Admissions Statement

1. Admissions Process

Courses covered:

• V500 Philosophy

 Joint Honours Courses

• QV35 BA English and Philosophy
• VV56 BA Philosophy and Theology
• RV15 BA Philosophy and French
• RV25 BA Philosophy and German
• RV35 BA Philosophy and Italian
• RV55 BA Philosophy and Portuguese
• RV75 BA Philosophy and Russian
• RV45 BA Philosophy and Spanish
• VL51 BSc Philosophy and Economics
• VL52 BSc Philosophy and Politics
• LV35 BSc Sociology and Philosophy
• VC58 BSc Philosophy and Psychology
• FV35 BSc Physics and Philosophy
• FVH5 MSci Physics and Philosophy
• VG51 BSc Mathematics and Philosophy
• GV15 MSci Mathematics and Philosophy

Admissions Team

The Philosophy admissions team consists of a professional undergraduate selection team, working in close cooperation with the School admissions tutors.

All applications for joint honours courses with subjects other than Philosophy are solely assessed by the Philosophy selection team. 

Any enquiry should be addressed initially to:
Undergraduate Admissions Office

arts-ug-admissions@bristol.ac.uk

+44 (0) 117 928 8147

Outline of Assessment Methods

• All UCAS forms are considered independently by members of the selection team.
• All applicants contacted within 4 weeks of receipt of application, to establish contact and inform the applicant of the process to be followed.
• The School seeks to recruit those applicants, from whatever background, who seem committed to Philosophy as a discipline and whose interests seem to match those of the School. We take into account the normal evidence of achievement (A levels, GCSEs, etc.) but we seek to identify potential as well as rewarding past performance. We are actively committed to ensuring that our assessment procedures are concerned only with academic suitability.
• All applications are considered on an equal basis. Forms are not segregated by the type of educational institution attended.
• All applications are allocated scores on the academic record and the personal statement / reference.  The respective weighting ratio out of 100 (academic: personal statement) is as follows:

•  V500 Philosophy 80:20

Joint Honours Courses

• QV35 BA English and Philosophy 30:70
• VV56 BA Philosophy and Theology
• RV15 BA Philosophy and French 80:20
• RV25 BA Philosophy and German 80:20
• RV35 BA Philosophy and Italian 80:20
• RV55 BA Philosophy and Portuguese 80:20
• RV75 BA Philosophy and Russian 80:20
• RV45 BA Philosophy and Spanish 80:20
• VL51 BSc Philosophy and Economics
• VL52 BSc Philosophy and Politics
• LV35 BSc Sociology and Philosophy
• VC58 BSc Philosophy and Psychology
• FV35 BSc Physics and Philosophy
• FVH5 MSci Physics and Philosophy
• VG51 BSc Mathematics and Philosophy
• GV15 MSci Mathematics and Philosophy

Departmental visit days and other correspondence with applicants

All applicants who have received offers will normally be invited to a Visit Day in the spring.  This gives them a chance to see the city and the University, and to ask questions about the teaching programmes and other aspects of student life in Bristol.  While attendance at a Visit Day is strongly recommended, it is not obligatory and plays no role in the selection process; it is also recognised that not all applicants will be able to attend.

International applicants are in most cases treated in the same way as home candidates, except that we recognise that attendance at interview or a Visit Day may not be practicable.

Additional Assessment

(a) interviews

Interviews are not used.

(b) tests/written work

Tests/written work are not used

Procedures for specific categories of applicant

Procedures are the same for all candidates.

Cross-departmental/joint course admissions arrangements

The procedure for admissions to the joint honours degrees with consideration being given independently by a member of the Philosophy admissions team and an admissions member from the relevant other School.

2. Criteria for assessing applicants

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements for standard qualifications (A-level, SQA, IB, Access, BTEC, Welsh Bacc, 14-19 Diploma, GCSEs) can be found in the online Undergraduate Prospectus:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/sections/PHIL/dept_intro

Other qualifications, including international qualifications, will be considered on their individual merits; further information is available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/study-at-bristol/how-to-apply/country-specific/ .

