > Introduction to Philosophy B

Unit information: Introduction to Philosophy B in 2020/21

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides students with an introduction to some of the central debates and issues in practical philosophy, in particular in moral philosophy and political philosophy. The main aims are to give students a basic understanding of the issues in question, as well as to help them acquire and sharpen the necessary critical skills in reading, writing and argument to engage with the debates, and develop their own views in dialogue with them. The unit will take the form of an introduction to the three main divisions in moral philosophy – metaethics, moral theory, and applied ethics – as well as some of the central concepts of political philosophy. These will be approached through the reading of a number of important articles and extracts, including extracts from some of the central texts in the history of moral and political philosophy. Study is primarily theme-based. At the end of the unit, students should have a clear grasp of the nature of the divisions contemporary ethics, their relationship to one another, and their philosophical grounding. They should also have an understanding of the way in which moral philosophers apply the principles and conclusions that are derived from moral theories to particular contemporary moral problems, in order to yield practical conclusions about what we should and shouldn’t do. Finally, they should have a clear understanding of the argument about political legitimacy outlined by the social contract tradition in political philosophy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

(1) demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the key historical texts covered.

(2) demonstrate familiarity with some key secondary literature on these texts, and be able to engage critically with it.

(3) engage critically with the authors’ positions and arguments.

(4) demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the key issues in moral and political philosophy covered.

(5) demonstrate familiarity with some key contemporary literature on these issues, and be able to engage critically with it.

(6) be in a position to relate the philosophical issues discussed to the texts read.

Teaching Information

Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.

Assessment Information

Summative: take-home open-book exam - 100% [designed to test ILOs 1-6]

Reading and References

• Alasdair MacIntyre A Short History of Ethics (London: Routledge 1967; 2nd Ed. 1998, 3 rd ed. 2002)
• Bernard Williams Morality (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972)
• D.D. Raphael Moral Philosophy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994)

Related links

• Units available in the Department of Philosophy

University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000

Information for

Connect with us.

More social media

Study at Bristol

• Students' Union
• Sport, exercise and health
• Find a researcher
• Faculty research
• Impact of our research
• Research quality and assessment
• Engaging with the public

About the University

• Maps and travel
• Tours and visits
• The University on film
• Explore the city of Bristol

Support the University

• Alumni and friends
• Working at Bristol
• Job listings

A–Z of the University

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy and cookie policy
• © 2002-2016 University of Bristol

• Help & Terms of Use

Dr Saira Khan

BA, PG Cert, MA, PhD

• Research Associate , Department of Philosophy