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Philosophy

BA (Hons)

UCAS code: V500

Start dates: September 2026

Full time: 3 years

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Overview

You have always asked the questions others take for granted. At Oxford Brookes, that instinct is your greatest asset.

Philosophy at Oxford Brookes is a way of life. You will argue more precisely, question more honestly and think more carefully than you ever have before. Our programme connects the great philosophical traditions to the questions shaping the world right now; from AI and environmental ethics to justice, identity and power.

Buddhist philosophy and ancient Greek thought. Economics and wellbeing. Language and moral reasoning. Nothing sits in isolation, and the depth you build in one area sharpens your thinking in another.

Taught in small groups by research-active specialists in a close academic community, you will build your own arguments from day one, in a city that has been asking philosophical questions for centuries.

Graduate with the analytical rigour, ethical reasoning and professional confidence to make your mark in law, the civil service, education, business and beyond.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Top 10 in the UK

    Philosophy is ranked 6th in the Guardian Philosophy subject league ranking 2026.

  • Challenge built in

    You’ll study three modules across your degree that apply philosophical thinking to real problems, developing the analytical and professional skills that set you apart.

  • Philosophy without borders

    From ancient Greek thought to Buddhist philosophy and feminist theory, you'll engage with the full breadth of human philosophical tradition.

  • Friendly and supportive

    We know everyone by name in our small department and always offer regular one-to-one tutorials to support your studies.

  • Study in Oxford

    Oxford has been asking philosophical questions for centuries. Immerse yourself in a city that doesn't just surround your studies, it shapes them.

  • Additional language modules

    Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

  • Study abroad

    You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

Course details

Course structure

Your first year builds the foundations: constructing arguments, reading critically and forming your own view. You'll explore the major traditions running through the course:

  • Ethics and moral philosophy

  • Theory of knowledge

  • Human nature and identity

  • Philosophy of religion

  • Political philosophy

  • Diverse voices, from feminist theory to non-western traditions

The challenge module Reason and Argument asks you to connect philosophical thinking to the real world from day one.

In year 2, you'll choose modules that deepen your thinking, from philosophy of law to happiness and wellbeing. Oxford Stories takes you beyond the classroom, applying your thinking to a real-world project rooted in the city around you.

In your final year, you'll specialise further with topics taught by research experts, culminating in a dissertation on a philosophical question of your own choosing. Confronting a Challenging World brings your experience together, building a practical portfolio that supports your next steps.

Students in a lecture

Learning and teaching

You'll be part of a department where you are known by name. That matters when you're constructing an argument, pushing an idea into new territory, or working out what you actually think.

Your tutors are active researchers and published experts who are genuinely intellectually curious, continually expanding into new areas and bringing that energy into the classroom.

Dr Mark Cain explores philosophy of mind and language, asking how humans develop the capacity to think and communicate. Professor Dan O'Brien has published ten books spanning Hume, epistemology, feminist philosophy and the philosophy of art, and organises the Royal Institute of Philosophy lectures in Oxford. A small team with wide, evolving interests teaches you to connect ideas across traditions, not just within them.

We combine lectures with small seminars where you'll build confidence expressing ideas, debating evidence and developing your own arguments.

Assessment

Your assessments are designed to develop and demonstrate mastery of key philosophical concepts and tools, in forms that reflect how philosophy is practised and communicated.

You won’t have any exams. Instead, you’ll build your skills across a range of formats:

  • research essays

  • source analyses

  • article summaries

  • book reviews

  • group projects and presentations

  • module diaries and portfolios

  • podcasts

You’ll also complete reflective exercises and assignments that help to build a portfolio of your academic, applied and professional experiences throughout your time studying.

Study modules

Philosophy is a living discipline, and our academic team is on that journey with you. Their evolving research opens up new areas of the subject, and that intellectual restlessness is what drives the teaching.

Dr George Darby's research focuses on traditional questions in logic, methodology and metaphysics, and how these may or may not be impacted by outside factors, especially from physics. Dr Stephen Boulter works across metaphysics, natural law theory, Aristotle and the philosophy of evolutionary biology, connecting ancient ideas with contemporary science.

