Program Overview

---

Philosophy and Ethics

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - studied as part of a combined award

Passionate about ideas? Want to understand and apply different cultural perspectives?

Combine professional skills and opportunities with subject knowledge in an innovative Philosophy and Ethics degree. Develop practical and professional skills and apply them to contemporary challenges, issues and debates. Explore the next stage in your career - our graduates have gone on to work with leading employers in a wide range of roles.

Apply your knowledge of philosophy to contemporary challenges, issues and debates. Our innovative Philosophy and Ethics degree has been designed to enable you to acquire specialised subject knowledge alongside practical and professional skills.

The course explores the assumptions, beliefs and values which shape human behaviour and our responses to it. You’ll address the key questions which underpin all academic disciplines and concepts, and how they are fundamental to our study of history, literature, the arts and sciences.

Develop practical and professional skills

By working collaboratively across the Humanities, our Philosophers develop expertise in their own subject alongside the skills and approaches that will equip them for the next stage in their careers: learning to work with others, planning and implementing a project, making a pitch to a potential employer, and evaluating and acting on different options.

Possible combinations

You’ll study Philosophy and Ethics with another subject as part of a combined course. We offer the following Philosophy and Ethics combined courses:

• Creative Writing and Philosophy and Ethics
• English Literature and Philosophy and Ethics
• History and Philosophy and Ethics
• Philosophy and Ethics and Psychology.

What you'll learn

Overview

Rather than teaching philosophy primarily as a history of ideas – although we do explore this – we focus on the application of current philosophical thinking in contemporary settings and circumstances. You’ll consider our responses to environmental crises, for example, or questions of identity, belonging, social justice and the interplay between the personal and the political.

We consider Western philosophical and ethical perspectives, and introduce you to the systems of thought of India and China. This mix of content and the inclusiveness of our approach make the Philosophy and Ethics course particularly distinctive, vital and compelling.

Course structure

Year one
Introductions and foundations: develop your skills in philosophical thinking, and follow a broad curriculum which allows you to ask questions, challenge your own assumptions, interrogate evidence, data and opinions.

Year two
Practical, applied, relevant: this year combines the academic study of Philosophy with the acquisition of professional skills and the application of your knowledge and understanding to a defined problem or idea.

Year three
Achievement, consolidation, creativity: your final project in the third year brings all this together. You’ll identify your own area of study, develop your proposal and put it into practice. This might be an extended piece of academic writing, an exhibition, community project, or the creation of digital resources.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is mainly through coursework such as essays, projects, presentations, or online discussion.

How will I be taught?

Our focus is on ‘doing philosophy’ and developing your confidence and capacity for philosophical analysis and debate. We’ll support you through lectures and seminar work, as well as individual tutorials and support.

Special projects in years two and three and the dissertation in year three provide opportunities for independent work which builds on your own interests, adds new dimensions to your thinking, or relates to plans for future careers and personal development.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Year one (Level 4) modules

• Truth and Reality
• Ethics and Values
• Worlds of Ideas
• Thinking Together – Humanities in the 21st Century

Year two (Level 5) modules

• Ethics in the Contemporary World
• Asian Philosophies (Level 5)
• Ecology and Nature (Level 5)
• Digital Humanities
• Applying Philosophy
• Political Philosophy
• Working Together
• Transformative Communities
• Professional Placement Year

Year three (Level 6) modules

• Philosophy Project
• Asian Philosophies (Level 6)
• Ecology and Nature (Level 6)
• Philosophy of Health
• Making Sex
• Life and Meaning
• Spiritual Revolution

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork and visits are an integral part of the course. We visit religious communities, mosques, temples, gurdwaras and churches.

Work placements, industry links and internships

We have excellent links with third sector organisations, working with environmental and educational charities, as well as others. These links support your study, as we’ll explore how religious, philosophical and ethical perspectives can be applied to current issues.

Careers

Our graduates have careers in:

• The police service
• Health administration
• Education
• Social work
• Journalism

The ability to combine this course with another subject makes it ideal for individuals considering a career in teaching. Many graduates go on to train as teachers – the course is widely respected as a foundation for a career in education.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.

Professional placement year

Overview

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

How will I be assessed?

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

The Philosophy and Ethics course is based at our Newton Park campus, which combines outstanding modern facilities with a beautiful setting.

Resources

The Library provides many core resources, both in print and online. We draw on a wide range of resources, and encourages the use – and creation – of different materials.

Fees

2025 entry

Student | Annual tuition fee
---|---
UK full time | £9,535
UK part time | £4,768
International full time | £17,430

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

• UK: £1,905
• International: £3,486

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

Our students come from a range of different backgrounds. We look for individuals with an enquiring mind and a willingness to explore new areas of thought and belief.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

• A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
• International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Contact us

Admissions:

• +44 (0)

Course leader: Dr Paul Reid-Bowen
Email:

Related courses

• Politics, Philosophy and Economics
• Philosophy and Ethics and Psychology
• Creative Writing and Philosophy and Ethics
• History and Philosophy and Ethics

Key facts

Award

• BA/BSc (Hons) Philosophy and Ethics - Combined Award School/s
• School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities Campus or location
• Newton Park Course length
• Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.

UCAS codes

Using our list of possible combinations, choose which combination course you'd like to apply for. You'll find UCAS codes specific to that combination on the course page.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email with your specific details.