BA Philosophy (V500)

2025 entry

Course summary

This course offers you both depth and breadth over three years of exciting and challenging study. Our students reach a high level of attainment and are well prepared for postgraduate study, both in philosophy and many other subjects.

This course equips you with skills, including textual analysis, clear written and verbal expression, and critical thinking, that are valuable in a wide range of careers.

In your first year, you will gain a grounding in the fundamentals of philosophy through two mandatory introductory units: one exploring issues in epistemology and metaphysics and the other concerning moral and political philosophy. You will also take units in critical thinking and logic and a choice of other units, which have recently included Readings in Value Theory and Knowledge and Reality. You may also take units outside the department in your first year.

In your second year, you complete your foundation in philosophy with mandatory units and conduct more detailed study from ethics to the philosophy of language.

In your final year, you may work for 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.

Course structure

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

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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.

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

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36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level

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85% overall
Advanced Higher: AA and Standard Higher: AAAAB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above.

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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.

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