During your degree programme, you will learn about cutting-edge debates in core areas of philosophy, such as ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge and political philosophy, as well as studying some key thinkers in the history of philosophy, such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Marx, Simone de Beauvoir, and Charles W. Mills. You will also develop your skills in reasoning and argumentation by studying formal logic and critical thinking.

Philosophy is ranked in the top 200 in the world by subject (QS World Rankings 2024).

Course highlights

Global Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to spend part of the course studying in other European universities, through our Erasmus programme, and also in the USA.

Industry Links

The School has an active Employers’ Forum that is used to forge links with national and international employers. Queen‘s philosophy graduates have an unlimited range of occupations in the public and private sectors, including the Civil Service, local government, the media, policy analysis, the voluntary sector, teaching, journalism, business, marketing and advertising. Career destinations of our students have included the BBC, the Diplomatic Service, the NHS, International House, RPS Belfast and the Belfast Education and Library Board.

Career Development

Queen's is ranked 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2025).

World Class Facilities

Queen’s is one of the top 10 most beautiful universities in the UK (Times Higher Education, 2023).

Internationally Renowned Experts

Queen’s philosophy department has particular strengths in analytic and post-Kantian European philosophy. Our faculty work on cutting edge issues in applied ethics, social and political philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, and the history of 19th and 20th century philosophy.

The Complete University Guide 2023 ranked Philosophy at Queen's 20th in the UK by subject.

Student Experience

There is an active student-run Philosophy Society, and the department organises research seminars given by distinguished visiting philosophers from all over the world, and a Researchorium in which postgraduate students present their work. We also organise a Philosophy and Practice workshop each semester, bringing together Queen's philosophers and experts in diverse areas of philosophy.

17% of the Queen’s student population are international students (Queen’s Planning Office, 2024).

Queen’s is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).

Philosophy at Queen’s is a small unit, providing individualised teaching. Students receive personal attention from dedicated staff across all taught modules.

Further Study Opportunities

For those wishing to pursue further study after their first degree, the School provides a range of MA programmes, see the School website for further information.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/happ

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Course Content

The degree programme does not presuppose any prior training in Philosophy and can profitably be taken by those who have studied the subject at school – as well as those who have not.

Stage 1

Students will take the following four modules:

• Perspectives on Politics
• Philosophy and Human Nature
• Introductory Logic
• Philosophy and the Good Life

Students will also choose two additional Level 1 modules from across the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Stage 2

Students choose six modules that explore the wide range of major debates and inquiry in Philosophy, exploring questions that range from how to understand the mind, to how ‘reality’ might be understood, to key political theories about how we live as a society.

Stage 3

In the final year, students focus on particular areas of specialisation that build on their studies in years 1 and 2. Students will write a dissertation (double-weighted) and choose four modules.

• People Teaching You
  Dr Rebecca Bamford

  Programme Convenor

  HAPP
  Email: r.bamford@qub.ac.uk School Office: +44(0)28 9097 5028

• Contact Teaching Hours

  Large Group Teaching

  6 (hours maximum)
  In a typical week you may have up to 6 hours of lectures, depending on the level of study.

  Medium Group Teaching

  9 (hours maximum)
  In a typical week, you may have up to 9 hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars, depending on the level of study.

  Personal Study

  10 (hours maximum)
  Typically 10 hours per module (30 hours per week), revising in your own time

  Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

  6 (hours maximum)
  In a typical week, you will have 3-6 hours of tutorials (or later, project supervision).

• Learning and Teaching

  Introduction

  E-Learning technologies

  Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities and opportunities to contribute.

  Lectures

  These introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

  Self-directed study

  This is an important part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

  Seminars/tutorials

  Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These provide significant opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

• Assessment

  Assessment procedures are outlined below:

  • The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.
    
    Level 3 students can take a dissertation module (it is double weighted) which reduces their contact hours, however they are expected to have regular one-to-one meetings with supervisors, and to conduct more personal study.

A level requirements

ABB

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to grade A at A-Level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Irish leaving certificate requirements

H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3

Access/Foundation Course

Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

33 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level.

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma

QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades of D*DD

RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 GLH at Level 3) with overall grades of D*DD

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

There are no specific Level 3 subject requirements to study Philosophy.

• How we choose our students

  Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
  
  Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
  
  For entry last year, applicants for this degree offering A-Level/ BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). The Selector will check that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.
  
  Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.
  
  Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.
  
  For applicants offering Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Irish Junior Certificate is taken into account. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 IJC grades C/ Merit. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied.
  
  For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits.
  For those offering a Higher National Diploma, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits in all units assessed in the final year. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only. Some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile.
  
  The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
  
  A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.
  
  Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.
  
  If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
  
  If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

• International Students

  Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

  Please Select Your Country/Region Please Select Your Country/Region

  International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

  For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

  If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

  • Foundation
    The progression course suited to this programme is
    https://qubisc.com/en/courses/international-foundation-in-business-humanities-and-social-sciences.