PhD Philosophy
Pursue a PhD in Philosophy at The University of Buckingham with dedicated supervision and engaging seminars in central London.
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13 November 2024
FIND OUT MOREAbout the course
The PhD in Philosophy is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral viva voce examination. The primary purpose of the PhD is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of independent and original academic research, completed in three years if studying full-time and usually six years if studying part-time. There is also the possibility of early submission in cases where the student makes particularly rapid progress.
The variety of possible thesis subjects is broad and ranges from fundamental areas in philosophy (including topics in philosophy of mind, metaphysics, phenomenology and epistemology like the mind-body problem, free will and determinism, the problem of induction, the nature of disagreement, or the nature of individual experience) to more practically-oriented areas including philosophy of culture, political philosophy, or ethics with thesis topics exploring aspects of legal or ethical systems, as well cultural and social phenomena. Faculty members are available to advise on the student’s choice of subject (and see below, ‘Defining a Subject for Research’).
A large proportion of our PhD students are engaged in full-time study, but there is also an option for part-time study where this fits better with a student’s other commitments. Part-time study can be ideal for those who are looking to gain a postgraduate qualification without leaving employment and wish to develop their careers while they continue earning, or for those who are home-based for whatever reason and wish to develop their skills. All students are expected to engage with the academic life of the University, to attend skills-training meetings where these are relevant, as well as research seminars and workshops.
PhD students are expected to attend the Humanities Research Institute’s graduate Research Days in their area of research – usually one per Term – and are encouraged to attend other seminars that may be relevant to their research. These provide an opportunity for PhD students to share their work with their peers, and to engage with visiting experts in their field.
The University of Buckingham PhD is intended to impart all the skills necessary for the student to work as an independent researcher and writer – skills that are valued by both academic and non-academic employers. But the PhD can be undertaken just as fulfillingly as an exercise in the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, and as a means of exploring areas of enquiry that are of particular interest to the student. A number of our most successful student researchers are those who take up doctoral study at the end of a successful career in a different field or profession.
Defining a subject for Research
Some students know from the outset the precise subject on which they intend to work. For most, however, the definition of a research proposal is usually a gradual process, with the student starting with a general area of interest, and then focusing on a more closely defined topic as a result of further reading and consultation, usually with the Course Director.
RESEARCH SEMINARS
Graduate students in Philosophy at the University have access to a wide range of research seminars in the course of the academic year. A number of these advanced seminars are exclusively for doctoral students. A further series of seminars are available to all research students in Philosophy (whether Master’s or PhD). The research seminar meets regularly either at the University’s offices at 51 Gower St, Bloomsbury, London, or at the Reform Club in Pall Mall, SW1. Further details of the forthcoming year’s research can be obtained from the Director of Research in Philosophy.
STUDY PERIOD
The usual period of doctoral research is three years for the those who engage in full-time study, though the University’s Regulations also permit candidates who make particularly rapid progress to apply to the University Research Committee for permission to submit at the end of their second year of study.
Part-time study is also available, with students completing the dissertation in five or six years.
SUPERVISION
Every PhD student in School of Humanities is supported by two supervisors. Supervisors are experts in their field of study and support students throughout the PhD. Students will also benefit from the advice and support of other academic members of the Faculty who will be involved in progression through the various stages of the PhD, including Annual Review meetings with a senior professor (where progress is monitored and support offered towards the planning of the next period of study).
Each student is allocated two supervisors. There is a First (or Principal) Supervisor, who is the student’s regular guide during his or her research, and with whom the student meets regularly throughout the year. There is also a Second Supervisor, whom the student may consult on a more limited basis where a ‘second opinion’ on a particular draft chapter may be helpful.
Supervisors
Supervisors for the PhD at The University of Buckingham include some of the most distinguished scholars working in the field, among them:
Dr Mikołaj Sławkowski-Rode, Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy in the Humanities Research Institute, University of Buckingham, and Director of Graduate Research in Philosophy at the University. His publications include The Meaning of Mourning: Perspectives on Death Loss and Grief (Rowman and Littlefield, 2023) as well as numerous articles in learned journals. He has been involved in The University of Buckingham’s research degrees in Philosophy since their establishment by Scruton. He is also a Research Fellow in Philosophy at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Warsaw.
