Program Overview

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Religion, Philosophy & Ethics BA

Key information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Required A-level: AAB Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements Duration: Three years Application status: Open Start date: September 2025 Application deadline: 29 January 2025 Optional study abroad Optional internships Apply via UCAS

Course Aims

• The first year of your Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA will give you a solid understanding of how each subject has developed through the years and a grounding in contemporary debates. Two required modules will give you an essential foundational understanding of major religious traditions and interactions and introduce you to key sacred texts. You’ll also have a chance to explore the intersections between these traditions and colonialism. You’ll also develop your understanding of ethics over two modules. One will set out the big, abstract ethical questions in philosophy and theology, for example, those concerning the nature of good and evil, death and so on, while another presents an historical view of ethics and traces its evolution over the years.
• The second year of your Religion, Philosophy and Ethics degree is shaped by you through the selection of required and optional modules. For the required modules, you could choose to learn more about the relationship between ethics, values and identity, or you could focus on learning more about various perspectives on God, on the body, or on the philosophies of different religions. The other two-thirds of your curriculum is built from the optional modules that you elect to study. This interdisciplinary list could see you explore a range of topics, such as theology and the arts or peace and violence. You’ll be able to shape your own specialism by focusing your optional modules on the areas of ethics, religion and philosophy that most interest you.
• Your final year is structured similarly: you’ll be able to choose some required modules and optional modules. The required modules of the Religion, Philosophy, and Ethics BA will take your existing knowledge to greater depth by looking at topics such as the search for meaning or contemporary ethical controversies. The list of optional modules will be equally as broad and likely to touch on issues like race, gender and religion, or peoples, migration and belonging, or radicalism and religion, and beyond. You’ll also be able to choose whether your degree in religion, philosophy and ethics culminates in the production of your own research project in the form of a dissertation. If you choose not to work on a dissertation, you’ll pick up two optional modules instead.
• During your time at King’s, you’ll also get the opportunity to engage with a number of extracurricular opportunities. For example, you could join the highly active Theology and Religious Studies Society, which has previously invited education activist Malala Yousafzai to speak and organised events like museum tours and movie screenings.
• There are a number of benefits to studying in central London, too. As well as being able to visit a variety of museums and cultural institutions on your doorstep, you can also access a range of places of worship, including mosques, synagogues, temples and more.

Base campus

• Strand Campus
• Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
• Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Special features

• Optional study abroad
• On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
• Optional internships
• Students will be supported through innovative digital education tools to discover meaningful work experience for themselves, including internships, insight programmes, which you can undertake alongside your studies.

Awarding Institutions

• King's College London and Affiliates

Regulating bodies

• King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

• Subject requirements: None
• Preferred subjects: None
• A-Levels: Required grades: AAB
• Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
• Contextual A-Level information: BBB
• Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels.
• Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.
• Contextual International Baccalaureate information: 32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels.
• Note: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE.

Alternative accepted qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma
• BTEC Nationals/CTECs
• Cambridge Pre-U
• European Baccalaureate
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Standard requirements

• The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 33 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 12 at Merit.
• The Access to Higher Education Diploma should be in a relevant subject – Humanities or similar - to be considered.

Contextual requirements

• The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 30 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, 12 from units awarded at Merit, and 3 from units awarded at Pass
• The Access to Higher Education Diploma should be in a relevant subject – Humanities or similar - to be considered

International applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications
• Select a country
• Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above

English language requirements

• English language band: B
• Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test.
• For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

• Contextual consideration
• We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements.
• As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application.
• More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
• Deferrals
• Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
• If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme.
• However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request.
• Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
• Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons.
• We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again.
• This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military
  ational service.
• Foundation courses
• Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme.
• Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied.
• In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
• We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution.
• These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations.
• We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
• Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
• The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
• Graduates
• Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent.
• However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
• Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees.
• However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
• Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
• Personal Statement
• Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
• Resits
• We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
• Transfers
• Transfers into this programme are not permitted.

Teaching methods - what to expect

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Independent Study
• This Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA is an interdisciplinary degree that draws on world-leading expertise in theology and philosophy to teach you not just the intricacies of specific religions but also the wider philosophical and ethical questions that come from them.
• You’ll learn from specialists who focus on topics like Buddhist philosophy or Islamic philosophy, among others, to gain an unrivalled insight into the philosophical aspects of different religions.
• These global philosophy scholars will share their expertise on how philosophy intersects with different religions, offering teaching across a wide-ranging list of optional modules.
• Our Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA is taught using a combination of lectures, seminars and more intimate tutorials.
• We also expect a significant amount of independent study.

Assessment

• Coursework
• Written/Practical Examinations
• Essays
• Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations.
• Forms of assessment may typically include written examinations and /or essays.
• Either the coursework or the exam will contribute 100% to your final mark.
• Formative assessment will also typically be offered.
• The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect.
• However, they are subject to change.

Structure

• Courses are divided into modules.
• Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.
• This is a three-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits.

Required modules

• You are required to take the following modules:
  • Elements of Ethics (15 credits)
  • Philosophy and Theology – The Big Questions (15 credits)
  • Global Philosophy (15 credits)
  • Ethics Through Time (15 credits)
  • Religious Traditions in a Changing World (30 credits)
  • Understanding Sacred Texts (15 credits)
  • Colonialism and Decolonisation (15 credits)

Optional modules

• There are no optional modules in Year 1.
• King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study.
• Therefore, modules offered may change.
• We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
• Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

• Graduates of the Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA will develop a range of transferable skills that are sought after by a variety of employers, including critical analysis, debate, diplomacy, cultural awareness, ethics, understanding of diversity and inclusion and communication.
• King’s graduates go on to careers in government, the Civil Service, non-government organisations, social services, the caring professions, charities, law, the City, academia, PR and advertising, journalism and the media, entertainment and the arts, the church and other religious organisations.

Tuition Fees

• Full time tuition fees UK: The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
• Full time tuition fees International: The International tuition fee for the academic year is £27,100 per year.
• Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
• All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee.
• This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
• If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying).
• King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees.
• You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.
• Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.

Additional Costs

• In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

• To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.