Philosophy (PGDip) (MLitt)

Entry requirements

Academic requirements Applicants for the MLitt should normally have a good first degree in philosophy, such as a UK upper Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent (or the equivalent level of pass in the SASP Conversion Diploma ). Applicants with other qualifications may be admitted on the recommendation of the Programme Director. International entry requirements View the entry requirements for your country. Application procedure Apply for this course on the University of St Andrews website. English language requirements If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: IELTS Academic or UKVI 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill. Pearson Test of English (Academic) 67 overall with a minimum of 60 in each sub-skill. TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 95 overall with 20 in reading, 19 in writing, 19 in listening and 22 in speaking. TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 5 overall with no less than 4 in any band. Last updated: 26 February 2026 See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .

Course details

The course is a one-year taught MLitt degree, delivered largely in St Andrews by staff from both universities, after which you may progress to an MPhil or PhD within the SASP programme. The MLitt course involves taking six modules over two semesters and a dissertation written over the summer. The postgraduate diploma involves a nine-month, taught course and requires satisfactory completion of all taught modules. In addition to a Research Methods module, which is a core module, the course offers a range of options in many areas of philosophy. See more information about the modules available . Teaching The course is taught by seminars and/or lectures (normally one two-hour seminar per week for each module), along with individual supervision. Assessment To gain the postgraduate diploma, you must satisfactorily complete all the taught modules. To gain the MLitt degree you must complete the taught modules, and write a dissertation of 8,000 to 10,000 words. Course director University of St Andrews Course Director: Dr Alex Douglas University of Stirling Co-ordinator: Dr Sonia Roca-Royes Contact details Postgraduate Secretary, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AL sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk +44 (0) 1334 462487

Fees and funding

Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Tuition fees for this course can be found on the University of St Andrews website . Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

A Masters in Philosophy prepares you for a PhD or a dynamic career in many fields. You'll graduate with highly transferable skills such as problem solving, analytical thinking, and communication. These are in demand in sectors such as: Education: Secondary school teacher, further education teacher, or higher education lecturer. Public Policy and Law: Civil Service Fast Streamer, Policy Officer, or Solicitor. Business and Management: Business Analyst, HR Manager, or Management Consultant. Media and Journalism: Newspaper Journalist, Editor, or Media Analyst. Creative Industries: Author, Creative Director, or Marketing Manager. Many of our MLitt Philosophy graduates continued their studies with a PhD in Philosophy. A significant number have secured permanent teaching positions at universities across the world including: University of Copenhagen. Tilburg University. London School of Economics. VU Amsterdam. University of Leeds. University of Stirling.