Undergraduate Philosophy Degrees

Philosophy is the careful, reasoned engagement with fundamental questions about human existence, truth and knowledge, right and wrong, politics and justice, art, faith and reason. But you’ll do more than explore ideas with us.

You’ll apply philosophy in real-world scenarios, examining philosophy’s role in addressing global, social and political challenges. Develop your skills in critical thinking and clarity of communication, and you can be confident of success in a very wide range of graduate roles.

A rich and varied programme

Our courses provide you with rich and varied philosophical knowledge, through engaging with methodological and culturally diverse content across a broad range of topics. In your first year, you will study ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, history of philosophy, global philosophy, and political thought, developing strong foundational knowledge and confidence in key areas of the discipline.

Putting your studies into practice

You can apply for one of the internships offered every year by the Richardson Institute for Peace Studies, based in our department. These are research projects in external organisations such as NGOs, think tanks, charities and faith-based organisations. We also offer placement opportunities in a range of organisations, from roles in arts and heritage organisations, to media and marketing agencies.

The University runs short, overseas trips to give you the chance to experience a different culture. In the past these have included Malaysia, India, Ghana, China and the US, visiting the J.F.K Presidential library, the United Nations and the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Philosophy courses

Selected entry year

25/26 Entry
26/27 Entry

Meet the Philosophy team

Our Philosophy team bring together a rich and diverse set of knowledge, experience and interests.

Costanza Porro

As Political Philosophy Lecturer, I specialize in political, moral, legal, and feminist philosophy. My primary focus is the concept of equality, and I have written on why we should treat each other as equals and what it means to do so, focusing on the status of those punished for criminal offenses. I am passionate about feminist philosophy; in particular, I am interested in how our nature as vulnerable beings reliant on care and our need to provide care for others shapes our views on justice, rights, and equality. My current research delves into the role of care in a society of equals.

Philippe Major

I am lecturer in Philosophy. I work on the history of Chinese philosophy, with a focus on Confucianism in the 20^th century. I am also interested in Zen Buddhism, ancient Chinese philosophy, and Continental philosophy. My work explores topics such as authority, modernity, epistemic hegemony, and the exclusion of non-western thought from the philosophy curriculum. I am currently working on a project that looks at patterns of resistance to the hegemony of Euro-American philosophical knowledge production in modern Confucian philosophy.

Leonie Smith

Leonie Smith is Lecturer in Metaphysics and Epistemology at Lancaster University and Director of the Undergraduate Philosophy Programme. Prior to this, she held a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at the University of Manchester, and was Lecturer in Philosophy at Cardiff University. Her research is on personhood and agency, and on the epistemic, ontological and material harms experienced by people marginalised by socioeconomic status. Leonie runs the 'Class in the Classroom' project, and also works with the Philosophy in Prison charity, co-designing and delivering programmes in the UK.

Our Alumni

Our alumni share their experiences, tips and advice, including how their degrees led them to their current jobs. They have taken up a wide range of careers, ranging from Media Relations Officer in Her Majesty’s Revenue to Customs and Government Affairs Manager at Vodafone.

Our Alumni