Teaching takes place face to face. You can expect around seven hours of contact time each week, with activities including lectures, seminars, assessments and academic advising. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 6.00pm. These hours differ by year of study and can increase during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Philosophical Voices

    Through Philosophy, you’ll address fundamental questions about ourselves and our place in the world. However, much of English-speaking philosophy has been dominated by a narrow range of voices - in particular, the voices of white, male professional philosophers.

    In this module, explore the question of which voices should we engage with when we philosophise? You’ll examine the potential contributions to philosophical discussion of;

    • Women and feminist voices
    • The non-academic community
    • Scientists
    • Philosophers working in the continental European tradition, like Husserl, Heidgger and Merleau-Ponty

    In small group settings, you’ll explore and discuss topics like the challenge of experimental philosophy, the discussion of sex and gender, the role of Philosophical Misogyny and when can science take over from philosophy.

    Will listening to these voices serve to enrich philosophy or change its direction?

  • Reason and Argument

    In this module, you’ll accelerate your career and gain the key tools to succeed in your Philosophy degree. You’ll unlock your potential for excellence, as you gain knowledge of:

    • basic philosophical concepts
    • how to read philosophy
    • how to identify a philosophical question.

    You’ll also gain the knowledge to construct and evaluate a philosophical argument using logical reasoning. These are critical and analytical skills which are vital for work.

  • Ethics

    What makes an action good or bad? Are morals absolute, or is morality just a matter of social convention? Can we judge members of a different society through our own moral rules?  

    In this module, you’ll explore the views of the great thinkers of the past, such as Aristotle, Kant and Mill. You’ll reflect on what their theories mean for questions such as whether we should give to beggars on the streets of Oxford, or if we should do more for refugees. 

  • Human Nature

    What does it mean to be human? Are humans the same as other animals? How do race and gender relate to human nature? In this module, you’ll explore some of the biggest questions facing humanity, and join philosophers throughout the ages in exploring human nature. You’ll gain core critical skills as you debate how best to study our nature. You’ll ask whether, if we’re products of evolution, human nature even exists. You’ll develop excellent analytical skills as you explore these ideas through cutting-edge work in philosophy, as well as:

    • feminist theory
    • cognitive science
    • evolutionary biology.

  • Theory of Knowledge

    What does it mean to know something? Is knowledge different from mere belief? Is knowledge actually possible?

    In this module we'll consider whether there is one account of knowledge or whether this differs across cultures and philosophical traditions. And at a time when our lives are being played out in a computer simulation and deep fakes are a reality, we'll ask questions such as:
     
    Who should we trust when equally informed sources tell us different things? 
    Could conspiracy theories be true? 

    We'll also consider a distinct kind of injustice where we do not accept the word of another because of their class, age, race or gender.

  • God, Religion and Philosophy

    The aim of this module is to examine philosophical issues relating to religion. 

    As well as discussing traditional questions generated by monotheistic religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam (for example, the problem of evil and proving God’s existence), we'll examine philosophical issues generated by Buddhism relating to the self and reincarnation. 

    The module also considers the question of why religion has been so prevalent in human societies and looks at alternative approaches to traditional philosophy of religion as represented by Wittgenstein’s work and feminist philosophy of religion.

Optional modules

  • Political Philosophy

    How is political opinion, authority and democracy shaped and influenced? In this module, you’ll explore foundational issues in political philosophy through exploring the main political ideologies.

    You’ll start your journey with Liberalism as the default position in the West since the English, American and French Revolutions. Your focus then shifts to the ideologies that arose in response to Liberalism, including: 
    • Conservatism
    • Communism
    • Fascism
    • Communitarianism
    • Anarchism
    • and Feminism. 
    You’ll also consider questions linked to the theory of knowledge, such as can any ideology be rationally justified?

  • Origins of the Climate Crisis: A Global History of the Environment

    Sustainability, climate change, conservation: these are pressing contemporary issues with a rich and compelling history. This module will introduce you to the ways in which climate and the environment have changed over the past 6 centuries. 

    Explore responses and impacts from cultures and countries across the globe, from the 15th and 16th centuries, through to the present climate emergency.

    Investigate environmental changes and how they were contested and experienced at communal, national and international levels. You'll think about the political, economic, social and cultural contexts of resource management, energy use and food production and consider future policy solutions.

