Prospective undergraduate students

This section will introduce you to the undergraduate degree programmes in Philosophy and provide information about our teaching methods and programmes. You will also find details about the general culture of learning, study and research at Southampton. We hope we can communicate to you the excitement of the intellectual environment and student experience here.

What will you get out of studying Philosophy?

In Philosophy, we aim to provide educational programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels which:

• provide understanding of the main areas of philosophy and of the concepts, arguments and positions of major philosophers in the Western tradition
• develop the discipline-specific and key skills required for further study and/or employment
• encourage students to think critically, develop the ability to learn independently and remain receptive to fresh ideas and approaches

On completion of any of our programmes of study, students should be able to demonstrate:

• an awareness of particular areas of philosophy and of the work of specific philosophers in the Western tradition, past and present
• an understanding of the wide range of techniques of philosophical reasoning
• an understanding of the defining problems of the main areas of philosophy and of the interconnections between them
• an ability to interpret and criticise complex texts and positions
• an ability to present and debate ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open-minded but rigorous way
• an ability to undertake, with appropriate supervision, independent work, including identifying and analysing problems, identifying and using appropriate resources, and working effectively to deadlines