Course description
On our single honours degree you’ll explore a diverse range of philosophical topics, from areas like politics and ethics to logic and language, and encompassing issues from the nature of the mind to the value of art.
You’ll also be able to study thinkers from a broad variety of philosophical traditions – including analytic, continental, pragmatist, and Chinese philosophy – and examine culturally important philosophical texts.
Thinking philosophically requires a distinctive combination of imagination and exact reasoning. You’ll develop this along with analytical skills and a high degree of intellectual flexibility.
An exciting feature of the subject is the way that its different themes interact with one another.
For example, philosophical research on gender may deploy metaphysical views about precisely what sorts of differences between humans are important ones, while philosophical thinking about morals may use resources from logic or from the philosophical study of knowledge.
You’ll learn about a wide variety of philosophical areas, which will help you identify these links between different parts of the subject and forge your own ideas.
Core modules in your first year cover the wider subject of philosophy and lay the groundwork for further study. You’ll develop your ability to explore and express philosophical ideas in writing.
You’re then free to construct your own pathway, based on your interests, through a wide variety of modules in your second and third year.
Over the three years, you’ll develop your understanding of key areas including ethics, philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, political philosophy, metaphysics and logic, as well as feminism, philosophy of education, and major figures in the history of philosophy.
There are also individual project and work placement modules that allow you to pursue highly personal supervised study in areas of your choosing.
Your study of philosophy will help you develop your own views and build intellectual skills that you can draw on throughout your life and career.
Modules
Our course allows you to gain a solid understanding of the ideas and theories that are the foundation of the discipline, across the full range of our modules. You will have the opportunity to tailor your degree to your interests – your lecturers will help you do this.
The philosophy course also allows you to study a small number of modules from other departments. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to broaden your university education.
Our degree courses
We are constantly developing our courses so it is possible that the modules running during your time at Sheffield may differ slightly from those currently available. What follows is a typical list of the first, second and third year modules we offer.
How our research informs our module teaching
A selection of modules are available each year – some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course.
You must take 120 credits in total during your first year.
Single honours students must take at least 60 credits in Philosophy, including at least 20 credits from Group A, and at least 20 credits from Group B.
Dual honours students can select any modules from group A and/or B and normally choose a minimum of 40 credits in Philosophy. Depending on the credit requirements of your other subject, you may also be able to take optional modules outside of these subjects.
Here is a typical list of options.
Group A modules
- Elementary Logic
- History of Philosophical Ideas
- Mind, Brain and Personal Identity
- Philosophy of Science
- Reason and Argument
- Writing Philosophy
Group B modules
- Death
- History of Ethics
- History of Philosophical Ideas
- Matters of Life and Death
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Sex
- Self and Society
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it’s up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we’ll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Entry requirements
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB
A Levels + additional qualifications ABB + B in a relevant EPQ
International Baccalaureate 34
BTEC Extended Diploma DDD in a relevant subject
BTEC Diploma DD in a relevant subject + A at Level
Scottish Highers AAAAB
Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels B + AA
Access to HE Diploma Award of Access to HE Diploma in either Law, Business Management, Humanities or Social Sciences, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction and 9 at Merit
Routes for mature students
English language requirements |
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Pathway programme for international students
If you’re an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for an International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.
Fees
£9,250
Home students2022 annual tuition fee
£20,000
Overseas students2022 annual tuition fee
key dates
September start
Applications for places on courses starting the following September (except Medicine and Dentistry) should be submitted to UCAS between:
- 1 September and 25 January to be guaranteed equal consideration with other applicants
- 26 January and 30 June for further consideration, although we may not be able to consider your application if all the places on the course you’ve applied for have been filled
Applications for places on Medicine and Dentistry courses must be submitted between 1 September and 15 October.