    You’ll engage with a wide variety of historical sources which we can use to understand environmental history, including:
    • demographic sources
    • institutional records
    • visual sources such as maps and plans.
    You'll gain digital history skills, through the digital mapping technology you'll use on the course.

  • Foundations of Social Theory

    In this module, you’ll explore the key themes and concerns of social theory. You’ll investigate how social theory has shaped, and continues to shape, the discipline of Sociology and its different traditions. 

    You'll immerse yourself in current debates, developments and approaches to social theory. And you'll explore how these affect our social relations today.
     

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Myth to Philosophy

    Meet the two greatest philosophers of ancient Greece, Plato and Aristotle. You’ll explore the key themes in Plato’s Republic and Artistotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, uncovering vital ethical and political issues. You’ll understand why these fascinating texts have influenced the history of philosophy. 

  • Early Modern Philosophy

    Does anything exist outside our minds? Are our thoughts just a product of our senses? In this module, you’ll get to grips with early modern philosophy, and its core texts and ideas. In part 1, you’ll dive into Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, and gain core analytical skills as you examine his attempts to provide a firm basis for knowledge. In part 2, you’ll dig into Hume’s Treatise on Human Nature and his Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, examining his attempts to construct a theory of the workings of the human mind. You’ll also explore the Immanual Kant’s views of space and time as developed in his book The Critique of Pure Reason. 

  • Ethics for the 21st Century

    You'll explore recent social and technological developments such as:  

    • globalisation
    • social media and the internet
    • medical and scientific advances
    • mass migration 

    Looking at the new ethical challenges they present that are prominent in public debate and a source of conflict and division in society. You'll analyse some of these ethical issues from a philosophical perspective. 

    You'll consider whether corporations have moral responsibilities and what is the best way to combat racism. Also how are epistemic vices such as close-mindedness, intellectual arrogance and dogmatism fostered by the prevalence of conspiracy theories, fake news, and testimonial injustice.

    Are we right to assume that democracy is the only morally-defensible way to govern a country? Can technology and science help us to improve ourselves?

  • Language and Reality

    How did language - the centre of our culture, family ties and business transactions -  develop? In this module, you’ll get to understand fascinating debates around language, and why philosophers have been so drawn to it throughout history. You’ll gain core critical skills, as you consider questions around: 

    • what language is 
    • whether we can study it scientifically
    • the relationship between language and thought. 

Optional modules

  • Philosophy of Economics

    This module explores some of the philosophical issues raised by economics. Together we'll cover topics like:

    •  the status of economics as a social science 
    •  the philosophy of science about what makes a discipline scientific
    •  the nature of causation and explanation and how they differ between the natural and the social sciences.

    The foundational assumptions of economics involve broader questions about human nature, so we'll delve into the background ideas involved in decision and game theory. 

    When it comes to ethics and political philosophy, we'll talk about the nature of collectives, corporations and their responsibilities. You'll also have a chance to evaluate other ethical questions raised by economics like the treatment of “externalities” in economic theory and questions of value relating to human welfare and the environment.

  • Philosophy of Science

    In this module, you’ll discover science, and its role in our society. You’ll get to grips with the main philosophical questions around scientific knowledge, and the methods we use to explore it. You’ll gain core critical skills as you consider classic philosophy of science topics, and investigate some new ideas. You’ll debate topics such as:

    • do the entities postulated by scientists really exist?
    • can scientific theories be falsified by observation?
    • is theoretical change in science a rational process?
    • how much of the biological world can be explained by appeal to natural selection?
    • what is the measurement problem in quantum mechanics?

  • Philosophy of Happiness and Wellbeing

    The concept of wellbeing is prominent in moral and political philosophy. Outside of philosophy ordinary people are increasingly becoming concerned with their wellbeing and in the political domain the maximisation of wellbeing is often a central goal of policy makers. This module examines philosophical issues concerning wellbeing: 
    • Is there such a thing as wellbeing and, if so, what exactly is it? 
    • How is wellbeing related to happiness and pleasure? 
    • Can wellbeing be objectively measured and aggregated? 
    • How have modern social and technological developments impacted on our wellbeing? 
    • Can events that take place after our death contribute to our wellbeing?

