Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our undergraduate courses will be published from September 2025.
This Philosophy BA will give you a deep knowledge of all areas of philosophy, help you develop your own philosophical ideas, and equip you with the skills to develop, analyse and communicate arguments. As one of the best philosophy departments in the world (ranked in the top 5 in the UK QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024), we’re able to offer a syllabus that covers all areas of the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy, from early Greek philosophy to the present day. We also offer some topics you won’t find on many other philosophy degrees, like our teaching on Indian and Islamic philosophy. You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or extend your studies for a year by transferring to Philosophy with a Year Abroad BA and taking philosophy at a partner university.
“King’s has its base in the analytic tradition but is unique in offering an incredibly broad range of modules to suit anyone’s interest, including rarities such as Chinese and Indian Philosophy. ”
This philosophy degree combines theoretical and practical philosophy to equip you with the knowledge and skillset needed to identify, construct and evaluate an argument. You’ll join a department that’s ranked among the top 10 philosophy departments in Europe. We have particular strengths in philosophy of mind, logic and philosophy of science, ethics and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy, ranging from early Greek philosophy through Medieval Philosophy to the present day. As one of the largest and most distinguished philosophy departments in the country, we’re able to offer an extremely wide range of topics for you to choose from. This includes some highly specialised teaching that you won’t find in many other UK universities, such as Indian or Islamic philosophy. The first year of your Philosophy BA is comprised entirely of required modules. You’ll build your understanding of Greek, modern and political philosophy while learning more about epistemology and exploring key questions around the study of knowledge. You will also learn how to use propositional and predicate logic to detect valid and invalid arguments. Other required modules will introduce you to some of the main issues within metaphysics and a range of philosophical concepts, including set theory, philosophy of language, probability theory, decision theory, and more. The introductory ethics module will explore central topics of value theory alongside normative, applied and meta-ethics. Once you reach year two, you’ll get to choose the rest of your modules for the remainder of your philosophy degree. The pool of modules will be split into three lists, and you’ll choose two from each list. The first list includes courses in Greek and modern philosophy, the second offers modules covering ethics and political philosophy, and the third will let you choose between advanced modules on epistemology, metaphysics, intermediate logic, or the philosophy of language, mind or physics. For the remainder of the second year of your Philosophy BA, you’ll get to choose modules from a wider list that includes Indian philosophy, Medieval philosophy, gender and philosophy, Continental philosophy, and more. This course also offers the possibility of studying abroad for the second semester of your second year. You’ll get to study philosophy at a partner institution, with possibilities in Canada, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Germany and beyond. You could even extend your study abroad. If you transfer to Philosophy with a Year Abroad BA, you’ll spend your third year studying at a partner university and return to King’s for your fourth year. The final year of your BA in philosophy will see you choose modules from a broad list of options. You’ll get to follow your passion and select the topics that interest you most, whether that’s learning about Islamic philosophy, aesthetics, gender and philosophy, the theory of incompleteness and paradox, advanced logic, or further study on Indian or Continental philosophy. The varied module options mean you could focus on the history of philosophy or explore the philosophy of mathematics or science. You might prefer to specialise in the philosophy of mind, with modules on metaphysics and the philosophy of psychology, or delve deeper into the world of ethics and pick up modules on applied ethics and politics or topics in ethics. You may also choose whether you complete your Philosophy BA with a dissertation. It’s optional, so if you don’t choose to do a dissertation, you’ll get to pick two further modules instead. During your studies, there will be a number of extracurricular opportunities that you could take advantage of. For example, you can benefit from our links with leading societies in London, such as the Aristotelian Society and the Royal Institute of Philosophy. The student Philosophy Society is also very active, offering a calendar of events throughout the year.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
Students will be supported through innovative digital education tools to discover meaningful work experience for themselves, including internships, insight programmes, which you can undertake alongside your studies.
King's College London and Affiliates
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
ABB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels.
Notes: The total point score of 36 includes TOK/EE.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
We are able to consider applications for transfer into Year 2 of this programme. Please see our Transferring to King’s website for more information.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King's student.
In our undergraduate teaching, we aim to combine a wide range of study options with direct staff to student contact. Our emphasis on small-group teaching in tutorials and seminars makes King’s an excellent place to express your ideas both in writing and in philosophical discussion with your fellow students and instructors.
|
Year |
Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities |
Percentage of time in guided independent study |
Percentage of time on placements |
|
1 |
20% |
80% |
- |
|
2 |
13% |
87% |
- |
|
3 |
10% |
90% |
- |
Typically, one credit equates to ten hours of work
Your performance will typically be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include exams and coursework essays. Coursework may contribute approximately 60% and examinations approximately 40% to your final mark, but the balance between the two will depend on your module choices.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits. We review our optional modules on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting courses and this list is therefore subject to change. There are a limited number of spaces available on each optional module. You will have the opportunity to discuss your choices with your personal tutor. Please check here for updates or contact the Department for further advice. You are required to take the following modules, each worth 15 credits:
There are no optional modules in Year 1
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Philosophy BA graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Some recent graduates have worked in the following roles:
Some students pursue further study following their BA in Philosophy.
