The rationale for this joint honours degree programme based in the central London is that key elements of the War Studies curriculum can be augmented and reinforced by studying philosophy as war touches every aspect of human existence.
KEY BENEFITS
War Studies:
• The leading department in the UK and one of very few in the world devoted exclusively to the multidisciplinary study of war as a phenomenon, providing a forum in which students can study all aspects of the impact of war on society.
• Students are taught by leading experts who bring with them not only a wealth of knowledge and ideas but an extensive and continually growing network of links with influential external organisations.
• The department hosts a number of lectures throughout the year featuring high-profile guest speakers.
• Central location gives easy access to major libraries and links to the seat of government, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
• Graduates pursue careers in a range of fields including government, academia, journalism, banking, policy development, and humanitarian organisations.
Philosophy:
• One of the largest and most distinguished philosophy departments in the country.
• Ranked in the top six nationally for world-leading and internationally excellent research (Research Assessment Exercise 2008).
• King's offers an exceptionally wide range of optional courses, covering all areas of the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy.
• Emphasis on small-group teaching ensures students acquire and hone the skills of critical thinking.
• Students are able to draw on the resources of other University of London philosophy departments.
UCAS code
LV95
Programme type
Joint honours
Duration
Three years
Location
Strand Campus
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Social Science and Public Policy
Department of Philosophy
Department of War Studies
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 War Studies
King's College London
Strand Campus
Strand
London WC2R 2LS
Email
Tel
020 7848 1403
Fax
020 7848 7200
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The underlying rationale for each joint honours programme is that the key elements of the War Studies curriculum (and the modules which reflect them) can be augmented and reinforced by the study of other subject areas and disciplines, given the way in which war touches every aspect of human existence.
A joint honours degree is comprised of a total 360 credits studied over three years. Usually students complete half of their modules in the Department of War Studies and half in the partner department. Joint honours students must choose their modules for each year with the guidance of their personal tutor, taking into account timetabling factors for each department (eg avoiding clashes in timetables) and the requirements of each programme.
In War Studies, it is compulsory to take the modules in 'The Art of War Studies' and 'Contemporary Security Issues' in year one. Although there are no compulsory modules in Year 2, all joint honours students are required to ensure that at least one of their two optional module choices for the year is either Intelligence in War Studies or War in International Order or World War II in Europe. The final year dissertation is compulsory, but may be written with either department.
The War Studies elements provide students with a sophisticated understanding of war, both as a subject worthy of study and as an intellectual preparation for the widest possible range of career choices. These skills include the ability to handle a wide range of evidence, analyse complex issues and present conclusions in a clear and effective manner.
Our Department of Philosophy has particular strengths in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and ancient 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.
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.
ABOUT THE Department of War Studies
CAREERS
War studies students come from a variety of countries and backgrounds and go on to work in a range of fields including government (most commonly in Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs in the UK and abroad), academia, journalism, banking (often in emerging markets or risk analysis), research and policy think-tanks, humanitarian organisations and international organisations. Recent graduates have found employment as: • Account Executive, IT re-seller • Accounts Assistance, IJS Global • Army Officer, British Army • Consultant, Ernst & Young • Creative Writer, Groupon • Defence Analyst, Vision Gain • Parliamentary Assistant, House of Commons • Special Constable, Metropolitan Police • Trainee Accountant, a legal practice
For more information about career prospects and employability please see:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/employability.aspxTEACHING STYLE
Most of the department's academic staff play a full part in teaching at BA, MA and research level to ensure the maximum cross-fertilisation between teaching and research. A range of teaching methods are used including lectures, seminars and tutorials. The programmes in the Department of War studies are designed to enhance your analytical, conceptual, research and critical thinking skills which will increase your employability and aid professional career development.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
The department offers single and joint honours programmes. The assessment method is a combination of essays, examinations, oral presentations and a dissertation.