  • Philosophy of Law

    In this module, you’ll be introduced to the basic issues in the philosophy of law. Explore questions such as ‘what is the social function of a legal system?’ through the sociological context of legal systems, as well as the different types of Western and non-Western legal systems

    You’ll examine theories of punishment and their philosophical presumptions, as well as considering topics including:
    • Legal positivism
    • Legal realism
    • Natural law theory
    • Critical legal theory

  • Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art

    What is art? What makes something beautiful? How does emotion, imagination and knowledge contribute to our understanding and appreciation of artworks?

    In this module, explore these questions through aesthetics and philosophical reflection on art through interactive lectures and a visit to one of Oxford’s renowned museums or galleries.

    You’ll engage with philosophical issues concerning various forms of art:
    • Painting
    • Photography
    • Cinema
    • Graffiti
    • Music
    • literature 
    • and environmental art.
    You will also consider the political and sociological dimensions of such art forms.

  • Independent Study in Philosophy

    This module offers you the opportunity to pursue more in-depth study of a specialist area of research or other co-curricular topic not otherwise available in modules on the course.

    The content of this module is agreed between the student and their supervisor and must be approved by the module leader of the course.

Optional Year Abroad

Optional modules

  • Year Abroad

    This module offers the opportunity to study abroad, experience a new culture, and apply your skills in different contexts to enhance your employability. It will help you develop self-management, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills.

    You’ll receive support to secure a place at a partner institution abroad, where you can choose modules related to your degree or explore new areas that complement your studies.

    Studying at an international university will help you enhance your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with students and tutors, allowing you to build lasting relationships. You'll also improve your study skills by focusing on your chosen areas of interest, gaining valuable international experience that will strengthen your CV.

    This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.
     

Final Year

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation in Philosophy

    This module gives you the chance to do research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll have the support of expert staff, as you critically analyse and present your research on a pressing philosophical issue. Whether you’re investigating the ethics of artificial intelligence, fake news or feminist philosophy, you’ll shape your dissertation around your passions, and gain the skills for a groundbreaking career. 

Optional modules

  • Medieval Philosophy and the Roots of Modernity

    In this module, you’ll dive into medieval philosophy - an unfairly neglected period in western philosophy. You’ll explore the fascinating ideas of a wide range of medieval thinkers, whose work still influences philosophy today. You’ll also gain a strong knowledge of the historical gap between ancient Greek philosophy and today.

  • Environmental Philosophy

    In this module, you’ll address our relationship to the environment and the climate crisis. You’ll explore questions like:
    • Is environmental activism justified?
    • What is the difference between local and global activism? 
    • What are the methodological challenges for climate science?
    • What drives climate change scepticism or denialism? 
    You’ll also consider Veganism, and the relation between our aesthetic appreciation of nature and environmental concerns.

    The module also moves beyond the western perspective and considers Buddhist and various indigenous attitudes to the environment and our place within it.

  • Moral Vision

    This module explores central topics in metaethics, the philosophical study of the nature of morality and moral judgment. You will explore such issues as:

    • are there objective moral facts?
    • when we make a moral judgment are we making a factual claim or merely expressing our emotions or preferences?
    • is morality culturally relative?
    • how do our moral judgments motivate our actions.

  • Thought and Consciousness

    In this module, you’ll get to know one of the liveliest areas of current research: contemporary philosophy of mind. You will explore issues such as:

    • What is the relationship between the mind and the brain?
    • How are our thoughts capable of being about phenomena that exist outside of the mind?
    • Where is the mind located? Is it in our skulls or does it stretch beyond the outer surfaces of our bodies?
    • Is consciousness a mystery or can it be explained from a scientific perspective?

  • Paradoxes

    A paradox involves a contradiction, or a tension. In some cases the contradiction is a logical one, and in others it is of some other kind.

    These tensions, and resolving them, are the point of departure for all kinds of philosophically interesting topics:

    • infinity (Zeno’s paradoxes)
    • rationality (Newcomb’s problem)
    • co-operation (the Prisoner’s dilemma)
    • time travel (the Grandfather paradox)
    • the nature of the world described by physics (the Twins paradox; Schrodinger’s cat)
    • the foundations of mathematics (Russell’s paradox)
    • the nature of truth and logic (the Liar, sorites, pseudo-Scotus and Curry’s paradoxes).

    In this module, you’ll survey some of the most philosophically interesting paradoxes; for your own intrinsic interest, for the light that they shed on their respective philosophical topics, and as a fun application of philosophical methods and analysis.