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £27,100 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: · books if you choose to buy your own copies · clothing for optional course related events and competitions · library fees and fines · personal photocopies · printing course handouts · society membership fees · stationery · graduation costs · travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
This philosophy degree combines theoretical and practical philosophy to equip you with the knowledge and skillset needed to identify, construct and evaluate an argument. You’ll join a department that’s ranked among the top 10 philosophy departments in Europe. We have particular strengths in philosophy of mind, logic and philosophy of science, ethics and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy, ranging from early Greek philosophy through Medieval Philosophy to the present day. As one of the largest and most distinguished philosophy departments in the country, we’re able to offer an extremely wide range of topics for you to choose from. This includes some highly specialised teaching that you won’t find in many other UK universities, such as Indian or Islamic philosophy. The first year of your Philosophy BA is comprised entirely of required modules. You’ll build your understanding of Greek, modern and political philosophy while learning more about epistemology and exploring key questions around the study of knowledge. You will also learn how to use propositional and predicate logic to detect valid and invalid arguments. Other required modules will introduce you to some of the main issues within metaphysics and a range of philosophical concepts, including set theory, philosophy of language, probability theory, decision theory, and more. The introductory ethics module will explore central topics of value theory alongside normative, applied and meta-ethics. Once you reach year two, you’ll get to choose the rest of your modules for the remainder of your philosophy degree. The pool of modules will be split into three lists, and you’ll choose two from each list. The first list includes courses in Greek and modern philosophy, the second offers modules covering ethics and political philosophy, and the third will let you choose between advanced modules on epistemology, metaphysics, intermediate logic, or the philosophy of language, mind or physics. For the remainder of the second year of your Philosophy BA, you’ll get to choose modules from a wider list that includes Indian philosophy, Medieval philosophy, gender and philosophy, Continental philosophy, and more. This course also offers the possibility of studying abroad for the second semester of your second year. You’ll get to study philosophy at a partner institution, with possibilities in Canada, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Germany and beyond. You could even extend your study abroad. If you transfer to Philosophy with a Year Abroad BA, you’ll spend your third year studying at a partner university and return to King’s for your fourth year. The final year of your BA in philosophy will see you choose modules from a broad list of options. You’ll get to follow your passion and select the topics that interest you most, whether that’s learning about Islamic philosophy, aesthetics, gender and philosophy, the theory of incompleteness and paradox, advanced logic, or further study on Indian or Continental philosophy. The varied module options mean you could focus on the history of philosophy or explore the philosophy of mathematics or science. You might prefer to specialise in the philosophy of mind, with modules on metaphysics and the philosophy of psychology, or delve deeper into the world of ethics and pick up modules on applied ethics and politics or topics in ethics. You may also choose whether you complete your Philosophy BA with a dissertation. It’s optional, so if you don’t choose to do a dissertation, you’ll get to pick two further modules instead. During your studies, there will be a number of extracurricular opportunities that you could take advantage of. For example, you can benefit from our links with leading societies in London, such as the Aristotelian Society and the Royal Institute of Philosophy. The student Philosophy Society is also very active, offering a calendar of events throughout the year.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
Students will be supported through innovative digital education tools to discover meaningful work experience for themselves, including internships, insight programmes, which you can undertake alongside your studies.
King's College London and Affiliates
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
ABB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels.
Notes: The total point score of 36 includes TOK/EE.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
We are able to consider applications for transfer into Year 2 of this programme. Please see our Transferring to King’s website for more information.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King's student.
In our undergraduate teaching, we aim to combine a wide range of study options with direct staff to student contact. Our emphasis on small-group teaching in tutorials and seminars makes King’s an excellent place to express your ideas both in writing and in philosophical discussion with your fellow students and instructors.
|
Year |
Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities |
Percentage of time in guided independent study |
Percentage of time on placements |
|
1 |
20% |
80% |
- |
|
2 |
13% |
87% |
- |
|
3 |
10% |
90% |
- |
Typically, one credit equates to ten hours of work
Your performance will typically be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include exams and coursework essays. Coursework may contribute approximately 60% and examinations approximately 40% to your final mark, but the balance between the two will depend on your module choices.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits. We review our optional modules on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting courses and this list is therefore subject to change. There are a limited number of spaces available on each optional module. You will have the opportunity to discuss your choices with your personal tutor. Please check here for updates or contact the Department for further advice. You are required to take the following modules, each worth 15 credits:
There are no optional modules in Year 1
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Philosophy BA graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Some recent graduates have worked in the following roles:
Some students pursue further study following their BA in Philosophy.
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £27,100 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: · books if you choose to buy your own copies · clothing for optional course related events and competitions · library fees and fines · personal photocopies · printing course handouts · society membership fees · stationery · graduation costs · travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Chat with current students and King's staff to find out about the courses we offer, life at King's and ask any questions you may have.
Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses.
Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Information about living in London, including events, budgeting and expenses, travel and safety.
During your time at King's College London, a range of academic and personal support and guidance is available to you.
