Our Department of Philosophy in the heart of London has particular strengths in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and ancient philosophy. Our degree offers an extremely wide range of modules, including Indian Philosophy and Philosophy in the Islamic World, available at few other UK universities.
KEY BENEFITS
- One of the largest and most distinguished philosophy departments in the country.
- The Department is ranked in the top six nationally for world-leading and internationally excellent research (Research Assessment Exercise 2008).
- In the most recent NSS, 95% were satisfied with the quality of the teaching on their course, and 98% of our students reported that they find their course intellectually stimulating. Our scores for feedback, provision of learning resources and personal development were also consistently above the sector average (source: National Student Survey 2012).
- King's offers an exceptionally wide range of optional courses, covering all areas of the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy.
- Our emphasis on small-group teaching ensures students acquire and hone the skills of critical thinking.
UCAS code
V500
Programme type
Single honours
Duration
Three years
Location
Strand Campus
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Arts and Humanities
Department of Philosophy
Closing date
Please refer to the
UCAS website for application deadline dates, or contact the relevant Admissions Office for further advice
Fees & funding
For information on fees and funding for undergraduate programmes at King's go to
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ug/funding/ CONTACTS
Address
Department of Philosophy
King's College London
Strand Campus
Strand
London WC2R 2LS
Email
Tel
020 7848 2350/2374
Fax
020 7848 7200
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
- Our Department of Philosophy has particular strengths in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, ethics and the history of philosophy. We are also able to offer an extremely wide range of modules, including subjects like Indian philosophy and medieval philosophy which are offered by very few other universities in the UK.
Undergraduate teaching in the Department is organised on a modular system. The class of degree you are awarded will be determined by your performance in each year of your course. You will normally aim to accumulate 360 course credits in total over the period of the degree. Most course modules are for 15 credits, earned through a mix of essays and a written exam, though some (eg the dissertation) earn 30 credits.
The modules become progressively more advanced over the degree course. There are three levels of modules (4, 5 and 6) which basically correspond to the first, second and third years of the degree, though there is some flexibility in the second and third years. The purpose of this system of assessment is to allow you to build up a complex of philosophical material and skills, each stage giving you a good grounding for the next.
ABOUT THE Department of Philosophy
CAREERS
Graduates have gone on to a wide range of careers after leaving King’s. Among those who have recently graduated, a survey uncovered a merchant banker, a police constable, a barrister, a trainee journalist, a trainee teacher and several who had returned (or were about to return) to university to take higher degrees.
Recent graduates have found employment as….
• Analyst Consultant, Accenture
• Asset Distributor, Universal Music
• English Teacher, Primary School
• Intern (Public Affairs), Science strategy company
• Journalist, a business website
• Operations Manager, Five UK
• Research Assistant (Philosophy), a UK university
• Film Production Assistant, Production company
• Volunteer Development Support Officer, Diabetes uK
TEACHING STYLE
In our undergraduate teaching, we aim to combine a wide range of study options with direct staff-student contact. Our emphasis on small-group teaching in tutorials and seminars makes King’s an excellent place to acquire and hone the skills of critical thinking, and to express your ideas both in writing and in philosophical discussion with your fellow students and instructors.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
Our programme offers an unusually wide range of options, such as Philosophy of Psychology and Philosophy in the Islamic World. Study of these options builds upon the solid foundation of core courses in the first and second years, with a lot of choice between modules already in the second year.
Assessment mixes examinations and essays, and all modules offer formative assessment to let you try out and explore your ideas.
LOCATION
The Department is based at the College’s Strand Campus, in the heart of central London. The College’s Maughan Library is a short walk away on Chancery Lane.
Students study the following core modules (modules are 15 credits unless otherwise stated).
YEAR 1
You will take eight core credit modules at level 4, four in each semester, as follows.
YEAR 1 CORE
- Greek Philosophy I
- Ethics I
- Elementary Logic
- Metaphysics I
- Modern Philosophy I
- Political Philosophy I
- Epistemology I
- Methodology
YEAR 2
Students will take 30 credits (two modules) from each of the following three lists, plus an additional 30 credits either from the lists or from the optional level 6 courses (see year three below).
YEAR 2 OPTIONS
List A- Greek Philosophy II: Plato
- Greek Philosophy II: Aristotle
- Modern Philosophy II: Locke and Berkeley
- Modern Philosophy II: Spinoza and Leibniz
List B- Ethics II: History of Ethical Philosophy
- Ethics II: Contemporary Ethical Philosophy
- Political Philosophy II: Theories of Justice
- Political Philosophy II: History of Political Philosophy
List C- Epistemology II
- Metaphysics II
- Philosophy of Logic and Language
- Philosophy of Mind
YEAR 3
In the third year students take 120 credits, at least 90 of which will be at level 6. Level 6 modules are optional subjects which often build on the level 5 modules described above.
To count towards their third year Level 6 requirement students may choose to write an 8,000 word Dissertation for 30 credits, taught over the course of the year by one-to-one tutorials with a member of staff.
