Program Overview
Skip to content Accessibility statement Home Study at York Postgraduate taught Courses 2026/27 Philosophy (MA) MA Philosophy Explore contemporary issues in Philosophy Year of entry: 2026 (September) Overview Course content Fees and funding Teaching and assessment Careers Entry requirements Start date September 2026 View semester dates Length 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time School/department Department of Philosophy Apply for this course Sign up for event invites Sign up for our postgraduate emails to get event invites straight to your inbox. Find out more 2 nd in the UK for research in Philosophy according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021). 4 * for our research impact according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021). On our MA in Philosophy you'll engage with key issues at the centre of contemporary debates, and you'll gain up-to-date knowledge of philosophy across a broad range of topics. The flexible programme gives you the opportunity to choose option modules, and provides training in critical thinking and analysis.
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at University of York.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Humanities & Arts.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 12 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Careers and skills
Studying Philosophy develops skills that are highly sought after by employers and transferable to many different careers. Our graduates have gone on to roles in marketing, education, finance, IT, the charity sector, tourism and leisure industries, as well as into academia.
Career opportunities
- Teacher
- Chaplain
- Local government officer
- Policy officer
- Social researcher
- Business analyst
Transferable skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Constructing and defending a coherent argument
- Grasping complex ideas
- Creatively imagining alternative possibilities and problem solving
- Presenting your research
- Time management and independent study skills
Program Curriculum
Course content
On the MA in Philosophy you'll study issues at the centre of contemporary debates. Teaching will be research-led, drawing on our strong and diverse research community.
We have strong research interests in philosophy of mind and mental health, ethics, analytic theology, history of philosophy, and several other fields, allowing you to cover a broad range of philosophical issues.
You'll learn about dissertation preparation, and will work on postgraduate research skills. Later in the year you and your peers will hold an in-house conference.
You'll attend regular research seminars (colloquia) in the department at which guest speakers will discuss their latest research.
Course structure for part-time study
Year 1: Reading Philosophy and two option modules.
Year 2: Research Skills and Dissemination Practice, two option modules and your dissertation.
Modules Dissertation Modules Core modules Reading Philosophy Research Skills and Dissemination Practice Option modules You will also study four option modules. The availability of each option module is subject to a minimum enrolment number. In previous years, options have covered topics such as: Advanced Topics in Political Philosophy Advanced Topics in Ethics Comparative Analytic Theology Ethics and Epistemology of Digital Methods in Science Freedom, Right, and Revolution: Post-Kantian Moral, Legal, and Political Philosophy Freedom and Metaphysics Phenomenology and Psychiatry Problem Based Learning: Surveillance Capitalism Social Justice and Political Economy Time, Tense, and Existence Topics in Consciousness and Representation Topics in the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence Topics in Perception and Emotion Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning. Dissertation Dissertation Your 10,000 word dissertation enables you to produce a sustained piece of critical writing on a topic of your choosing. It will allow you to apply the core knowledge, skills and experience that you have gained in the previous stage of the course. You'll attend dissertation preparation seminars to enable you to write your proposal, with further support later in the year. You'll be supervised by a member of staff with expertise in the relevant area. Recent dissertation topics have included the perception of the present, personal identity, the puzzle of imaginative resistance, the preservation of endangered species, freedom of expression, ethics and the environment and the unreality of time.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Additional requirements
You will need to submit examples of written work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting written work . English language If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications: Qualification Minimum requirement IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component Oxford Test of English Advanced 136, minimum 126 in each component Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component Kaplan Test of English Language 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component TOEFL 87, minimum of 21 in each component Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements . If you haven't met our English language requirements You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements. After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,290/year (international)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
About University of York
University of York
Heslington, United Kingdom
University of York is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-06-15
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)
