How to apply

The Department welcomes applications from candidates who wish to pursue postgraduate study in philosophy at York. Candidates may apply for full-time or part-time study on all courses.

Admissions to postgraduate courses at the University of York are handled centrally by the Postgraduate Admissions. Their website offers guidance on the applications process. Admission is primarily dependent upon academic and financial conditions.

In all cases, candidates are asked to enclose at least one writing sample (3,000 words) with their application. These may be essays which you have written recently for your present course, material you have prepared for some other purpose, or something you have written specially for your application to York. The examples you supply should be on topics which are relevant to the subject of your proposed course of study.

Academic requirements

MA Courses

Applicants for the MA in Philosophy will normally be expected to have obtained upper second-class honours, or equivalent, in an undergraduate degree that includes some philosophy. The MA in Practical Ethics is open to those with a good first degree, which need not be in Philosophy. Applications from those in cognate subjects are particularly encouraged.

MPhil/PhD

Normally, applicants should have, or be expected to obtain, an MA in Philosophy or an equivalent qualification.

All candidates are initially registered for the MPhil degree. Re-registration for a PhD is dependent upon the submission of a satisfactory proposal that meets the standards required for the higher degree.

When making their application, candidates are advised to make their research proposals as specific and clear as possible. Where possible, they should indicate the member(s) of staff that they would wish to work with. Preliminary enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Dr Stephen Holland, Postgraduate Admissions Tutor.

Diploma in Philosophy

Applicants will normally be expected to have second class honours, or equivalent, in a first degree which need not necessarily include philosophy.

Financial requirements

All students are expected to make adequate financial arrangements to cover both tuition and maintenance for the duration of their courses. There are many sources of financial assistance available to students at the University of York. Details of these awards can be found on the Department's Postgraduate Funding page and the Postgraduate Admissions page on Fees and Funding.

English language requirements

For those whose first language is not English, there are English language requirements:

  • IELTS Academic Test: 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 7.0 in Writing, 6.5 in Reading, 6.0 in Listening and 6.0 in Speaking
  • TOEFL: paper-based: 620; iBT: 105
  • Cambridge Proficiency in English: A, B

Pre-sessional courses in English Language skills, to be taken before the commencement of the degree courses, may be recommended or required. Further information can be obtained from the Centre for English Language Teaching's web pages.

Application deadlines

As far as the Department is concerned, there is no formal deadline for the receipt of applications, but most of the British sources of funds to finance postgraduate studies have strict deadlines for the receipt of applications which require candidates to have put in an application to York by the end of February. Overseas applicants for research degrees who wish to apply for an Overseas Research Students Award should note the January deadline.

Further information

In addition to the information on these Web pages, further information may be obtained by writing for the Department's postgraduate prospectus to:

  • Graduate Admissions
    Department of Philosophy
    University of York
    Heslington
    York
    Y010 5DD
  • Email: philosophy-postgrad@york.ac.uk
  • Tel: +44 (0)1904 323251
  • Fax: +44 (0)1904 324023