Skip to main content

Postgraduate Taught

MA Philosophy: Ethics and Society

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 1 year full time
2 years part time
Entry year September 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Philosophy
Contact
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

2:2 Honours degree

Contextual offers

Overview

  • You’ll engage with cutting-edge research on topics such as economic growth, food, medicine, animal rights, slavery and the Holocaust as well as Wittgensteinian approaches to ethics and the social world
  • Learn from a diverse and dynamic team of academics with expertise from across the fields of Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy and benefit from our lively and collaborative research culture
  • We will train you in a range of philosophical research methods preparing you to carry out your own independent research
  • Tailor the programme to your academic interests or career ambitions with a range of optional modules from across the fields of sociology and anthropology as well as philosophy
  • Gain key transferable skills in research, communication, self-management and group working which will be valued by employers within a range of professions as well as providing essential training for PhD study

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

Get a prospectus

Contact

Programme Director: Dr. Adam Toon

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

An image of a globe on a stand, depicted through a line drawing, showcasing the continents and countries of the world.

100% of our research has internationally excellent impact

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA

Top 10 icon

Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy

8th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Earth icon

82% of our research is internationally excellent

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021. Our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.

Research icon: a mortarboard and a cog

Internationally recognised for work in philosophical anthropology and the sociology of culture

An image of a globe on a stand, depicted through a line drawing, showcasing the continents and countries of the world.

100% of our research has internationally excellent impact

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA

Top 10 icon

Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy

8th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Earth icon

82% of our research is internationally excellent

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021. Our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.

Research icon: a mortarboard and a cog

Internationally recognised for work in philosophical anthropology and the sociology of culture

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in philosophy, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, or a degree with a substantial philosophy component. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criterion, if your first degree is in a different discipline, you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

All applicants should provide a personal statement explaining their interest in the programme and how it fits with their earlier studies.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

Ethics and society is a fascinating and extremely relevant field of philosophy to study. We are constantly confronted with new developments in society that, as individuals and communities, we must decide how to respond to, if at all.

Our core module Contemporary Ethics will address these challenges by introducing you to the philosophical work of the past three decades, addressing current challenges related to human self-understanding and ethical theory.

Our focus on philosophical research methods will teach you how to reflect critically on a range of methods and explore their respective strengths and weakness. You’ll discover a range of different tools for approaching philosophical questions, providing an excellent grounding for further research in philosophy.

You will be taught by staff who are research active in the field and who bring this research directly into their teaching. Our small group seminars enable you to interact closely with academics and also peers, providing a safe and stimulating environment in which to develop and debate your own ideas and opinions, discuss readings and learn from others.

Due to our interdisciplinary approach you will have the benefit of a wide choice of optional modules from across sociology and anthropology as well as philosophy. You can choose to explore fields such as social theory and cultural sociology.

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits comprised of a combination of compulsory and optional modules.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

150 credits of compulsory modules and 30 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
PHLM009 Dissertation 60
PHLM010 Introduction to Philosophical Methods 30
PHLM006 Contemporary Ethics 30
SOCM002B Philosophy of the Social Sciences 30

Optional modules

Philosophy modules https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=philosophy

Please note that modules are subject to change and not all modules are available across all programmes, this is due to timetable, module size constraints and availability

Fees

2025/26 entry

UK fees per year:

£12,500 full-time; £6,250 part-time

International fees per year:

£25,300 full-time; £12,650 part-time

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Teaching and research

Teaching takes place over the first two terms, leaving the third for your dissertation. Research-centred teaching is at the heart of the programme. Teaching is done in small seminar groups to allow students the best possible interaction with academic staff, through individual presentations and round table discussions of common readings.

Students have the opportunity to engage in a serious piece of research into a topic of their choosing through the dissertation module. Students will be assessed through coursework which will vary depending on the modules they choose and the completion of a dissertation.

Careers

student wearing mortar board on graduation

Employer-valued skills

In addition to the specialist knowledge you will gain during your programme, you will also develop transferrable skills valued by employers such as: 

  • Researching, analysing and assessing sources of information
  • Written and verbal communication skills
  • Managing and interpreting information
  • Developing ideas and arguments

Career support

The College's Employability Officer works with our central Career Zone team to give you access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training, as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.