Philosophy

This GDip course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and seminars. There is also a requirement for you to carry out further independent reading and study for each lecture or seminar.

The study of philosophy requires space for dialogue and the lectures include time for questions. Meanwhile, tutorials consist mainly of structured and critical dialogue in a supportive learning environment, while the seminars provide the forum for extending discussions.

You will also be required to complete a dissertation which, alongside independent study, includes six hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision in your chosen subject area.

Assessment

Assessment is rigorous throughout the course and includes a combination of essays and exams depending on the options you choose, as well as the dissertation.

Essays are based on the topics discussed in the modules and on your own independent reading. The dissertation of up to 12,000 words is completed on a subject of particular interest to you and will be written under supervision.

You will be usually be expected to have at least a 2:1 (or international equivalent) undergraduate degree in any discipline.

However, this is not a strict requirement and decisions are made on a case by case basis. The entry requirements for this course have been designed to encourage applications from as wide a range of interested and able people as possible, including mature students, who may have been away from university for a long time, and international students.

A 500-word personal statement which may include the following:

• Why have you chosen the GDip in Philosophy at Durham University?
• What are your specific philosophical interests and how do they relate to your chosen programme?
• Which specific philosophical texts interest you and why?
• How do your prior qualifications prepare you for your chosen programme? You may wish to highlight essay writing experience or other relevant work.
• What do you hope to get out of the course?

English language requirements

Full Time Fees

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only. More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

An MA in philosophy at Durham University develops the skills and knowledge needed to carry out research at a higher PhD level or progress to a rewarding professional career position.

A philosophy qualification fosters a creative and innovative approach to challenges and situations that is widely sought after by employers.

Such a degree enhances your intellectual, communication, organisational, interpersonal and research skills, and graduates have found employment in teaching, law, journalism, business and politics, the charity sector and the civil service among other professions.

The University maintains fruitful relationships with our alumni and organise annual events where there is the opportunity to meet them, find out about their career paths and learn from their experiences.

The Department of Philosophy is one of the most prestigious departments in the UK with inspirational researchers who are experts in their field. We nurture the thoughts and words of postgraduates as they study ancient and modern thinking on philosophical questions such as who we are and how we understand ourselves and our world.

As well as the more traditional philosophical areas such as aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics and philosophy of mind, we offer learning in other contexts that include environmental philosophy, history and philosophy of medicine, and phenomenology.

The Department has a postgraduate community that is both diverse and collaborative, and staff are passionate about providing the space literally and figuratively in which to study. We understand the importance of generating new philosophical ideas and how they contribute to the Department’s research culture. A dynamic and influential programme of guest speakers, seminars, workshops and reading groups reflects this belief.

We are also home to the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society (CHESS) and we have strong links with several interdisciplinary research centres including the Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage and the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease.

Facilities

The Department of Philosophy is located at Old Elvet in the heart of Durham. We occupy a listed building in this ancient part of the city, near the medieval Elvet Bridge, and within easy walking distance of the Students’ Union, the colleges and the Castle and Cathedral within Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Department offers an extensive programme of research-related activities, including weekly lectures and seminars, many of which are given by renowned UK and international philosophers.

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