Program Overview

Overview

Philosophy and religion are fundamental to informing the way people live. The choices we make, our sense of what’s right and wrong, our understanding of what we owe to each other; all of these are shaped by our core beliefs about the nature of the world and our place in it.

This course places the big questions of philosophy and ethics in conversation with the religious traditions that have shaped them across the globe and throughout history, and continue to shape them here and now.

At Chester, you will learn from subject specialists who have expert knowledge of the traditions they teach, and the experience to help you draw connections between ancient wisdom and the urgent debates of our time, including the nature of authority, how belief shapes behaviour, the relationship between rights and responsibilities, what it means to be human, and how to balance competing claims for justice.

Our expert staff will support you in gaining skills highly valued by employers, such as religious and cultural literacy, empathy, communication, critical thinking, and organisational skills.

Why You'll Love It

• Our courses are nationally recognised for their excellence
• Flexible opportunities to pursue your own interests
• UK top ten for world-leading and internationally excellent research

What You'll Study

Foundation Year

• The Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Year route offers you an important preparation year as part of your four-year degree.
• For Law and Criminal Justice subjects, you will explore legal frameworks, criminal justice systems, wider social contexts and issues, as well as case scenarios, and research and problem solving in law and criminology.
• For Humanities and Social Science subjects, you will explore people and societies and their beliefs, cultures, power structures, stories and narratives, as well as critical inquiry into societal issues and global affairs with contemporary and historical perspectives.

Year 1

• The Human Condition: An Introduction to World Philosophy (20 Credits)
• Introduction to Christian Theology (20 Credits)
• The Bible: Contents and Contexts (20 Credits)
• Introduction to Ethics (20 Credits)
• Islam and Christianity (20 Credits)
• Buddhism and Judaism (20 Credits)
• Language Module (20 Credits)

Year 2

• Philosophy, Religion and Politics (40 Credits)
• Bodies, Gender and God (40 Credits)
• Religion in the City (40 Credits)
• Work Placement (40 Credits)

Year 3

• Religion, Violence and Power (40 Credits)
• Religion, Narratives and Imagination (40 Credits)
• Dissertation (Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Theology) (40 Credits)

Entry Requirements

• UCAS points: 112 points
• GCE A Level: Typical offer – BCC-BBC
• BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
• International Baccalaureate: 28 points
• Irish / Scottish Highers: Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
• Access requirements: Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
• T Level: Merit
• OCR Cambridge Technicals: OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
• Extra Information: Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Fees and Funding

• Home Students: £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
• International Students: £14,450 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
• Foundation Year: £5,760 for the first foundation year, then £9,535 per annum for the following years (2025/26) for Home Students, and £10,750 for the first foundation year, then £14,450 per annum for the following years (2025/26) for International Students

Who You'll Learn From

• Dr Ben Fulford
• Professor Hannah Bacon
• Dr Steve Knowles
• Dr Dawn Llewellyn
• Professor Paul Middleton
• Professor Caroline Tee
• Dr Matthew Collins
• Dr Deborah Casewell

Where You'll Study

• Exton Park, Chester

Your Future Career

• While studying our Philosophy, Ethics and Religion degree, you will develop skills that are in high demand with employers across all sectors. Alongside critical thinking, argumentation, independent decision making, and the ability to present complex information clearly, our course develops cultural and religious literacy, empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives, media literacy and technological skills, and helps you gain project management experience that is crucial for career advancement.

Students go on to work in a number of professions, including teaching, banking and financial business, marketing and advertising, publishing, the civil service, health and social care, counselling, customer service, church and youth work, and ordained ministry.