LOCATION
The prime, central position beside the River Thames brings outstanding advantages, and as a student you will enjoy the excellent social and cultural opportunities of the capital. The department is close to the seat of government, the City, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
We review our options on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes and this list is therefore subject to change. Please check here for updates, or contact the School/department for further advice. Currently, students study the following core modules and choose from a list of options.
Please note that not all option modules are available each year. All War Studies modules are worth 30 credits unless otherwise indicated.
YEAR 1
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department and modules worth 60 credits from the Department of Philosophy. In Philosophy, students have a choice from modules in history of philosophy, ethics and politics, and fundamental areas of contemporary analytic philosophy.
YEAR 1 CORE
War Studies:
Contemporary Security Issues (15 credits)
The Art of War Studies (15 credits)
Philosophy:
Combined honours students choose from among our level 4 modules, which are:
- Greek Philosophy
- Ethics
- Elementary Logic
- Metaphysics
- Modern Philosophy
- Political Philosophy
- Epistemology
- Methodology
In the first year combined honours students must take at least one module in history of philosophy, at least one module in either ethics or political philosophy, and at least one module from among Elementary Logic, Metaphysics I, Epistemology I, and Methodology.
YEAR 1 OPTIONS
War Studies:
The Causes of War
The Conduct of War
The Experience of War
YEAR 2
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department, and modules worth 60 credits from the Department of Philosophy.
YEAR 2 CORE
Although there are no core War Studies modules, students should ensure that they meet the requirement below (see Year 2 options).
YEAR 2 OPTIONS
War Studies:
All joint honours students choose two modules from the seven options (2014-15) in War Studies; at least one of which should be either Intelligence in War Studies or War in International Order or World War II in Europe.
The options in War Studies are:
- War & Global Conflict in the Contemporary World
- Military Strategy
- Intelligence in War Studies
- War & Society
- War in International Order
- Aspects of Naval History
- World War II in Europe
Philosophy:
Students take four modules from the following lists, with the requirement to choose from at least two of the three lists:
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 / Theories of Freedom
Political Philosophy II: History of Political Philosophy
List C
Epistemology II
Metaphysics II
Philosophy of Logic and Language
Philosophy of Mind
In the second year combined honours students may also take one 15 credit module from among level 6 optional subjects.
YEAR 3
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department, and modules worth 60 credits from the Department of Philosophy.
YEAR 3 CORE
Dissertation (in either the Department of War Studies or the Philosophy Department).
YEAR 3 OPTIONS
War Studies Options (2012-13):
- Guerrillas in the Mist: Insurgency & Counter Insurgency in the Modern World
- Philosophies of War
- Manpower, Technology, Ideology: the Emergence of Modern War, 1914-1921
- The United States & the Second World War
- Security Issues in the Middle East
- Philosophies of War
- Fighting in the Air
- Warfare in the Ancient World
- War & International Relations
- Causes, Contingency & Wars
Philosophy:
- 19th Century German Philosophy
- Dissertation
- Foundations of Analytic Philosophy
- Greek Philosophical Texts
- Hellenistic Philosophy
- Indian Philosophy
- Kant
- Medieval Philosophy
- Neoplatonism
- Philosophy of Mathematics
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Science
- Topics in Ethics
- Topics in Greek Philosophy
- Topics in Logic
- Topics in Modern Philosophy
- Topics in Philosophy of Language
- Topics in Philosophy of Mind
- Topics in Political Philosophy
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 may interview shortlisted candidates for the BA programme and is looking for genuinely interested individuals. A good A-level performance is expected but no specific A-level subjects are normally required except for joint honours programmes. The department welcomes applicants with relevant life experience.
Applicants with relevant life experience may need to take an Access course to prepare them for their degree. Those applicants not already taking an Access course are strongly advised to consult the Admissions Tutor about their application.
Applicants planning a gap year should either apply for a deferred place in the preceding year or ensure that they are available for interview during February and March (the normal interview period for war studies) during their gap year.