Philosophy

Geared both to philosophy graduates, to consolidate and expand their philosophical grounding; and equally to conversion students, to introduce them to key concepts, arguments, texts and techniques from across the philosophical spectrum, while also bringing them up to a high level in selected specialist areas.

• Offers a wide selection of optional topics, both current and historical, covering the entire philosophical spectrum from aesthetics to logic and everything in between.
• Open both to Philosophy graduates and to those converting into Philosophy from other subjects at undergraduate level, with pathways appropriate to their different needs.
• Located in the heart of London.

Student destinations Programme leader/s Awarding Institution Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent) Duration Location Year of entry 2013
Offered by Closing date Intake Fees Contact information Email Website

This programme is suited both to students with an undergraduate philosophy degree and to those converting into philosophy from another subject at undergraduate level. For philosophy graduates, it will consolidate and augment their existing knowledge, and provide a firm foundation for subsequent independent research. For conversion students, there is a General Philosophy module which is designed specifically to introduce them to key texts, concepts and arguments from right across the philosophical spectrum: by means of this module, in conjunction with their own choices of optional subjects, such students will also be prepared for further research in philosophy.

Students must earn a total of 180 credits. 60 of these will come from a dissertation of around 10,000 words, to be completed over the Summer at the end of the course. (A student who satisfactorily completes the course up to the point of the dissertation may exit the programme without completing one, and will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy on the basis of their 120 credits).
 
The initial 120 credits will be earned through optional modules, selected from the lists below. Most of these are confined to either the first or the second semester, and are worth 20 credits; General Philosophy is the exception, and spans both semesters, and is worth 40. Students who do not have an undergraduate background in philosophy are normally expected to take the 40 credit General Philosophy module. This paper introduces basic philosophical methods, techniques and terminology, and acquaints you with some of the most important and influential writings on the subject.
 
Otherwise, students have a completely free choice, although it should be noted that some of these modules are likely to be more accessible to conversion students, while others—particularly the more specialised 'topics'-based modules—might appeal more to those who do already have a background in the field. These modules are mostly taught through two weekly hours of lectures and seminars. With permission, students may get up to 40 credits from modules taken outside the Philosophy Department.
 
Full-time students will complete the course in one year, September to September. Part-time students take two years, and are required to get 40 to 80 credits (but normally 60 or 80) in the first of these, and then 100 to 140 (but normally 100 to 120, including 60 from the dissertation) in the second. General Philosophy, if it is taken at all, must be taken in the first year.
 
All students, including part-time students, should ensure that they are available to attend seminars at least two days a week.
 
A full list of modules expected to be offered in 2013-14 can be found under the 'Structure' tab.

Core programme content

• Dissertation (60 credits).

Indicative non-core content

NB The following modules are likely to be offered in 2013-14, although this is not set in stone. Occasionally, we might need to drop a module, for instance if there is insufficient demand for it from students; but, equally, there is a chance that a few other modules not listed here might end up getting added to the list. The timings, i.e. whether a module is taught in the first or the second semester, are also subject to possible revision: but the final provision should end up looking pretty close to this. Each of these modules is worth 20 credits, except where specified.


Both semesters:

• General Philosophy (40 credits)

 

First semester:

• Aesthetics
• Early Modern Philosophy
• Epistemology
• Ethics 
• Greek Philosophical Texts I: Plato (note: presupposes some competence in the ancient Greek language)
• Greek Philosophy I: Plato
• Indian Philosophy I: The Orthodox Schools
• Metaphysics
• Nineteenth-Century Continental Philosophy
• Philosophy of Biology
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Philosophy of Mind
• Philosophy of Psychology I
• Philosophy of Religion
• Philosophy of Science
• Political Philosophy
• Set Theory (note: presupposes some competence in basic symbolic logic)
• Theories of Grammar

 

Second semester:

• Epistemology II
• Ethics of Science & Technology
• Foundations of Analytic Philosophy
• Greek Philosophical Texts II: Aristotle (note: presupposes some competence in the ancient Greek language)
• Greek Philosophy II: Aristotle
• Greek Philosophy III: Special Topics (note: the topic for 2012-13 will probably be Neoplatonism)
• Indian Philosophy II: The Heterodox Schools
• Kant I: Critique of Pure Reason
• Kant II: Moral Philosophy
• Medieval Philosophy
• Modal Logic (note: presupposes some competence in basic symbolic logic)
• Perspectives on Death & Killing
• Philosophy of Language
• Philosophy of Mind II: Special Topics
• Philosophy of Physics
• Philosophy of Psychology II
• Political Philosophy II: Special Topics
• Theories of Meaning

Mostly taught through lectures and seminars; assessed through coursework and/or examinations plus a dissertation.




General entry advice

With your application form, you must include a sample of written work totalling approximately 3,000 words. We do not routinely interview applicants, but we may call you for interview; and you are very welcome to call the department to arrange a visit. We aim to process all complete applications within four to six weeks, although this may take longer over holiday periods.

You should use your personal statement to discuss your intentions for the programme, and the route that has led you to it. Please also supply a writing sample of c.3,000 words with your application. Further details can be found on the Department website:(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/study/pgt/index.aspx).

British and EU residents can apply for AHRC studentships. Some Graduate School and School of Arts & Humanities studentships and bursaries are also available. The Department offers scholarships up to £10,000 annually: the Sorabji Graduate bursary, the Susan Stebbing bursary (for female students only) and the Peter Goldie bursary. For further information, see the Departmental postgraduate Funding page. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/study/funding/index.aspx