Philosophy
Philosophy degrees
How do you answer the big questions in life? A Philosophy degree invites you to look at the fundamental questions surrounding knowledge, truth and ethics from a theological perspective, shaping your ability to reason effectively and structure a persuasive argument.
At undergraduate level, we offer our students the opportunity to study a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) degree. This degree places a special focus on explaining how human behaviour shapes economic and political institutions. You will be introduced to philosophy, political theory and the philosophy of social science.
Our PPE degree will equip you with a range of skills: from analysis, report writing, and group working, to developing a deep understanding of power relations, both domestic and international.
We also offer an MA in Philosophy, which is taught in London. Pioneered by Prof Sir Roger Scruton and Prof Anthony O’Hear, this highly regarded programme allows you to specialise in your chosen area of Philosophy, and you could progress on to a Philosophy PhD.
Why choose Buckingham
Study Philosophy at Buckingham, the home of the two-year degree, ranked in the top 10 for Graduate Prospects (The Sunday Times, Good University Guide 2022). Students are at the heart of everything we do: our award-winning small class tutorials ensure every student is known by name and supported throughout their studies. You will love our personalised teaching model, dedicated student support team, and beautiful, safe campus.
Featured Philosophy courses
Student feedback
Sebastian, MA Philosophy
“Undertaking the Buckingham MA has marked one of the most enriching years of my life. the brilliant supervisors, as well as the many excellent visiting lecturers on the course, and all the while be so well supported in the pursuit of my own
interests within the discipline of philosophy. The content is second to none,
and the symposium-style form is the perfect way to convey that content. I am
deeply grateful to Buckingham for providing such a remarkable course.”
Experience Philosophy
Meet our lecturers
Professor Anthony O’Hear, Research Professor in Education
Professor O’Hear is one of the UK’s leading philosophers. Director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and editor of the journal Philosophy, he is author of (among other books) Beyond Evolution, Plato’s Children and After Progress.
Dr Paul Graham, Senior Lecturer in Politics
Dr Graham is a political theorist who has authored one of the most widely used undergraduate textbooks on his subject – Hoffman and Graham, Introduction to Political Theory, 3rd Edition. He also runs the Centre for United Nations Studies.
Your future career
PPE can prepare you for a career in policy analysis, civil service, diplomacy, country risk analysis, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the charity sector, public affairs consultancy, journalism and teaching.
Our course is designed to teach you the skills that are distinctively human and unlikely to be replaced by AI: spanning empathy; problem solving; working with others; thinking creatively; and fundamental strategic thinking.
We support your employability through a Professional Development Portfolio, in which you write reflectively about the professional skills you acquire and use during your time at university. These skills will help you in your studies as well as being crucial for your future career.
Industry links
We have strong links with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think-tank, which covers a wide range of policy areas and offers internships for our students. We have also pioneered collaborations with other universities, such as the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, and are also the home to The Institute for International Monetary Research and The Centre for United Nations Studies.
We also have a number of connections with professional bodies such as CPHC and BCS.