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

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 student to achieve their full academic potential.  On the BA in Philosophy, 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; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to contribute and develop the QUB Philosophy Blog. 
• Seminars/tutorials:  Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students).  These provide significant opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your 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 important 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 will have the chance to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic or practical methodology 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 3 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. 

• Study abroad opportunities: Students have the opportunity to spend some time studying in one of our linked universities. For example, this can take the form of a semester’s study in Switzerland (Fribourg), Italy (Venezia), Belgium (KU Leuven), for which credits are transferred back to your degree here in Queen’s.
• Prizes: The annual Monsignor Arthur Ryan Prize is awarded to the best overall degree result in Philosophy.  There are also prizes for excellent work at levels one and two.  We also support our students entering essays to the annual Undergraduate Awards.

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 (where relevant).
• 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

A philosophy degree provides intellectual skills in literacy and numeracy fit for a lifetime, through training in reasoning about complex issues at the foundation of all understanding and of all practical affairs. Students learn to think clearly and to express themselves with exactness. Philosophy graduates go into an unlimited range of occupations in the public and private sectors, including the civil service, local government, the media, policy analysis, the voluntary sector, teaching, journalism, business, marketing and advertising.  

Some graduates build on the degree by undertaking postgraduate training in fields such as law, social science research and teaching. Tailored careers advice and study guidance is available to all students throughout their time at Queen’s.

The following is a list of some recent careers/study destinations of our students:

• International House (TEFL teaching)
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Southern Health and Social Care Trust
• Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
• 3 Mobile
• Hotel du Vin
• Northern Ireland Civil Service
• RPS Belfast
• Bradford and Bingley
• St Andrews University (MA in Philosophy)
• Edinburgh University (MA in Philosophy)
• York University (Law Conversion)

Employer Links: Consultations

We have an active and engaged Employers Forum, which is used to foster collaboration between ourselves and employers and to inform related activity, such as the format, content and structure of our educational provision, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the employability of our graduates. The Employer’s Forum meets 2-3 times per academic year. In addition to PISP and QUB staff, its membership includes employers from both public and private sector organizations, including Equality Commission for NI, Northern Bank, Deloitte, Stratagem NI, NI Local Government Association PricewaterhouseCoopers, MCE Public Relations, Department of Employment and Learning NI and Stratagem NI.

Graduate Careers and Achievements

Many of the School’s former graduates have risen to the top of their fields, for example:

• Dr William Crawley, BBC broadcaster and journalist
• Professor Philip Pettit, Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University
• Francis Campbell, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan

Further information concerning the types of jobs that attract Philosophy graduates can be found with relevant pages on the Prospects websiteand the Higher Education Academywebsite.

For those wishing to pursue further study after their first degree, the School provides a range of MA programmes, each of which can be taken either full-time in one year or part-time over two years. The MA programmes, each of which consists of four taught courses and a dissertation, are: Political Philosophy; Politics; Irish Politics; Comparative Ethnic Conflict; International Politics; Violence, Terrorism and Security; European Integration and Public Policy; Gender and Society. There are also opportunities to do an MRes in Politics, and an MPhil or PhDby thesis.
 

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 Plusinitiative, 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 fullEmployability Statementfor 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