  • Buddhist Philosophy

    Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions with approximately 400 million followers. It is a deeply philosophical religion that portrays human suffering as being based on a metaphysical delusion about the nature and existence of the self. 

    In this module, you’ll explore the central philosophical themes in Buddhist thought beginning with the account of the teachings of the Buddha in the Abhidharma. You’ll then examine philosophical work in the later Madhyamaka, Yogacara and Dignaga and  Dharmakirti schools. 

    You’ll go on to investigate how Buddhist philosophy relates to contemporary Western concerns and can enrich our philosophical outlook and help us deal with the challenges of everyday life.

  • Foundations of Continental Philosophy

    Phenomenology is the study of conscious experience and of how things appear to us. It can reveal surprising features of our own experience and tell us much about perception and the relationship between the mind and the body. This approach has dominated European philosophy since the early 20th century and we shall focus on the views of Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. 

    Existentialism is an approach in philosophy that focuses upon exploring the human condition. Existentialists such as Sartre, Beauvoir, and Camus portray human individuals as having the capacity to make choices as to how to live their lives and thereby create their own identity. The challenge to live an authentic life is a demanding one and can generate anxiety or a sense that life is lacking in meaning. We'll examine the concept that the idea that philosophy should be a way of life rather than a detached theoretical exercise.

  • Independent Study Module

    In this module, you’ll gain excellent skills for work and your degree. You’ll work independently on projects that fascinate you, with the support of our leading Philosophy academics. You’ll build on your knowledge of philosophy, and hone your ability to manage your projects and time successfully. Whether you’re focusing on eastern philosophy, the nature of the self or existentialism, you’ll shape your project around your passions and gain the skills for a fantastic career.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Careers

Philosophy develops the skills employers find hardest to teach: the ability to construct a rigorous argument, interrogate evidence, navigate ethical complexity and communicate with precision.

A philosophy degree at Oxford Brookes equips you for careers that demand clear thinking in uncertain conditions, and for roles that don't yet exist. Our graduates are working across:

  • law

  • AI ethics

  • the civil service

  • politics and public affairs

  • business and marketing

  • media and journalism

  • publishing

  • education and academia

  • charity and third sector

Philosophy is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study in law, politics, research and beyond.

Student profiles

Aalya Khan

"The lecturers have been fantastic - passionate, approachable, and always willing to help. They clearly love what they do, and that enthusiasm carries into every lecture and seminar. "

Read more about Aalya

Nicole Tarallo

"From my first visit to Oxford Brookes, I felt an instant connection to both the course and the city - it already felt like home."

Read more about Nicole
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Our Staff

Dr Mark Cain

Mark's research interests are in the Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Mind and Language. In particular, he is interested in understanding the process by which humans develop from a state of seeming ignorance at birth to one in which they are able to speak a language and grasp a vast array of concepts only a few years later.

Read more about Mark
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Right

Dr Mark Cain

Mark's research interests are in the Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Mind and Language. In particular, he is interested in understanding the process by which humans develop from a state of seeming ignorance at birth to one in which they are able to speak a language and grasp a vast array of concepts only a few years later.

Read more about Mark

Joint honours options

You can also study this course as part of a joint honours degree. This course can be joined with:

Related courses

Related course
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Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 112 - 120

A Level: BBC, ACD, or ACC

IB Points: 28-32

BTEC: DMM or DDM

Contextual offer

What is a contextual offer?

UCAS Tariff Points: 88 - 96

A Level: CCD, CCC, or ACE

IB Points: 27-28

BTEC: MMM

Further offer details

For joint honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject.

Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Full time Home (UK) applicants
Apply through UCAS


International applicants
Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
Home (UK) part time
£1,220 per single module
International full time
£17,250
Home (UK) full time
£10,050
Home (UK) part time
£1,255 per single module
International full time
£18,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2026 / 27
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
Home (UK) part time
£1,220 per single module
International full time
£17,250
2027 / 28
Home (UK) full time
£10,050
Home (UK) part time
£1,255 per single module
International full time
£18,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

£2,000 International Student Scholarship September entry Oxford Brookes Bursary for Continuing Students Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students Oxford Brookes Bursary for New Students 20% Alumni Discount Scheme

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.