BA Philosophy
About this course
BA Hons in Philosophy, a philosophy degree centred on examining fundamental questions about human existence, knowledge, ethics, and politics. Core topics include Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme features structured independent projects in the second and third years, including a philosophy guided project and an independent extended study module. The first year establishes foundational knowledge through compulsory modules such as Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World, History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West, Ethics: How Should I Live?, History of Philosophy: Resistance and Inclusion, and Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?. Students also choose optional subjects spanning areas such as politics, psychology, sociology, and mathematics. The second year advances core study through Applied Philosophy: Decisions that Change the World, Mind, World and Science, and the Philosophy Guided Project, alongside diverse optional modules. In the final year, students complete the Philosophy Independent Project: Extended Study, which can take the form of a dissertation or a communication and engagement portfolio, while selecting from specialised options covering contemporary crises, popular culture, and advanced political theory.
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: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 84%: 66 offers from 79 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: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 68%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 83%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 15%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Protective service occupations: 20%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 35 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 40%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 25%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 20%
- South East: 5%
- Scotland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Ethics: How Should I Live?
- History of Philosophy: Resistance and Inclusion
- Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Developmental Psychology and Neuropsychology
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- Explaining Criminology
- Thinking Sociologically
- English across Space and Time
- Logic and Discrete Mathematics
- Global Religions and Society
- Understanding Culture
- Applied Philosophy: Decisions that Change the World
- Mind, World and Science
- Philosophy Guided Project
- Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and Economics
- Language, Communication and Knowledge
- Continental Philosophy
- Body, Mind and Society
- Inventing Rights
- Death
- Welfare States: Poverty, Policy and Politics
- Discourse Studies
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Global Religions, Women and Gender
- Language and Identity in France, Spain, Germany and the Sinophone World
- Society on Screen: The Language of Film
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Philosophy Independent Project: Extended Study
- Comparative Political Philosophy
- Questions at the Frontiers of Philosophy
- Philosophy and Popular Culture
- Philosophy For Times of Global Crisis
- Textual Explorations in Philosophy
- Critical Political Theory
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Policymaking in the Real World
- Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- Autocrats, Dictators and Caudillos: Dictatorship and Representation in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Sciences and Cultures Lab
- State and Religion
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Philosophy at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £40,000. The £30,500 median after five years is £2,000 less than the UK median for Philosophy.
What do graduates of BA Philosophy at Lancaster University do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Philosophy at Lancaster University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Philosophy at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 133 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Philosophy at Lancaster University?
84% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 66 offers from 79 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Philosophy at Lancaster University?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.