Philosophy and Politics (joint honours)
BA (Hons), BSc (Hons)
Explore fundamental questions about knowledge, ethics and society, developing rigorous reasoning and critical thinking.
Key facts
- Duration
- Full time: 3 years
- Part time: up to 6 years
- Starts
- September 2027
- Level
- Undergraduate
- UCAS code
- LV25
- Location
- Headington
- School
- School of Social Sciences
- School of Education, Humanities and Languages
About this course
Our joint honours course allows you to pursue your own areas of interest within Philosophy and Politics while also providing you with a solid foundation which will serve as a springboard for your future career development. The programme is designed to enable you to gradually develop your knowledge and skills and become effective and independent learners.
In Philosophy, our modules explore how the work of historical philosophers impacts upon debates that are central to contemporary philosophy. Politics modules will help you to develop your understanding and knowledge of power in social relations and how this manifests itself in our institutions, ideas and in the distribution of limited resources in society.
Links between research and undergraduate teaching are an important and distinctive feature of the programme, and the combined research experience and competencies of staff have shaped its design, content and delivery.
We are Top 10 in the UK: Philosophy and Politics is ranked 4th in the Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2026/sep/12/the-guardian-university-guide-2027-the-rankingsPhilosophy subject league ranking 2027.
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.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff points | 112 |
| Contextual offer tariff points | 88 |
| A-level | BBC |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DMM |
| International Baccalaureate | 27 |
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
If you don’t achieve the required tariff points you can apply to join a foundation course.
Fees and funding
Fees
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £9,790 | £10,050 |
| Home part-time | £1,220 per single module | £1,255 per single module |
| International full-time | £17,250 | £18,500 |
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.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
In your first year, you’ll be introduced to Reason and what makes an action ‘good’ or ‘bad'. You’ll ask how humans are different from animals. You’ll also learn how to evaluate arguments and use logic. You’ll discover the essentials of modern political issues by exploring a broad range of political systems and ideologies. You’ll develop skills essential for success in your future career.
In your second year, you’ll start to focus on your philosophical interests. This might be religion and the concept of gods, or evolution, gender, identity or art. You’ll debate the great issues of contemporary politics. You’ll sharpen your analytical and debating techniques, mould critical perspectives and turn facts and opinions into a clear, persuasive argument.
In your final year, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what you care about most, including your dissertation subject. You’ll look more deeply at the concepts of freedom, morality and judgement. You might question whether we have free will or test the idea of evil. Other optional modules let you explore specialist political topics.
You’ll learn in a supportive and stimulating environment. You’ll be part of a close-knit programme where you’ll get to know your peers well and get lots of support from both teaching staff and fellow students. Participation and discussion are important features of the course that promote individual creativity and effective collaborative learning.
Most modules combine lectures and seminar-style discussion based on weekly readings. You'll have the chance to discuss and challenge a wide variety of critical views and perspectives in your seminars.
| Contact hours | Total workload | Timetabled |
|---|---|---|
| about 8 hrs a week | 1,200 hrs a year | Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 |
Assessment
Your assessments will be diverse, and will support different learning styles - you’ll have a real opportunity to showcase your strengths.
You might write a blog, create a video diary or give a presentation. You’ll be able to write essays, literature reviews or position papers. You will also have opportunities to produce short presentations and work in groups.
The assessments are designed to help you develop your confidence in using a wide range of skills, preparing you well for your future career.
Information from Discover Uni
Full-time study
Part-time study
Careers
As you study, you’ll develop highly transferable skills and competencies in the areas that employers care about.
These include:
- critical thinking
- creative problem solving
- written, spoken and visual communication, in a variety of media and styles
- intercultural and interpersonal understanding
- research and analysis
- working independently and collaboratively.
You’ll graduate able to analyse issues, express your ideas, inform and influence others, and respond to challenges – critical skills for the 21st century workplace.
Our graduates go on to work in diverse areas like:
- NGOs and charities
- Social work
- Publishing
- Public relations
- Marketing
- Teaching
- Media and journalism
- The civil service.
Many pursue postgraduate study, often here at Oxford Brookes.
How to apply
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)