Philosophy
- PhD
- MPhil
Overview
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 (metaphysics) of science
- philosophy of mathematics and logic
- epistemology, formal epistemology, philosophy of mind and language
- ethics and political philosophy
- philosophy of medicine and biology
- philosophy of AI.
Programme structure
MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.
PhD: a research project undertaken across three to four years (full-time), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis. As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to teach units themselves from their second year of study onwards.
The MPhil and PhD can be studied via distance learning.
Entry requirements
MPhil: An upper second-class degree (or international equivalent). Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
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.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
This admission statement is for 2026 entry. The 2027 entry admission statement will be available in the Autumn.
Go to admissions statementIf English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £5,343 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,672 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £22,500 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
For information on funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
The majority of graduates from this programme develop careers as academics in higher education, while maintaining the capacity to undertake new and innovative research in the field of philosophy.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
The department currently hosts eight major research projects:
- Learning from Experience and Agency in Displacement, Rebecca Buxton (European Research Council).
- Explicating Singularity Resolution: From Black Holes To Quantum Cosmology, Karim Thebault (Leverhulme Trust).
- Expressing Value in Language, Poppy Mankowitz (European Research Council).
- Epistemic Injustice in Healthcare, Havi Care (Wellcome Trust).
- Inheritance, Naomi Thompson (Swedish Research Council);
- Representing evolution, Samir Okasha (European Research Council).
- The Foundations of Longtermism, Richard Pettigrew (Leverhulme Trust).
- Using people well, treating people badly: Towards a Kantian Realm of Ends and Means, Martin Sticker (Arts and Humanities Research Council and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).
We also host the Centre for Science and Philosophy, which promotes the interpretation of science through collaboration with other disciplines.
Contact us
- Contact
- Postgraduate Research Admissions Team
- uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk
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