Philosophy MA

This degree gives you access to the very wide range of philosophical topics and expertise available in the Department. It's great preparation for Philosophy research, as well as an attractive postgraduate course.

You'd attend a main seminar every week and study six philosophical areas, drawn from the research interests of staff. There'll be a further three elective modules to study, involving regular graduate seminars and a lecture course, plus research and dissertation training.

Assessment for this programme is mostly by semester essay.

This 12-month programme consists of a number of one-semester taught modules, the two main seminar modules (Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy and Metaphysics, Language and Mind) and a two-semester research skills module (which includes such transferable skills as logic/reasoning and presentation of papers), and a supervised dissertation over the summer. Students take two elective modules in the first semester and one in the second semester, or vice versa.

Key Facts

Excellent career prospects
Most of our graduates find employment with museums and galleries in the UK or abroad, or pursue PhD studies, which are often collaborative projects with our cultural partners.

Small group teaching
This gives you the opportunity to develop team-working and interpersonal skills.

Networking opportunities
The range of events and activities organised by us at Liverpool’s galleries and museums offer you valuable networking opportunities.

Why Philosophy?

Be part of a city with a reputation for philosophical thought

With its impressive wealth of museum and galleries and its vibrant cultural scene, Liverpool is an ideal place to pursue a degree in the theory and practice of Art.

Experience the full breadth of our academics’ expertise

We are internationally renowned for our research in Philosophy of Art, Philosophy of Language, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Continental Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy and History of Philosophy, as well as for collaborative and interdisciplinary research in creativity and technology.

We have a tradition of active engagement with the wider life of our city

The Department is home to a range of successful Knowledge Exchange and public engagement projects with cultural partners across Europe, placing it at the forefront of art-related research and its impact to the community.

Career prospects

Our programmes aim to equip students with the general and widely applicable analytical, argumentative and problem solving skills and abilities valued by employers. Some of our postgraduate students have gone on to a career in academic Philosophy, but a variety of careers are open to those obtaining postgraduate Philosophy degrees, including business, management, the law, the media, the arts, computing, the Civil Service and teaching.

Visit the Philosophy MA page on the University of Liverpool website for more details!