BA Philosophy and History
About this course
BA in Philosophy and History, a history and philosophy degree centred on examining human thought, societal development, and historical events through rigorous inquiry. Core topics include Research Methods, Historical Research, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum provides a dual-discipline approach supported by active student societies. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Understanding Medieval and Early Modern History, Understanding Modern History, Becoming a Historian: Core, and Knowledge and Reality 1, alongside optional choices like Climate Emergency! An Introduction to Environmental Arts and Humanities. The second year builds on this foundation with compulsory study in Philosophy of Mind 1, Body and Mind, Metaphysics, and Philosophy of Language, while allowing students to select from various history and philosophy options. Optional modules span specialist areas such as Phenomenology, Existentialism, Symbolic Logic, Philosophy of Science, Strategy and Success in the Second World War, and Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century.
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: AAB. IB: 34/665.
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 62%: 23 offers from 37 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 57 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 78%
- Assessment and feedback: 76%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 74%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 85 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 93%
- Left higher education: 7%
What graduates do next
Based on about 31 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 52%
- Working and studying: 22%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 2%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Finance Professionals: 12%
- Elementary occupations: 11%
- Teaching Professionals: 11%
- Administrative occupations: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 70 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 48%
- South East: 23%
- South West: 12%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 95 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 91%
- Baccalaureate: 6%
- Access course: 1%
- Foundation course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Understanding Medieval and Early Modern History
- Understanding Modern History
- Becoming a Historian: Core
- Knowledge and Reality 1
- Knowledge and Reality 2
- Evidence and Argument 1
- Introduction to Philosophical Analysis
- Philosophy of Morality
- Climate Emergency! An Introduction to Environmental Arts and Humanities
- Sources and Skills: Modern
- Sources and Skills: Early Modern
- Sources and Skills: Medieval
- Philosophy of Mind 1
- Body and Mind
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophical Research
- Moral Agency in Social Context
- Adventures in Environmental Arts and Humanities
- Forgetting Fascism, Remembering Communism: Memory in Modern Europe
- Deviants and Dissenters in Early Modern England
- From Gallows to ASBOs: Crime, Punishment, and Society in Britain and Ireland
- Strategy and Success in the Second World War
- Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century
- Beyond Bridgerton: A Peoples' History of Britain, 1688-1834
- Creating an American Empire: From Westward Expansion to Colonial Empire
- Hunger Games: Poverty, Famine, and Environment
- Russia’s Empires: Societies, Peoples and Cultures
- Beyond the Tudors: Europe’s Worldview Transformed c.1500-1600
- Uses of the Past
- Doing History in the Digital Age
- Phenomenology
- Existentialism
- Symbolic Logic
- Philosophy of Science
- Aesthetics
- History of Philosophy
- Philosophy of Psychiatry
- Philosophy of Law
- The Deep Past, History and Humanity
- Ethics of Emerging Technologies
- Mind and World in Contemporary Japanese Philosophy
- Plato's Dialogues
- Philosophy of Music
- Philosophy of Games
- Digital Worlds and Social AI
- The Holocaust: Explanation, Understanding and Responsibility
- Cyborg Studies
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter earn?
The median salary is £31,500 after 15 months, £29,500 after 3 years, £41,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £32,500 and £59,000. The £41,000 median after five years is £10,500 more than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter do next?
86% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter?
89% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 155 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter?
62% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 23 offers from 37 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Philosophy and History at University of Exeter?
93% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.