Undergraduate courses
You will delve into deep questions and learn how to rigorously analyse concepts and arguments across a whole range of topics.
What you will learn
You will learn to analyse concepts, assess competing arguments and develop coherent, persuasive positions of your own. You will explore questions such as the following:
- What are our obligations to future people?
- Is beauty a matter of fact or opinion?
- Is mathematics discovered or invented?
- Can artificial intelligence think?
- Do animals have rights?
- How do we know that our senses do not deceive us?
- Can we admire art made by immoral people?
- Is the mind just the brain?
- Are some truths unknowable?
- Is Schrödinger’s cat both alive and dead?
- Is death a harm?
- Can equally informed rational people disagree?
You will gain a thorough understanding of philosophy in the analytic tradition and can explore diverse areas, from political philosophy to the philosophy of physics, pursuing your particular interests through specialised units and independent research.
Course options
Single honours
Joint honours
- BA English and Philosophy
- BA Philosophy and Theology
- BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics
- BSc Philosophy and Politics
- BSc Sociology and Philosophy
- Philosophy and Economics: BSc and BSc with Study Abroad
- Mathematics and Philosophy: BSc and MSci
- Physics and Philosophy: BSc and MSci
Other study routes
- Intercalated BA Medical Humanities — a one-year course for students studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary science.
- Liberal Arts combines in-depth study of a single discipline with the exploration of other subjects in arts, humanities and modern languages.
- Study Abroad as an exchange student at Bristol.
Further information on studying Philosophy at the University of Bristol
What can I do with a philosophy degree?
A wide range of employers value the analytical skills you will be taught studying philosophy, such as flexibility of thought and the capacity for developing coherent and compelling arguments.
Recent philosophy graduates have gone on to work as lawyers, journalists, teachers, consultants, software developers, and leaders in business.
Take a look at the university Careers Service pages for more advice and resources on where your degree could take you
Quotes from our students
The culture of Bristol's philosophy department is what I love, the teaching staff have a clear passion for their work and this is clear in their teaching as well as the things they do to go above and beyond to support you. It's a privilege to be a part of such a welcoming environment
Bristol offers such a wide variety of module choices that it feels like I’m studying several subjects I’m interested in.
The philosophy society is a great place to meet course-mates in the same year or in other years too. It is an opportunity to speak to current students about modules they've taken and what can be expected from them but also a place to discuss and debate new philosophical stances and hear from peers about their thoughts on the matter.
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.
My time at Bristol allowed me to discover a wide range of topics in Philosophy, allowing for a broad understanding of the subject. My lecturers have been engaged, enthusiastic and always willing to help out when I’ve struggled with any aspect of the course.