Philosophy
Entry requirements
A level
ABB We do not accept two A/S Levels grades in place of one A Level. Applicants must be studying at least one of the following A-level subjects: Accounting; Economics; Finance; Business Studies; Development Studies; Government and Politics; Economic and Social History; Mathematics; Anthropology; Sociology; Philosophy; Religious Studies; English Language; English Literature; Geography; Psychology; Classical Civilisation; History; Archaeology; Communication Studies; Environmental Studies; World Development; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Modern Languages. We accept native language A Levels providing they are taken in the same sitting as your other subjects. We will not accept the combination of Mathematics, Further Mathematics and a native language. We accept the Level 3 Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) as equivalent to an A-level if taken alongside two full A-levels from the list of acceptable subjects above. Typical Contextual Offer: BBB
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3), with merit or distinction in a subject area relevant to the chosen course. - Typical applicant - A mature student returning to education after a number of years. - Typical offer - Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 level 3 credits (36 Distinctions/9 Merits). - Minimum Grade B or 6 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Grade C or 4 in GCSE/iGCSE Mathematics.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Applicants are expected to achieve D3, M1, M1 in the Cambridge Pre-U. Applicants can either take three Pre-U qualifications or study them in conjunction with A-level subjects.
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade B or 6 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Grade C or 4 in GCSE/iGCSE Mathematics. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,5,5 at Higher level, 34 points overall. Applicants taking English Language A must achieve grade 4 at Higher or Standard level. Applicants offering English Language B must achieve grade 5 at Higher level and grade 6 at Standard level. Changes to International Baccalaureate Diploma Mathematics Courses from September 2019, first examination 2021. We are aware of the planned changes to the IB Mathematics curriculum. IB students will be able to choose from: Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation from September 2019. For this programme of study we will accept: Mathematics: analysis and approaches or Mathematics: applications and interpretation at SL or HL
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
The School accepts OCR Cambridge Technical (CTEC) Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Cambridge Technical Diploma - accepted with grades DM in combination with an A-level at grade A in a different subject area to the diploma.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
The School accepts OCR Cambridge Technical (CTEC) Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate - accepted with grade D in combination with two A-levels at grade BB in different subject areas to the diploma.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
The School accepts OCR Cambridge Technical (CTEC) Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - accepted with grades MMM in combination with an A-level at grade A in a different subject area to the diploma.
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
The School accepts OCR Cambridge Technical (CTEC) Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma - accepted with grades MM in combination with two A-levels at grade BB in different subject areas to the diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The School accepts Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma - accepted with grades DM in combination with an A-level at grade A in a different subject area to the diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
The School accepts Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate - accepted with grade D in combination with two A-levels at grade BB in different subject areas to the diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The School accepts Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma - accepted with grades MMM in combination with an A-level at grade A in a different subject area to the diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The School accepts Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualifications for entry as long as it is in a relevant subject and taken alongside A-levels. The A-level you are taking must be included in the list of subjects found in the A-level entry requirements above. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma - accepted with grade M in combination with two A-levels at grade BB in different subject areas to the diploma.
We typically ask for grades of ABBBB in Scottish Highers. In addition, we accept Scottish Advanced Highers and Highers in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers at grades BBB. or Two Advanced Highers at grades BB, plus two additional Highers at grades BB. Applicants taking a different combination of Highers and Advanced Highers should contact [email protected] for further advice. Applicants not taking English language or Mathematics at Higher level must achieve grade C in English language and Grade B in Mathematics at SCQF Level 5.
We typically ask for grades of ABBBB in Scottish Highers. In addition, we accept Scottish Advanced Highers and Highers in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers at grades BBB. or Two Advanced Highers at grades BB, plus two additional Highers at grades BB. Applicants taking a different combination of Highers and Advanced Highers should contact [email protected] for further advice. Applicants not taking English language or Mathematics at Higher level must achieve grade C in English language and Grade B in Mathematics at SCQF Level 5.
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this. We consider the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as equivalent to an A-level on a grade-for-grade basis.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
Philosophy is the study of the most general and fundamental features of reality - including ourselves - and the knowledge and beliefs we have about that reality which are embodied in our concepts, theories and practices.
The BA (Hons) in Philosophy course enables you to learn how to develop and justify your own answers to some of the most fundamental and important questions:
- Can I know that I'm not trapped inside The Matrix?
- What makes something the morally right thing to do?
- Do we have free will?
- Does God exist?
- Is the human mind just a lump of grey matter?
While we'll explain some of the existing answers to these questions, and the reasons why one might think those answers are correct, our focus is on learning how to critically assess these arguments and to develop and argue for your own answers.
You will develop useful skills including:
- how to present an effective and rigorous argument;
- how to develop criticisms of other people's arguments and views;
- how to explain difficult material clearly and concisely; and
- how to deal with the fact that on most of the questions in life, reasonable people can believe radically different things.
These skills are value for your career as well as in everyday life, whether you're deciding what to do, having an argument with a friend, or simply reading a newspaper.
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
Scholarships and bursaries are available to eligible home/EU students, including the Manchester Bursary . Approximately a third of all our undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.
You can get plenty of information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.
The Uni
University of Manchester
School of Social Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Philosophy
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Philosophy
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Although there aren't a lot of jobs around for professional philosophers, philosophy degrees are a relatively popular option, with more than 2,000 students graduating in a philosophy-related subject in 2015 - a little down on previous years, but still healthy. Nearly a quarter of philosophy graduates take a postgraduate qualification, and it's a relatively common subject at both Masters and doctorate level — so if you think academic life might be for you, think ahead about how you might fund further study. For those who go into work, philosophy grads tend to go into teaching, accountancy, consulting, journalism, PR, housing, marketing, human resources and the arts while a few go into the computer industry every year, where their logical training is highly rated.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Philosophy
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£24k
£30k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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