BA Philosophy and Portuguese (RV55)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

This degree combines philosophy with the study of Portuguese, the most widely spoken language in the southern hemisphere. The political importance of countries like Angola and Brazil means that Portuguese speakers are increasingly in demand. The course provides a valuable skill set, ideally tailored to the globalised workplace.

For philosophy, you will study units covering an introduction to philosophy, logic, and realism and normativity.

You will follow a structured language course in Portuguese, as well as explore the rich literature, cinema, history, thought, politics, and visual culture of Portuguese-speaking countries and communities. You will spend your third year abroad in a Portuguese-speaking environment, extending your language skills and cultural knowledge. To find out more about studying abroad, visit Centre for Study Abroad.

Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, which results in a vibrant learning environment as staff respond to new research. This course combination offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and a range of options that will allow you to pursue your own interests.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.

Portuguese can be studied from beginners' level only. As a modern languages student, you will have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre. You can also access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafes, student newspapers, and talent shows.

Course structure

In your first year of philosophy, you will gain a grounding in the fundamentals of philosophy through two mandatory introductory units: one exploring issues in epistemology and metaphysics; the other concerning moral and political philosophy. You will also take a unit in critical thinking and logic.

In year two, you complete your foundation in philosophy with a mandatory unit on realism and normativity and conduct more detailed study in topics ranging from ethics to the philosophy of language.

In your final year, you may undertake an independent study unit on almost any topic in philosophy, writing an extended essay in consultation with a supervisor. Final-year taught units relate to the research interests of staff in areas ranging from global justice to philosophy of physics.

For Portuguese, you will study language and culture units focusing on topics that range from history and politics, to linguistics, literature and cinema.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
80% overall
Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher: AAABB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Search international qualifications
More about UK qualifications.