Program Overview

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Philosophy and Politics

Overview

The programme is designed to provide students with an intellectual training in the disciplines of Philosophy and Politics which, while discrete subjects, are complementary and mutually enriching. The combination of Philosophy and Politics allows for the development of an in-depth appreciation of the ideas that help to explain the foundations of the modern world, democracy and political stability.

Philosophy and Politics highlights

• Global Opportunities: QUB students, uniquely in the UK, still have the opportunity to spend part of the course studying in other European universities, through our Erasmus programme. There are also opportunities to study at partner institutions in the USA and Canada.
• Industry Links: Students in their final year have the opportunity to secure a semester long placement, giving them hands-on experience of political issues and policymaking.
• Research-led Teaching: We have particular strengths in the areas of ethics and political philosophy.
• Internationally Renowned Experts: Our Philosophy department offers expertise in continental and analytical philosophy, logic, philosophy of science, and moral and political philosophy.

Course Structure

• Year 1: Students choose six modules from a range of introductory modules.
• Year 2: Students choose 6 modules that explore the wide range of major debates and inquiry in Philosophy, exploring questions that range from how to understand the mind, to how ‘reality’ might be understood, to key political theories about how we live as a society.
• Year 3: In the final year, students focus on particular areas of specialisation that build on their studies in years 1 and 2. Students will write a dissertation (double-weighted) and choose four modules.

Modules

• Year 1:
  • Introduction to Politics
  • Perspectives on Politics
  • What is to be done? Sustainability, climate change and just energy transitions in the Anthropocene
  • Introductory Logic
  • Contemporary Europe
  • Comparative Politics
  • Philosophy and Human Nature
  • Philosophy and The Good Life
• Year 2:
  • Studying Politics
  • Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
  • British Politics in crisis?
  • International Organisations
  • Northern Ireland: Past, Present and Future
  • Peace and Conflict Studies
  • The Politics of the Planetary Crisis: power, people and place
  • Philosophy of Race
  • Identity Politics in Diverse Societies
  • Security and Terrorism
  • History of Philosophy
  • The Politics of Deeply Divided Societies
  • Modern Political Thought
  • Politics and Policy of the European Union
  • Irish Politics
  • International Relations
  • Knowledge and Reality
  • Moral Theories
  • American Politics
  • Democracy, Ethics & Economics
• Year 3:
  • Asylum and Migration in Global Politics
  • Security and Technology
  • US Foreign Policy
  • Politics, Public Administration and Policy-Making
  • Challenges to contemporary party politics
  • Global Pol. Econ. of Energy
  • Philosophy for Children
  • Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
  • Philosophy of Technology and Environment
  • Radical Hope:Inspiring Present-day Sustainability Transformations through an Examination of Our Past
  • Short Placement
  • National and Ethnic Minorities in European Politics
  • Political Parties and Elections in Northern Ireland
  • Middle Eastern Politics
  • Dissertation (Politics and International Studies)
  • Gender and Politics
  • Contemporary Critical Theory
  • Long Placement
  • Earth, Energy, Ethics and Economy: The Politics of Unsustainability
  • European Cultural Identities
  • Politics of the Global Economy
  • Applied Ethics
  • War and Visual Culture and Surveillance
  • Dissertation
  • Contemporary Political Philosophy

People teaching you

• Dr Mike Bourne: Programme Convenor - Politics
• Dr Rebecca Bamford: Programme Convenor - Philosophy

Contact Teaching Hours

• Personal Study: 10 (hours maximum) Typically 10 hours per module (30 hours per week), revising in your own time
• Large Group Teaching: 6 (hours maximum) In a typical week you may have up to 6 hours of lectures, depending on the level of study.
• Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial: 6 (hours maximum) In a typical week, you will have 3-6 hours of tutorials (or later, project supervision).

Learning and Teaching

• Dissertations: In their final year, students can write a dissertation based on a research topic of their choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field.
• E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is normally communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas.
• Lectures: These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.
• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Seminars/tutorials: A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 10-12 students).

Assessment

• Most modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.
• Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.

Feedback

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references (where relevant).
• Online or emailed comment.
• Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Career Prospects

• A degree in Politics and Philosophy provides a stimulating programme of study and intellectual training useful in many walks of life and future career paths.
• Graduates are equipped with the necessary attributes for graduate employment or postgraduate education and training, and are able to make a difference in whatever future career they choose.
• Employment Links: The School has an active Employers’ Forum that is used to forge links with national and international employers.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills.
• For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more.

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI) 1: £4,855
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2: £4,855
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1: £9,535
• EU Other 3: £22,400
• International: £22,400

Additional course costs

• In Year 2 students can apply for a number of optional exchanges with institutions in the USA. The cost will vary depending on the institution and length of exchange and can range from £500 - £6,000.
• Students who undertake a period of study or work abroad, are responsible for funding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

Entrance requirements

• A level requirements: ABB
• Irish leaving certificate requirements: H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3
• Access/Foundation Course: Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 33 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma: QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades of D*DD
• Graduate: A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree

How we choose our students

• Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools.
• Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

International Students

• Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

• An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification.

How to Apply

• Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
• The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2026 is Wednesday 14 January 2026 (18:00).