MA Philosophy and English Literature
About this course
MA (Hons) in Philosophy and English Literature, an English Literature and Philosophy degree exploring critical and theoretical perspectives across both disciplines. Core topics include Research Methods. Students complete an independent dissertation on a philosophy or English literature topic of choice in the final year. The first year covers foundational concepts through morality and value, history of philosophy, logic, philosophy of science, poetry, drama, and prose. The second year advances study with epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind. The third year builds on honours-level study with beauty and art, language, cognition and science, history of philosophy, knowledge and reality, morality and value, political philosophy, different literary periods, and various topics and genres within literature. The fourth year concludes with an independent dissertation on a philosophy or English literature topic of your choice alongside a coursework dissertation through two extended essays in philosophy.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: from A*A*A to AAB (required: English Literature or combined English at B) IB: from 36 points with 665 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 23%: 33 offers from 141 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 6 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 74%
- Assessment and feedback: 68%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 70%
- Learning resources: 73%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 20%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 6%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 43%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 34%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- morality and value
- history of philosophy (may include Western and non-Western traditions)
- logic
- philosophy of science
- poetry
- drama
- prose
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and English language
- philosophy, divinity and law
- epistemology
- metaphysics
- philosophy of language
- philosophy of mind
- beauty and art
- language
- cognition and science
- history of philosophy
- knowledge and reality
- morality and value
- political philosophy
- different literary periods
- various topics and genres within literature
- an independent dissertation on a philosophy or English literature topic of your choice
- a coursework dissertation through two extended essays in philosophy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,000 and £48,000. The £33,000 median after five years is £5,000 more than the UK median for Literature in English.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 36 points in the IB. The average entrant had 176 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh?
23% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 33 offers from 141 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Philosophy and English Literature at University of Edinburgh?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.