Philosophy (Placement Year) Lancaster University

Philosophy is the careful, reasoned engagement with fundamental questions about human existence, truth and knowledge, right and wrong, politics and justice, art, faith and reason. But you’ll do more than explore ideas with us. You’ll apply philosophy in real-world scenarios, examining philosophy’s role in addressing global, social and political challenges. Develop your skills in critical thinking and clarity of communication, and you can be confident of success in a very wide range of graduate roles.

Why Lancaster?

• Take the opportunity to engage in philosophy as an active practice, learning from philosophers who are involved in developing the research, ideas, and theory you will study

• Study a distinctive course that draws upon multiple philosophical traditions including, western, Chinese, and feminist thought

• Join a thriving community and take part in events organised by our Philosophical Society, including debates, essay competitions, and visits by guest speakers

• Gain valuable work experience with internship opportunities through the Richardson Institute for Peace Studies, known for its cutting-edge research

• Develop a strong portfolio of work, showcasing your philosophical reasoning skills, critical thinking skills and communicative abilities, valuable attributes that will open up a range of career prospects

Depth and breadth of philosophical knowledge

This course will provide you with rich and varied philosophical knowledge, through engaging with methodological and culturally diverse content across a broad range of topics. In your first year, you will study ethics, critical thinking and logic, metaphysics, epistemology, history of philosophy from a range of philosophical traditions, and political philosophy. You will develop strong foundational knowledge and confidence in key areas of the discipline.

In your second year, alongside core study in applied philosophy, philosophy of science and philosophy of mind, and a guided philosophy project, you will choose subjects from amongst these and others to study in greater depth, developing a rich picture of key questions and debates in philosophy. These may include:

• Language, Communication and Knowledge

• Continental Philosophy

• Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and Economics

This depth of knowledge and study will prepare you for your final year of the programme in which you will probe our specialist, cutting-edge research through your own independent research project and through topics ranging from philosophy and popular culture to the philosophy of global crises.

Understand philosophy’s impact on the world

Throughout your degree, you will consider philosophy’s relevance to and impact on the world, as philosophy is not something we exclusively learn about in the classroom. At Lancaster, our emphasis is on philosophy as a collective, ongoing, socially applicable practice and we foster a collaborative learning environment where ideas are shared and developed together.

Applied philosophy is central to our programme. Through exploration of specialist topics and contemporary debates you will tackle complex theoretical and practical issues, engage with important global social challenges, and develop critical reasoning and communication skills. Through multiple perspectives—including global traditions, feminist and critical thought, political philosophy, and the history of philosophy—you will explore philosophy’s relevance to social and political life.

Gain critical skills

Philosophy is both an activity and a body of knowledge—at Lancaster, we emphasise both. Through structured training and practice, you will develop critical thinking and logic skills essential for philosophical reasoning and practice and beyond.

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

ABB

Access to HE Diploma

30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 Level 3 credits at Merit

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BB plus BTEC at D

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Distinction overall

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.