Careers

Claire White sitting in woodland, with a gong

I think employers need people who can solve complex and multi-layered problems, which philosophy students learn to do very well!

Claire White, Sound therapist and clinical administrator

Study Philosophy at ARU and develop skills for your chosen career.

Problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, judgement, analysis and communication skills are highly valued by employers, with the World Economic Forum ranking complex problem solving and critical thinking among the top ten skills needed to succeed in today’s job market. You’ll also learn to work well independently and as part of a team.

You can also boost your employability by learning a language, studying abroad for a semester, and taking part in work placements and live briefs for our partner organisations.

What can you do with a Philosophy degree?

Where have Philosophy students found work experience?

Where have other Philosophy graduates worked?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

In Year 1 you’ll explore some of philosophy’s biggest issues including the existence of God and the nature of knowledge and ethical deliberation, discover classical thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle, and establish what your own ideal society would look like.

In Year 2 you’ll tackle issues like consciousness, reality, and free will, while optional modules will allow you to explore your own interests.

Finally, you’ll complete a major research project on a topic of your choice, learn about Scepticism from ancient Greece to the present day and continue to specialise in your own interests.

What will I study?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1

Happiness and the Good Life
Introduction to Philosophy: The Big Questions
Ideas and Ideologies
The World Religions
Into ARU

Year 2

Ethics in Theory
Kant and the Empiricists
Mind and Consciousness
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Philosophy of Art and Image *
Philosophical Texts: From Descartes to Kant *
Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Professional Placement *

Year 3

Knowledge and Doubt: From Antiquity to the Digital Age
Philosophy Research Project
Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War *
Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
Issues in Modern Philosophy *
Concepts of Good and Evil *
Communication, Flesh, Philosophy *
Research Communication *
Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *

Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1

Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education

Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3

Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences

Module details

What happens on a foundation year?

What happens on a placement year?

How is Philosophy assessed?

Who teaches Philosophy at ARU?

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Dr Michael Wilby
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Dr Tristan Moyle
Senior Lecturer
Dr Alison Ainley
Associate Professor

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

Main

5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3.

If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements.

Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.

If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 5.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

See entry requirements for the BA or BSc (Hons)

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

International students

English language requirements

Contextual offers

Fees and funding

UK students

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£1,400 Placement year (2024-25)

International students

£16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

Placement year fee

Living costs

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UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

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UK students, call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

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Important additional notes

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01245 686868

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Philosophy

BA (Hons)

With foundation year

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Careers

Teaching and modules

BA (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

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BA (Hons)

Important additional notes

With foundation year

Important additional notes

With placement

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

BA (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

BA (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

Apply for Philosophy

Clearing places available

Apply by phone

01245 686868

UK students

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