Program Overview

History and Philosophy are highly complementary subjects: studying them in conjunction allows you to develop a deeper understanding of human behavior across time and place. In History, you’ll cover past societies from the late Roman through to the modern period, addressing political, social and cultural themes. Through your Philosophy modules, you’ll explore key philosophical areas - ethics, philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, political philosophy, metaphysics and logic - as well as examining real-world issues such as global justice, climate change and feminism through a philosophical lens. Across both disciplines, you’ll learn to exercise independent judgement, to be critical of accepted opinion and to present your arguments effectively. You will be learning from academics who are experts in their field, in departments that are innovators in terms of their research and public engagement. This civic ethos extends to the work our students do too. As a History and Philosophy student, you will have the chance to undertake a work placement with a heritage or culture organisation, or work in the community through projects like Philosophy in the City, which introduces school children to philosophical ideas they can apply to everyday life. Our graduates are articulate, creative communicators who know how to structure an argument, and how to analyse one. We have alumni working all over the world in a diverse range of careers, including teaching, law, archiving, broadcasting, social work, journalism, the civil service, charities, museums and businesses.