We review our options on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes and they are therefore subject to change; the following list indicates a selection of modules likely to be available in either the second or third year of your degree. Please check here for updates, or contact the School/department for further advice.
YEAR 3 OPTIONS
- 19th Century Continental Philosophy
- Advanced Logic modules
- Aesthetics
- Dissertation
- Foundations of Analytic Philosophy
- Greek Philosophical Texts
- Hellenistic Philosophy
- Indian Philosophy
- Kant
- Meaning and Grammar
- Medieval Philosophy
- Moral Normativity
- Neoplatonism
- Philosophy of Mathematics
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Science
- Scepticism
- Science, Ethics and Society
- Topics in Ethics
- Topics in Greek Philosophy
- Topics in Modern Philosophy
- Topics in Philosophy of Mind
- Topics in Political Philosophy
- Utilitarianism
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
97+ ATAR, or an OP of band 2 for Queensland
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 1
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D’Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 8 or 18
Brazil
Brazil
High School Leaving Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) with 8 OR B OR Muito Bom PLUS at least one year of Bacharel/Licenciado at a Brazilian University with a GPA of at least 8.0 OR the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAA
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 5.5
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
High School Certificate/Diploma with 90% OR Ontario University Preparatory Course with 90% five grade 12 4U subjects. The sixth subject may be at 4U or 4U/C level. OR the Quebec CEGEP Cote R with an overall R score of 33.
Chile
Chile
Licencia de Educación Media with 6 PLUS at least one year of the Licenciatura at a Chilean university with a mark of 5 OR the Kings College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAA
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Chinese university with at least 80%
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 19 plus at least an additional foundation/Access year
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 1
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 11
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with majority marks of 5, and an attestation of success in the state entry examinations (Riigieksamitunnistus)
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto with 6
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 14
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.3 overall
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at AAA
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolytirion with 19
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
Three elective subjects at minimum Levels 5, 5, 5 plus Level 4 in each of the four core subjects.
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 5
India
School Leaving Certificate
School Leaving Certificate with 85% overall OR School Leaving Certificate with 75% with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at an Indian university.
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkur) with 17 OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAA
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level unless otherwise stated)
A1 A1 A1 A2 B1 B1
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 90
Japan
School Leaving Certificate
Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) PLUS 3 Cambridge Board International A-levels at AAA OR an Associate degree or Diploma from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi) with a GPA of 3.3 or B+ or 4 OR a foundation year
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 9 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 9 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Lithuanian university
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D’Etudes Secondaires with Tres Bien
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with AAA
Mexico
Mexico
The Bachillerato with a mark of 8 PLUS the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR at least one year of the Licenciado study with an overall average mark of at least 8/10 OR A-levels with grades of AAA
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 8.0
New Zealand
National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)
the NCEA level 3 with E in the majority of standards/modules in four subjects,
Nigeria
School Leaving Certificate
The Senior School Certificate (SSC/SSCE) OR the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAA
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering with grade 5
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A1 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Pakistani university
Poland
Matura
Matura with 85% in one extended level subject plus 85% in all other extended level subjects.
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 18
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Russian university
Saudi Arabia
School Leaving Certificate
College of Technology Diploma OR Higher Technical Institute Diploma OR Junior Health College Diploma OR Undergraduate Diploma with 85% OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAA
Singapore
Singapore A Level
AAA in three content-based H2 subjects. Knowledge and Inquiry is not considered as part of the offer
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuske/Maturita with 1
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 5
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
The National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with AAAAB
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 9 overall
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
Fullstandigt Slutbeytg with MVG
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 5
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with an overall mark of 4 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Turkish university
United Kingdom
A levels
AAA
Compulsory subjects
No compulsory subjects
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Considered on an individual basis
General Studies and Critical Thinking - College policy
Please note that AS/A level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted by King's as one of your A or AS levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma with 36 Level 3 credits from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining credits at Merit. Supplementary information and achievement e.g marks for certain credits/subjects may be required depending on course content.
Cambridge Pre-U
3 Pre-U Principal Subjects with grades of D3 D3 D3
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
AAAAB in Highers and AA at Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate
35 points and HL 666
European Baccalaureate
85% overall
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 555. No subject preference. Or SAT with a total score of 1900 with at least 600 in each section or the ACT with a score of 28 plus 3 SAT-S with a score of 600 in each
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required
If you are interested in coming to King’s, you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and apply online via the UCAS website (click on 'apply'). If you are applying through a school or college, you will need to obtain a 'buzzword' from the centre you are applying through. Alternatively, you can apply as an individual, independent of a school or college. Please see the UCAS website for instructions. The UCAS institution code name for King’s is KCL, and the institution code is K60.
There are a few programmes which require direct application to King's, this will be stated above
The Department of Philosophy does not normally interview applicants, other than applicants with relevant life experience. Offers are made from November onwards on the basis of actual and predicted grades at A-level, in the International Baccalaureate or other equivalent examinations, and on other information contained in the UCAS form. Everyone to whom an offer is made is invited to an open day in March when they can meet members of the department.