Department of Theology & Religion | BA Philosophy and Theology (with Year Abroad)

BA Philosophy & Theology (with Year Abroad) at Durham University

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Gain an understanding of what it is to be human by exploring the big questions concerning human life, religion and the Universe.

Studying Philosophy & Theology allows you to confront and study the big questions concerning human life – questions such as ‘What does a flourishing human life look like?’ and ‘What do people believe about the world and their place in it?’  With numerous areas of overlap, these complementary disciplines are particularly suitable to study alongside each other.

The Philosophy element of your degree will equip you with the skills needed to think carefully and deeply about what matters in a good life and how individual happiness is related to Friendships, Relationships, Family, Society, the Political System and Culture. At Durham, you will also follow one of the widest-ranging philosophy degrees in the country equipping you with expertise in Anglo-American Analytical Philosophy and Continental Philosophy.

Within the Theology modules, you will study how human beings have always had, and always will have worldviews and fundamental beliefs about the Universe and their role in it. This part of the human condition will be studied from a range of methodological and disciplinary perspectives. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

Philosophy is a new subject for many students, so in your first year you will follow a range of introductory courses, introducing the fundamental philosophical subject areas. You will also take a number of comparable introductory modules in Theology.

In your second year, you will further increase your knowledge by taking two core modules in Philosophy and Theology. You will also have a wide selection of optional modules to choose from for both subjects.

The third year includes a dissertation that allows a deep, independently driven, exploration of a topic of your choice.

Our degrees are designed to give you a strong and broad foundation of subject-specific knowledge as well as transferable skills and personal qualities developed during your studies: thinking clearly, writing well, presenting arguments, analysing texts, assessing evidence, solving problems, pursuing and organising research. These skills are highly valued across many sectors.

Our graduates readily find employment in fields such as education, social work, politics, journalism, business management, banking, the clergy, the performing arts and the charity sector. A significant number also progress onto higher-level study, such as postgraduate study in Theology & Religion or professional qualifications in Law and Education.

Philosophical training will equip you with a range of theoretical and transferable skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, project management, presenting and researching, that will be of value to employers across a range of industries.

Our graduates work in a vast range of employment sectors worldwide, including law, the Civil Service and politics, management, public relations, teaching, journalism, media and publishing, marketing, retail and business, IT and financial services. Examples of recent employers include Penguin, Random House Publishing, Save the Children, Amnesty International and The Guardian.

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