BA Philosophy and Politics

Examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong, develop an understanding of philosophical arguments and political theory through our joint honours BA Philosophy and Politics degree.

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures of philosophy. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language.

Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In your second and final years you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen subjects in more depth, with modules such as Contemporary Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and the History of Political Philosophy. You will also have the chance to examine non-Western philosophies, such as Indian philosophy.

By studying politics you will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements of the subject such as political ideas and democratic processes. You can study a wide range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topics such as British government and politics, European political integration, and political thinking. In 2022, we achieved a 95% satisfaction score for BA Philosophy (National Student Survey 2022). 

You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Our small class sizes ensure you will receive dedicated, individual attention.

All students are encouraged to undertake a work placement, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or final year.

We encourage you to take placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.

Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.