BA (Hons) Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics (with Foundation Year)

- Philosophy, Religion and Ethics achieved 100% overall satisfaction as rated by final-year undergraduate students in the 2019 National Student Survey- Learn from history’s smartest thinkers to analyse the profound questions at the heart of religion, philosophy and ethics from multiple perspectives- Benefit from extra weekly talks and seminars by major international thinkers across the campus on questions relating to your course- Gain real-world work experience as a part of your degree programme by volunteering for a placement with a range of organisations, from charities to think tanks- Visit and engage with religious sites and communities, both nationally and internationally; recent fields trips have included India, Nepal and JerusalemDo life’s biggest questions stir a desire in you to delve deeper – to understand and debate, for example, the meaning of life, the existence of God and how we can protect the planet we live on? Our course examines the different perspectives of great minds and thinking on such momentous issues and equips you to engage with these discussions in an informed and critical way.Our unique Philosophy, Religion and Ethics degree is not simply studying these fields separately but explores questions at the intersection of these disciplines. You get to set philosophical ideas in conversation with religious traditions, rituals and sacred texts, engaging in stimulating debates about right and wrong, life and death, faith and politics.At Winchester, you study the grand narrative of the philosophical tradition, from ancient Greece to the world of existentialism and post-modernity. Each year you analyse the meaning and significance of classic philosophical works from thinkers as diverse as Kant, Aquinas, Aristotle and Derrida.In analysing the texts produced by great intellects, you grow as a writer, debater and thinker. And it’s not all about heavyweight thinkers – you have the chance to consider material practices rather than just ideas: for example, to study what burial rituals tell us about our relation to death rather than just what books say.You engage with major contemporary societal issues and learn to develop nuanced positions on them: for example, on the complex clashes between freedom, security, liberation, feminism and national identity at stake in recent European bans on items of Muslim dress. A philosophy degree might engage with some of that but only at an abstract level and without delving into the concepts and values of the community at stake. Our aim is to help our students become independent critics of society and effective problem solvers.The Foundation Year (first year of study) gives you the chance to commence your studies with us if you have not quite achieved the entry qualifications required or if you feel you would benefit from the opportunity to develop your study skills and subject knowledge prior to embarking on your degree. Through a range of engaging, small-group lessons and practical placements, you will be equipped with the academic, professional and personal skills to help you succeed at university. Modules will cover broad topics as well as an introduction to your chosen subject area. You will also have the opportunity to study alongside students undertaking a range of degree programmes.In Year 1 (second year of study), you begin by studying modules in philosophy, ethics and religious studies that are designed to develop your study skills and enhance your confidence in critical writing and reading.In Years 2 (third year of study) and 3 (fourth year of study), you build a profile of options around your philosophical studies to reflect their own academic interests. Optional modules such as New and Alternative Religions, and Judaism In The Contemporary World encourage you to think abo