Professor John Cottingham, Professorial Research Fellow in Philosophy. Professor Cottingham’s research focuses on early-modern philosophy (especially Descartes), the philosophy of religion, and moral philosophy. He is also a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading, Professorial Research Fellow at Heythrop College, University of London, and Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.
Dr Jonathan Price has a PhD in the philosophy of law from Leiden University and a DPhil in Law from Oxford University. He studied with Sir Roger Scruton in Oxford and is currently the Director of the Centre for Theology, Law and Culture at Pusey House, Oxford. He is the founding editor of the peer-reviewed journal Politics & Poetics and the author of The Egalitarian Constitution: Modern Identity in Three Moral Values (Leiden 2018).
Dr Ralph Weir was supervised by Sir Roger Scruton at Oxford when reading for the BPhil. He subsequently received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge and went on to start a Philosophy BA and MA at the University of Lincoln. His publications include: The Mind-Body Problem and Metaphysics: An Argument from Consciousness to Mental Substance (Routledge, 2023). He is also Member of the Faculty of Theology of Religion, University of Oxford.
MORE INFORMATION
Enquiries should be directed in the first instance to our Admissions Officer (London Programmes), at humanitiespg@admissions@buckingham.ac.uk or by telephone to +44 (0)1280 827514. It is usually also possible to speak with the Course Director, in advance of submitting your application: please contact the Admissions Officer to arrange this.
Further information about the range of seminar topics and speakers for the coming year can be found in the downloadable brochure which can be found below.
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Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to have a first or upper second-class degree at undergraduate level and a Master’s degree. Students without a Master’s degree and wishing to undertake doctoral research may enrol on the University’s own MA in Philosophy in their first year and upgrade to PhD registration at the start of their second year of full-time study; the first year of MA study counts as the first of the three years required for the PhD.
Wherever possible, students are encouraged to begin their studies at the start of the academic year (in September), in order to be in step with their peers. Where this is not possible, however, entry points exist at the start of each academic term.
MATURE STUDENTS
Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from all suitably qualified students. The University is committed to lifelong learning, and students joining the PhD programme will encounter a wide variety of age-ranges among their peers.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.
The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.
English Levels
If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.
SELECTION PROCESS
Candidates apply online, sending in their supporting documents, and will be assessed on this basis by the Director of Research in Philosophy and the Tutor for Graduate Admissions.
For help in applying, please contact the Admissions Officer on humanitiespg-admissions@buckingham.ac.uk. She can also arrange for you to discuss your research proposal informally with the Course Directors in advance of your submitting the formal application.
STUDENT CONTRACT FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract.
Teaching and assessment
PhD students undertake supervised but independent research, at the end of which they submit a thesis embodying the results of that research. The length of the dissertation should not be fewer than 70,000 words and no longer than 80,000 words of text (excluding the thesis-abstract, appendices, footnotes, tables, and bibliography).
This thesis must demonstrate familiarity with, and an understanding of the subject, its principal sources and authorities. It should display critical discrimination and a sense of proportion in evaluating evidence and the judgements of others. A PhD thesis must embody an original contribution to the knowledge of the discipline either by the discovery of new knowledge or by the exercise of a new and independent critical approach.
After your course
The University’s Course Directors, students’ supervisors, and the Research Officer and Tutor for Graduate Students are available to discuss students’ post-graduation plans and how they may utilise most effectively the skills acquired during their studies.
Course fees
The fees for this course are:
Start | Type | 1st Year | Total cost |
---|---|---|---|
Month Year Full-time (2 Years) | UK | £00,000 | £00,000 |
INT | £00,000 | £00,000 | |
Month Year Full-time (2 Years) | UK | £00,000 | £00,000 |
INT | £00,000 | £00,000 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Fees and Scholarships
Details of scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships page. You should make an application to study at the University and receive an offer letter confirming our acceptance of your application before applying for a scholarship. You may also find it useful to visit our External Funding page.
How to apply
Apply direct
Apply online from this page as:
- The most flexible option.
- You can apply until shortly before the course starts.
- There are no application fees.
You can apply directly through our website by clicking the ‘Apply now’ button below.