2024 entry
BA Philosophy (V500)
Course overview

Typical offer
A-level standard offer: AAA
A-level contextual offer: ABB
See entry requirements for full details and eligibility.
Course duration
3 year(s) full-time
6 year(s) part-time
Part-time study with daytime, weekday teaching.
Application method
Full-time: UCAS
Part-time: Contact artf-ugoffice@bristol.ac.uk for more information and to apply.
Fees
£9,250 per year, home students
£23,900 per year, international students
Part-time tuition fees will normally be charged on a pro rata basis
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Location
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 year two, 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.
Go to programme catalogueEntry 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.
A-level standard offer
AAA
BTEC
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma
Find out more about our BTEC entry requirementsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma
36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offerEuropean Baccalaureate
85% overall
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Advanced Higher: AA and Standard Higher: AAAAB
Access to HE Diploma
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.
Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.
Welsh Baccalaureate
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.
Cambridge Pre-U
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.
International qualifications
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Search international qualificationsApplicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills
- GCSE English Language grade B or 6
- An alternative English Language Profile B qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
More about UK qualifications.
Selection process
- We only use your information in UCAS, or your application form, to assess your application. There are no other selection criteria or processes.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement: