School of Government & International Affairs | BA Philosophy and Politics (with Placement Year) 48 months Undergraduate Program By Durham University |Top Universities

School of Government & International Affairs | BA Philosophy and Politics (with Placement Year)

Subject Ranking

# 51-100QS Subject Rankings

Program Duration

48 monthsProgram duration

Scholarship

YesScholarships

Main Subject Area

PoliticsMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Politics

Degree

BA

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

BA Philosophy & Politics (with Placement Year) at Durham University

[email protected]


Gain an understanding of the human mind, organisations and political power.


Studying BA Philosophy & Politics will allow you to develop critical capacities and gain insight into how political theories, organisations and communities work. You will learn skills from both subjects that employers value, including how to analyse evidence, assess experts’ arguments, work collaboratively to solve difficult problems, and write with clarity and precision.


Rather than learning a body of work, the philosophical element of your degree will equip you with the reasoning skills needed to formulate, present, defend and criticise philosophical and political positions.


The political element is structured around three main streams: Political Thought, Political Institutions and International Relations. As well as developing your research skills, you have the opportunity to study the politics and international relations of specific regions. You will undertake theoretical examinations that help to understand how to make sense of a complex and interconnected world. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to the course, 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.


In your second year, you will further increase your knowledge by taking two core modules, Moral Theory and Political Philosophy, and you also have a wide selection of optional modules to choose from across both disciplines.


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


Our courses are informed by both academic researchers and our links with industry. This specialist expertise develops the knowledge and skills that our students need to succeed in a competitive job market.


We offer a series of employment-related events which include talks from visiting speakers who explore the range of careers open to politics and international relations students, and offer advice about applying for jobs. We also host a regular Civil Service Fast Stream event in which Durham alumni give first-hand advice about how to excel in the recruitment process.


Graduates are equipped with an academic and practical skill set that will take them into a wide range of fields including local and national government, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces. They have gone on to achieve great success in the political arena and beyond, with roles including Chief Operating Officer for the GB Equality and Human Rights Commission, Head of Defence Inquests and Disclosure in the Ministry of Defence and Political Officer in the British Embassy Mogadishu.


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.


Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!

Program overview

Main Subject

Politics

Degree

BA

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

BA Philosophy & Politics (with Placement Year) at Durham University

[email protected]


Gain an understanding of the human mind, organisations and political power.


Studying BA Philosophy & Politics will allow you to develop critical capacities and gain insight into how political theories, organisations and communities work. You will learn skills from both subjects that employers value, including how to analyse evidence, assess experts’ arguments, work collaboratively to solve difficult problems, and write with clarity and precision.


Rather than learning a body of work, the philosophical element of your degree will equip you with the reasoning skills needed to formulate, present, defend and criticise philosophical and political positions.


The political element is structured around three main streams: Political Thought, Political Institutions and International Relations. As well as developing your research skills, you have the opportunity to study the politics and international relations of specific regions. You will undertake theoretical examinations that help to understand how to make sense of a complex and interconnected world. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to the course, 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.


In your second year, you will further increase your knowledge by taking two core modules, Moral Theory and Political Philosophy, and you also have a wide selection of optional modules to choose from across both disciplines.


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


Our courses are informed by both academic researchers and our links with industry. This specialist expertise develops the knowledge and skills that our students need to succeed in a competitive job market.


We offer a series of employment-related events which include talks from visiting speakers who explore the range of careers open to politics and international relations students, and offer advice about applying for jobs. We also host a regular Civil Service Fast Stream event in which Durham alumni give first-hand advice about how to excel in the recruitment process.


Graduates are equipped with an academic and practical skill set that will take them into a wide range of fields including local and national government, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces. They have gone on to achieve great success in the political arena and beyond, with roles including Chief Operating Officer for the GB Equality and Human Rights Commission, Head of Defence Inquests and Disclosure in the Ministry of Defence and Political Officer in the British Embassy Mogadishu.


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.


Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!

Admission requirements

4 Years
Sep-2024

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

9,250 GBP
-

International Students

-
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

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How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

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A list of available scholarships around the world

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A scholarship application checklist

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More programs from the university

Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching, learning and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, in a unique and historic setting. Durham is a university like no other!

We conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference globally and locally: research to empower and inspire.

We offer a broad range of courses. Our degree programmes are informed by research undertaken by our high-calibre staff in partnership with policymakers, industry, the public sector and communities globally.
 
Alongside the outstanding education we offer to students, we believe that participating in every aspect of university life is fundamental. The deep affinities created by each of our 17 Colleges ensure that we always have a sense of community at the heart of all we do.

Durham's four Faculties offer a host of Undergraduate courses covering a variety of subject disciplines:

  • Durham University Business School
  • Faculty of Arts & Humanities
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Social Sciences & Health

Opportunities for multidisciplinary studies are also available through the Department of Natural Sciences, Department of Liberal Arts or the Department of Combined Honours in Social Sciences.

Please visit the Durham University website (www.durham.ac.uk) for the full available suite of Undergraduate programmes.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching, learning and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, in a unique and historic setting. Durham is a university like no other!

We conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference globally and locally: research to empower and inspire.

We offer a broad range of courses. Our degree programmes are informed by research undertaken by our high-calibre staff in partnership with policymakers, industry, the public sector and communities globally.
 
Alongside the outstanding education we offer to students, we believe that participating in every aspect of university life is fundamental. The deep affinities created by each of our 17 Colleges ensure that we always have a sense of community at the heart of all we do.

Durham's four Faculties offer a host of Masters/Postgraduate Taught courses covering a variety of subject disciplines:

  • Durham University Business School
  • Faculty of Arts & Humanities
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Social Sciences & Health

Please visit the Durham University website (www.durham.ac.uk) for the full available suite of Masters/Postgraduate Taught programmes.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

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