Explore contemporary issues in Philosophy
Year of entry: 2020/21
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Find out moreOn our MA in Philosophy you'll engage with key issues at the centre of contemporary debates, and you'll gain up-to-date knowledge of philosophy across a broad range of topics.
The flexible programme gives you the opportunity to choose option modules, and provides training in critical thinking and analysis. You'll be able to create a substantial piece of research following your own interests.
You'll develop valuable transferable skills in research and presentation which will be essential if you are thinking of continuing to study to PhD level. The skills that you develop on the course will also equip you for a range of careers.
The Department is part of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, ranked 40th in the 2020 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
On the MA in Philosophy you'll study issues at the centre of contemporary debates. Teaching will be research-led, drawing on our strong and diverse research community.
We have strong research interests in history of philosophy, philosophy of mind, ethics, aesthetics, and several other fields, allowing you to cover a broad range of philosophical issues.
You'll study seven modules over the course of the year. You'll learn about dissertation preparation across three terms, and will work on postgraduate research skills across two terms. During your third term you and your peers will hold an in-house conference.
Course structure for part-time study
Year 1: Topics in Practical Philosophy, Postgraduate Research Skills, Topics in Theoretical Philosophy and the Project Essay module.
Year 2: Choose an option module, study Dissertation Preparation and Dissemination Practice, as well as complete your dissertation.
You'll study five core modules, and two 20-credit option modules. Option modules will vary from year to year according to staff availability.
These are 20-credit modules
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Your 10,000 word dissertation enables you to produce a sustained piece of critical writing on a topic of your choosing, and it is worth 60 credits. It will allow you to apply the core knowledge, skills and experience that you have gained in the previous stage of the course.
You'll attend dissertation preparation seminars in Term 1 to enable you to write your proposal, with further support in Terms 2 and 3. You'll be supervised by a member of staff with expertise in the relevant area.
Recent dissertation topics have included the perception of the present, personal identity, the puzzle of imaginative resistance, the preservation of endangered species, freedom of expression, ethics and the environment and the unreality of time.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
I particularly liked the broad course content offered by the Department of Philosophy 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.Daniel, MA in PhilosophyFind out more about the course from our students.
| Study mode | UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £8,040 | £18,240 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£4,020 | £9,120 |
Students on a Tier 4 Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. Fees for subsequent years are subject to increase (no more than 2% each year).
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK/EU or international student.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
For further information on all eligibility criteria and how to apply for our scholarships see our funding opportunities for Philosophy.
Eligibility: Home, EU or international students pursuing research in the field of philosophy of religion, or research on contemporary issues or themes using a philosophy of religion perspective. You must be holding an offer of a place by midnight (UK time) on 30 June 2020.
Scholarship award: £8,040 in the form of a fee waiver for Home/EU students or a reduction in fees to the value of £8,040 for international students.
Eligibility: Home (UK) students. You must be holding an offer of a place by midnight (UK time) on 30 June 2020.
Scholarship award: a contribution of £5,000 towards living costs.
Eligibility: Home, EU or international students. You will be considered automatically provided that your course application has been received by midnight (UK time) on 28 February 2020. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit.
Scholarship award: a fee-waiver at the UK/EU rate.
A prize of £500 awarded to the MA Philosophy student who achieves the highest essay mark (>72) in the January MA assessment period.
A prize of £300 awarded to the MA Philosophy student who achieves the highest essay mark (>72) in either the option module Philosophy of Christianity, or the MA Project, provided that its topic is in the field of philosophy of religion, or research on contemporary issues or themes using a philosophy of religion perspective.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to courses
We're making changes to comply with rules on social distancing. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as we can, supported by high quality online alternatives where we must.
Find details of the measures we're planning to protect our community.
You'll be taught by intensive seminars and individual or small-group tutorials, which will allow you and your tutors to systematically explore complex issues at the forefront of Philosophy.
You'll be part of a lively research community at the Humanities Research Centre which includes staff, postgraduate students, postdoctoral scholars and academic visitors from across the arts and humanities.
You will be based in the Department of Philosophy on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be nearby on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Your work will be assessed in a variety of ways:
You will also receive assignments throughout your course which will provide constant feedback on your development, and help prepare you for your assessments.
Studying Philosophy develops skills that are highly sought after by employers and transferable to many different careers. Our graduates have gone on to roles in marketing, education, finance, IT, the charity sector, tourism and leisure industries, as well as into academia.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent in a degree that includes some philosophy. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0, minimum 7.0 in Writing and 6.5 in all other components |
| PTE Academic | 67, minimum of 67 in Writing and 61 in all other components |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 185, minimum 185 in Writing and 176 in all other components |
| TOEFL | 96, minimum 24 in Writing and 23 in all other components |
| Trinity ISE III | Distinction in all components |
| Duolingo | Minimum overall score of 125 |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current IELTS scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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