Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.
Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »
UCAS code |
1234 |
Duration |
1 year full time
2 years part time |
Entry year |
September 2025
|
Campus |
Streatham Campus
|
Discipline |
Philosophy
|
Contact |
|
Overview
- You’ll consider and debate some of the biggest questions facing humankind by engaging with the latest cutting-edge research in the field
- 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
- Teaching is done in small seminar groups creating a safe environment in which to discuss and debate readings, research and opinions with academics and peers
- Create a bespoke programme according to your interests with a range of optional modules from across 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
100% of our research has internationally excellent impact
Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy
82% of our research is internationally excellent
Internationally recognised for work in philosophical anthropology and the sociology of culture
100% of our research has internationally excellent impact
Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy
82% of our research is internationally excellent
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.
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
We’ll actively encourage you to consider and debate some of the biggest questions facing mankind by engaging with the latest, cutting edge research in fields such as philosophy of science, philosophy of mind and contemporary ethics.
Our core module Introduction to Philosophical Methods, will give you a thorough grounding in a variety of different methods pursued in philosophical research as well as introducing you to the distinctive interdisciplinary character of research at Exeter. You’ll engage with methods such as conceptual analysis, naturalism, phenomenology, genealogy, experimental philosophy, historical sociological and ethnographic approaches.
You will be challenged to reflect critically on the different methods of philosophical research and taught how to use appropriate methods and materials to conduct your own research when completing your dissertation.
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. In addition to philosophical issues and debates, you can also choose to study areas such as social theory; science and technology studies; the relationship between humans and animals; food, body and society; gender at work; data science and policy analysis.
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.
90 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory modules
Code | Module |
Credits |
---|
PHLM009 |
Dissertation | 60 |
PHLM010 |
Introduction to Philosophical Methods | 30 |
Optional modules
Plus 90 credits of modules selected from a list of options offered in the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology.
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
We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further 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. You will be assessed through coursework which will vary depending on the modules you choose and the completion of a dissertation.
Dr. Adam Toon
Programme Director
Professor Mike Michael
Head of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology (SPA)
Dr Nigel Pleasants
Professor Christine Hauskeller
Dr. Adam Toon
Programme Director
Adam works in philosophy of science and philosophy of mind, especially on topics that relate these two fields. He is also interested in the sociology of scientific knowledge.
His research draws on work in philosophy, cognitive science, history and sociology of science. He also conducts his own empirical studies.
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Professor Mike Michael
Head of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology (SPA)
Mike is a sociologist of science and technology. He joined SPA in 2017, having previously worked at Lancaster University, Goldsmiths, University of London, and the University of Sydney. His research interests have included: the relation of everyday life to technoscience; biotechnological and biomedical innovation and culture; the public understanding of/engagement with science; and process methodology. His teaching has covered such areas as social theory, microsociology, environmental sociology, science and society, animals and society, sociologies of everyday life, and qualitative methodology.
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Dr Nigel Pleasants
Nigel teaches on the optional module Philosophy of the Social Sciences 1. His main areas of interest and work are in social and moral philosophy. Since his degree days he has been strongly influenced by the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, especially his very latest writings in On Certainty. He is a member of the British Wittgenstein Society and sit on its Honorary Committee. In recent years he has been attempting to work out ways in which Wittgenstein’s philosophy might help illuminate areas of moral philosophy, introducing and developing the idea of moral certainty.
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Professor Christine Hauskeller
Christine is a philosopher with training in sociology and psychology also. Her research covers a range of topics in the areas of Moral Philosophy and Empirical Ethics, Feminist Philosophy, Critical Theory, Philosophy of Medicine and the Life Sciences, Science and Technology Studies, and Bioethics.
Profile page
Careers
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.