What our students say
We are proud of our Department, but think it best to let our students tell you about it:
Beth
BA, MA in Philosophy
I chose to study for a BA in Philosophy at York as the course taught on a wide range of topics and I was unsure where my philosophical interest lay.
The three-year undergraduate course was a great experience and I enjoyed every second thoroughly. The staff were always incredibly welcoming and encouraged all their students to attend their office hour sessions for an informal chat and would always make time to see me if I ever had any questions or problems with my work.
The Philosophy Department also offers a great social community for its students. The Philosophy Society is a fantastic way to meet other students who have a keen interest in discussing philosophical problems in a more laid-back environment.
Following my undergraduate course, York, for me, was the obvious choice for postgraduate study. The MA course York offers is the perfect bridge between an undergraduate course and postgraduate research. It offers a nice balance of taught modules and independent research modules. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to present at and organise their own conference, offering invaluable practical experience in both public speaking and working as part of a team. Students are also required to attend weekly talks from guest lecturers, providing a useful way to meet and talk to lecturers from other institutions. There are many opportunities within the wider postgraduate humanities community to attend talks, reading groups, and workshops, spanning a diverse range of topics. This offers the opportunity for students to expand their knowledge base further than that just offered by their programme. The variety of modules offered means the course has provided me with a variety of transferable skills to prepare me for either an academic or a professional environment.
Carlos
PhD in Philosophy
I would definitely recommend the University of York as a good choice to carry out postgraduate studies. I benefited enormously from the great facilities the university harbours, such as the Berrick Saul Building, the JB Morrell Library, and therein specially the Borthwick Institute for Archives, which proved to be decisive in the attainment of my research goals.
But there is an even greater asset of the university that should lure you to its campus: its people. Not only were they truly welcoming and helpful during my time there, but you knew that they genuinely cared for you and the goals you were striving for. I benefited greatly as well from the best possible thesis supervisor anyone could have and was lucky enough to have made friendships that I know will be long-lasting. Moreover, there is also the fact that the university is located in one of the oldest and most culturally vibrant cities in the North of England.
I am currently teaching ancient philosophy and history in Mexico at the Universidad Panamericana but I look forward to the time when I can pay a visit to York and catch up with the friends I made while I was a postgraduate student there.
Grace
PhD in Philosophy
My PhD research project looked at the way that literature can be used as a means of communicating philosophical understanding, specifically focussing on the work of Albert Camus. I looked at issues surrounding narrative, empathy, and morality, and although the work itself was pretty specialist, it has informed so much of what I do since leaving academia.
I’m now working in manual therapy (as a remedial massage therapist and yoga teacher), and on my way to becoming an osteopath. While this seems like a totally different career path than academic philosophy, a huge amount of my work is based around the idea of person-centred care, and engaging with patients’ stories to get a better understanding of the whole person is fundamental to the osteopathic approach.
As well as giving me the tools to pursue my current career, my time at York was hugely valuable in a host of other ways – the philosophy department is a stimulating and encouraging place to be, full of some of the greatest philosophical minds in the world.
While studying philosophy at York, I received excellent support and mentorship from academic and administrative staff alike, wrote numerous publications (including a book published with Palgrave Macmillan) and travelled all over the world presenting my work at conferences. I made friends for life there too. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Alan
Graduate Diploma in Philosophy
I'm a mature student returning to learning via the Graduate Diploma.
It's a pleasure to study at York. The campus setting is lovely and the facilities are excellent. It's easy to get here from home by public transport and the fine ancient city of York is a short bus ride away.
After a first term alongside first-year undergraduates I picked the modules I fancied, and at part-time pace I was able to sit in on several other well-taught modules to round out my philosophical education.
The staff in the department have been very welcoming to someone who has been away from formal education for a while. Many of them are leaders in their particular fields, and discussion is open and rewarding. And there's an active programme of optional reading groups and socialising together with many postgrad students immersed in subjects from Berkeley to Modern Film, so the atmosphere has been buzzing.
Tae
PhD in Philosophy
I'm an assistant professor of the Department of Ethics Education at Jeju National University in Korea, having completed my PhD in Philosophy at
York in 2016. My current work is connected to the debate about sex robots, much discussed in Korea at the moment.
I chose York because the department is a very good place for doing research into perceptual representation. I strongly recommend studying philosophy at York, where I learned a great deal about different philosophical perspectives. All the staff were unfailingly helpful; support staff were always quick to respond to queries and the academic staff were passionate about their own areas of research. A high point was the weekly postgraduate work-in-progress seminar where postgraduate students and academic staff got together for philosophical debate and discussion.
My time spent in York could be summed up in three words: shining, shimmering and splendid. I recommend York to anyone considering further study in philosophy. Also, York has an ideal environment for someone with family. I look forward to a time when I will visit the Department again.
Daniel
MA in Philosophy
I particularly liked the broad course content offered by the Philosophy Department at York, as well as the combination and balance of taught and research elements.
The teaching staff are brilliant. Their combination of academic rigour and approachability is winning. They are always happy to provide feedback and discuss lines of thought.
I'd absolutely recommend York to students thinking of applying to study Philosophy here. I’ve found it to be a great place to live and study. The education in Philosophy that I have received at York has been stimulating, challenging and rewarding. It has prepared me for Postgraduate study (MA, followed by a PhD).