BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
About this course
BA in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics BA, a philosophy and theology and religion degree focused on normative inquiry, human systems, and foundational belief. Core topics include Research Methods, Fieldwork, Project Management, Policy Analysis, Communication & Writing, Human Behaviour, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Social & Cultural Analysis. The curriculum covers both historical traditions and contemporary debates across ethics, politics, and society. The first year establishes core competencies through modules such as Writing Philosophy, Religion, Reason and Reality, Religion in Britain, and Ethics and Society, alongside a wide range of optional topics. The second year progresses to examine wellbeing, ethics, and qualitative methodology via compulsory modules like Religion and the Good Life, Ethics: From Theory to Practice, Life Worth Living, and Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing. Optional modules in the second and third years allow further specialisation in areas such as political philosophy, phenomenology, and applied ethics. The final year culminates in an independent research project alongside core study in communicating philosophy and a diverse selection of advanced optional modules.
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: 33; 32, with B in a philosophy-based extended essay
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 91%: 118 offers from 130 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 68%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 75%
- Learning resources: 97%
- 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: 80%
- Left higher education: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 35%
- Administrative occupations: 20%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 105 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 15%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 17%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 29%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Writing Philosophy
- Religion, Reason and Reality
- Religion in Britain
- Ethics and Society
- Mind and World
- Bodies, Sex and Desires
- Reason and Argument
- Science, Medicine and Society
- Death and Killing
- History of Philosophy
- Myth, Scripture and Story: Biblical and Classical Sources in English Literature
- Religion and the Good Life
- Ethics: From Theory to Practice
- Life Worth Living
- Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing
- Feminism
- The Philosophy of AI and Robotics
- Good Books: Intertextual Approaches to Literature and the Bible
- Philosophy of the Arts
- Philosophy of Education
- Science and the Search for Reality
- Mind and Language
- Global History of Philosophy
- Political Philosophy
- Knowing and Being
- Social Justice Today
- Dissertation Project 1
- Communicating Philosophy
- Ethics and Belief
- Global Justice
- People, Organisations and Technology
- Memory and the Self
- The Science of Consciousness
- Phenomenology
- Free Will and Religion
- Work Place Learning
- Philosophy of Psychology
- Utopia, Reform and Democracy
- Pain, Pleasure, and Emotions
- Bodies and Souls
- Plato's Symposium
- Language, Speakers and the World
- Political Resistance
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Philosophy of Law
- Language and Religion
- Feminist and Queer Studies in Religion
- Apocalypse: The Beginning of the End of the World
- Topics in Social Philosophy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £40,000. The £32,500 median after five years is the same as the UK median for Philosophy.
What do graduates of BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 136 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield?
91% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 118 offers from 130 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at University of Sheffield?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.