Degrees Offered

• BA Single Honours Philosophy (UCAS Code: V500)
• BA Joint Honours English and Philosophy (UCAS Code: QV35)
• BA Joint Honours History and Philosophy (UCAS Code VV1M)
• BA Joint Honours Philosophy and Politics (UCAS Code: VLM2)
• BA Joint Honours Theology and Philosophy (UCAS Code: VV65)

Contact Information

For entrance requirements
E: admissions@qub.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3838

For course information
Dr Jeremy Watkins, Undergraduate Convenor (Philosophy)
School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy
T: +44 (0)28 9097 5028
E: pisp@qub.ac.uk
W: www.qub.ac.uk/pisp

Entrance Requirements

BA Single Honours
Philosophy 3 yrs (V500)

BA Joint Honours
English and Philosophy 3 yrs (QV35)
History and Philosophy 3 yrs (VV1M)
Philosophy and Politics 3 yrs (VLM2)
Theology and Philosophy 3 yrs (VV65)

Entrance Requirements
A-level: BBB

Irish Leaving Certificate: B2B2B2B2CC/B2B2B2B2B2

All applicants
There are no specific subject requirements to study Philosophy. However, if you plan to study Philosophy as a Joint Honours degree you should refer to the subject requirements for the other course.

For students whose first language is not English 
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you are an international student and you do not meet the English Language requirements, you should consider a preparation course at INTO Queen's University Belfast, which will develop the language skills you need to progress. INTO Queen's University Belfast is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses. For a full list click here

The Subject

Philosophy addresses some of the fundamental questions of human thought and existence, such as: 

• What is knowledge? 
• Is there a God? 
• Do we have free will? 
• Is the mind identical to the brain? 
• What is the nature and foundation of morality? 
• Is democracy the best form of government? 
• How can we tell a good argument from a bad argument? 

By studying the subject at Queen's, you will be joining a vibrant and friendly School that aims to combine excellence in teaching with a first-class student experience. 

As part of your degree, you will develop your skills in reasoning and argumentation by studying formal logic and critical thinking. 

You will also learn about cutting-edge debates in core areas of philosophy, such as ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge and political philosophy, as well as studying some of the key thinkers in the history of philosophy, such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Mill and Marx.

Course Content

The degree programme doesn't presuppose any prior training in philosophy; it can profitably be undertaken by those who have - and have not - studied the subject at school. 

Level 1 
Students choose six modules from a range of introductory modules including the following:

Approaches to Philosophy 
Logic and Critical Thinking 
Philosophy and the Good Life 

Levels 2 and 3 
At Levels 2 and 3, the subject may be studied as a Single Honours (12 modules) or Joint Honours (six philosophy modules together with six modules taken from the other subject). 

Students take the appropriate number of modules from the following indicative list: 

Aesthetics 
Applied Ethics 
Contemporary Critical Theory 
Contemporary Theories of Justice 
Epistemology 
History of Philosophy 
Metaphysics 
Mind and Nature 
Modern Political Thought 
Moral Theories 
Philosophy of Law 
Philosophy of Mind 
Philosophy of Science 
Scholastic Ethics 
Scholastic Metaphysics 
The Religious and the Secular in Modern Political Thought 
Dissertation

'I found it very easy to talk to the Philosophy staff and they always went out of their way to help me. They were genuinely interested in my progress and always had my best interests at heart.'

Adrian Downey
Belfast Graduate (2012)

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the English and Philosophy degree programme we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.   Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.  Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).
• E-Learning technologies:   Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online.  A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example:  interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.
• Seminars/tutorials:  Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students).  These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers.  You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.
• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Supervised projects:  In final year, you may choose a year-long double-weighted Dissertation module in English and/or Philosophy which requires you to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic that you have chosen.  You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you on at least 2 occasions during the write up stage.
• Personal Tutor:  Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor during Level 1 and 2 who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.  Further details are shown in the section on the Student Guidance Centre.
• Study Abroad Opportunities: Students have the opportunity to spend some time studying in one of our linked universities in Europe or further afield.  For example, this can take the form of a semester’s study at a university in Denmark, France, Germany, Holland or Sweden (for which credits are transferred back to your degree here in Queen’s under the Erasmus scheme) or study at a university in America, Canada or Australia.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment (general):  The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module.  Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.  Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.  Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general):  As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers.  University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted. 
• Face to face comment.  This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid.  In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time. 
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Careers

Studying for an English and Philosophy degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.  Transferable skills such as team-working, analytical understanding, debating and presentation skills, and, increasingly, information technology and communication skills are embedded in the curriculum. Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline.   

The following is a list of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

Employer Links

Consultations

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, BBC Northern Ireland who provide sponsorship for the English course in Broadcast Literacy (currently offered at postgraduate level but soon to be offered at undergraduate level also).   

We also have an active and engaged Employers Forum, which is a panel composed of individuals of high ranking organisations in fields directly relevant to our degree programmes, including Northern Bank, Price Waterhouse, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, a range of government departments based at Stormont,  and the BBC. The members of this panel advise staff in incorporating employability skills in the development of our degree programmes and in helping prepare our students for the world of work. They also contribute to advisory sessions for students on careers and employability.

Graduate Careers and Achievements

Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:

• Seamus Heaney, Nobel prize-winning poet;
• Paul Muldoon, academic and poet;
• Stephen Rea, actor;
• Helen Madden, writer and actor;
• Annie Kelly, journalist and writer;
• Annie Mac, radio presenter.
• William Crawley, journalist and broadcaster

You should also take a look at the Prospects website for further information concerning the types of jobs that attract English and Philosophy graduates.

Further study is also an option open to our graduates. Students can choose from a wide range of Masters programmes as well as a comprehensive list of research topics.

Other Career-related information: Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers.  Queen’s students will be advised and guided about career choice and, through the Degree Plus initiative, will have an opportunity to seek accreditation for skills development and experience gained through the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer.  See Queen’s University Belfast full Employability Statement for further information.

Degree Plus and other related initiatives:  Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s.  Students are encouraged to plan and build their own, personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe, learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports.

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students).  Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts.  As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Overall, these initiatives, and Degree Plus in particular, reward the energy, drive, determination and enthusiasm shown by students engaging in activities over-and-above the requirements of their academic studies.  These qualities are amongst those valued highly by graduate employers.

Special Features

Philosophy Societies: there is an active student-run philosophy society and the School is also the home of the Belfast branch of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, which organises regular talks and seminars by distinguished visiting philosophers. 

Research-led Teaching: our academic staff are all engaged in state-of-the-art research which informs and enriches their teaching practice. 

Curriculum: we have particular strengths in the areas of applied ethics and political philosophy, and - unusually amongst UK universities - offer teaching in scholastic philosophy.

Last updated: 12.09.13