 Please note- cross school/joint honours courses may have different subject and/or grade requirements that must be met. Prospective applicants are therefore advised to look carefully at the information provided in the online Undergraduate Prospectus, for requirements specific to your intended course of study.

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013

Academic Record Criteria

All our philosophy students are expected to master basic formal logic, and contemporary philosophy is informed by and reflects upon the theories and results of the sciences (natural and social); philosophy is like the sciences in so far as it requires logical and mathematical thinking, and makes use of symbolic calculi.  However, philosophy students are also expected to engage in textual interpretation and essay writing.  Hence, we are looking for students with a rare combination of skills traditionally associated with both the arts and sciences, who are also highly motivated to pursue philosophical inquiry.  We are therefore particularly interested in candidates’ GCSE results in mathematics, science and English language, and we look favourably on candidates who combine excellence in both science and arts or humanities at A-level.

Please note- cross school/joint honours programmes may have additional/different requirements specific to the particular course of study. Prospective applicants are therefore strongly advised to refer to the Admissions Statements provided by partner Schools for their intended course of study;

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/admissions-statements.html

Contextual information

We take an holistic approach to all applications, ensuring that the educational and social context in which an applicant applies is taken into consideration, where supported by clear evidence that this may have adversely affected academic achievement. This may include time spent in Local Authority care, information about which is provided in the UCAS application.

 Such applications are awarded a one grade uplift on the academic score, e.g. an AAB applicant will be awarded the same academic score as an AAA applicant.  Applicants still need to satisfy specific subject requirements.

 We also consider evidence of clear motivation to study.  This may include attendance at a University summer school, a targeted Access Scheme (such as Access to Bristol or Realising Opportunities), or participation in other higher education outreach activities.

We do not take the following into consideration when making admissions decisions: the school type attended by an applicant or whether an applicant’s parent has any experience of higher education.

Personal Statement Criteria

Personal statements are assessed qualitatively on the basis of the following criteria:

• Interest in and commitment to subject
• Evidence of clear thinking & understanding
• Problem-solving, analytical & practical skills
• Ability to construct an argument and explain a philosophical problem
• Appropriateness of chosen University course to declared interests & aspirations
• Non-academic achievement/experience, extra-curricular activities, positions of  responsibility
• Other relevant skills, e.g. foreign languages
• Relevant reading/research beyond AL syllabus
• Written English, expression, construction, argument
• Responses to opportunities & challenges faced

Please note - cross school/joint honours programmes may have additional criteria specific to the partner school. Prospective applicants are therefore strongly advised to refer to the Admissions Statements provided by partner Schools for their intended course of study;

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/admissions-statements.html

Reference Criteria

• Applicant’s motivation
• Applicant’s ability to work independently
• Applicant’s powers of analysis and expression
• Special circumstances

Please note - cross school/joint honours programmes may have additional criteria specific to the partner school. Prospective applicants are therefore strongly advised to refer to the Admissions Statements provided by partner schools for their intended course of study;

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/admissions-statements.html

Criteria for International Applicants (if different)

English Language requirements can be found in the UG Prospectus at:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/sections/PHIL/dept_intro

 and at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/governance/policies/admissions-english-lang-reqs.html

3. Offers

Typical offers for A levels and other UK qualifications can be found in the Entry Data in the online UG Prospectus:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013/sections/PHIL/dept_intro

 Offers to applicants with non-standard qualifications will be made equivalent to the published A level offer.

 Please note– Typical offers for cross school/joint honours courses may vary to that of the single honours courses offered by the School. Prospective applicants are therefore advised to look carefully at the information provided in the online Undergraduate Prospectus, for requirements specific to your intended course of study.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2013

Variations in offer level

We may make lower offers based on whether an applicant is deemed to have experienced educational disadvantage, as defined in section 7.5 of the University’s Admissions Principles and Procedures

4. Other

Transfers into single honours philosophy from the various joint schools are rarely possible. Where permitted they are conditional on an excellent performance in philosophy and on a willingness by the student to catch up on elements of the first year they have missed.

Entry into year 2 of any Philosophy programmes is only permitted in exceptional circumstances.

 

Andrew Pyle
Admissions Tutor

March 2012