Funding
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersPhilosophy enables you to tackle many of the big questions, empowering you to critically make sense of the past, present and future.
Philosophy is about critically making sense of ourselves and the world around us. It involves asking and trying to answer the most fundamental questions about the natural and social world – from puzzles about the nature of consciousness, free will, the metaphysics of gender, the ethics and politics of sustainability, to questions about whether modern culture dominates or liberates people.
By studying philosophy, you’ll find yourself in dialogue with a range of diverse and fascinating figures, such as Socrates, Baruch Spinoza, and David Hume, to more contemporary thinkers such as Frantz Fanon, Hannah Arendt, and Patricia Hill Collins. You’ll critically reflect on many ground-breaking philosophical positions across multiple areas of philosophy. And along the way, you...
3 years full-time
4 years with placement/overseas study
6 years part-time
In the First Year of this course, you'll develop a strong foundation in theoretical and practical philosophy. You'll also start your learning as a student in the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy with a strong interdisciplinary emphasis. From your Second Year, you'll concentrate on specialised themes in theoretical and practical philosophy, such as contemporary Anglo-American metaphysics and a key text in political philosophy. You'll benefit from a unique range of expertise from our research-active philosophers and apply this directly to your own learning. In your Final Year, you'll have the opportunity to pursue and write your own research project, and plenty of optional modules covering advanced topics in theoretical and practical philosophy to choose from and study.
During your time with us, you’ll develop a rich set of academic and professional skills and an international mindset that make you career-ready and very well equipped to confidently deal with the challenges of life after university.
This course is available with two pathways: general ‘philosophy’ and the more specialised 'ethics, religion and philosophy', which concentrates on moral theory and philosophy of religion. The two single-honours pathways share a common first year and are flexible according to the interests you develop during your studies.
Teaching Excellence Framework 2023-2027
National Student Survey 2024 (NSS)
Whether you’ve already made your decision about what you want to study, or you’re just considering your options, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
UK and Channel Islands full-time foundation year fee: £5,760 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). On progression to any linked degree course, the standard UK and Channel Islands tuition fee would apply. For 2025/26, this is £9,535 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
EU and Non-EU international full-time foundation year fee: £20,000 per year. When progressing from the pre-degree foundation year to the linked degree. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study)
Full-time fee: £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
Part-time fee: £2383.75 per 30 credits studied (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation. The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
Full-time fee: £20,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £5000 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
A degree typically comprises 360 credits, a DipHE 240 credits, a CertHE 120 credits, and an integrated masters 480 credits. For courses that offer a placement year option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,907 (subject to Parliamentary approval). For courses that offer a study year abroad option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,430 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Placement Year fees and study abroad fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% each academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
Part-time students may take a maximum of 90 credits each academic year.
Compulsory estimate: £200
Books and learning material costs are approximately £200 per annum.
The department sometimes offers optional opportunities for short study trips abroad of one week or less as part of our curriculum enrichment efforts. If you choose to participate in such trips, you will be expected to cover the costs of travel and maintenance.
Optional estimate: £500
We try to offer you the opportunity to go to Europe. The trip is optional and not directly related to the course, but it gives you the opportunity to meet other students within the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy, and to visit sites of historical, political and philosophical relevance.
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersOur state-of-the-art curriculum is designed to significantly enhance your employability. Studying philosophy enables you to develop and perfect much sought-after digital, analytical, and communication skills, opening up a very wide array of career options for you. Some of our recent graduates have found careers in primary and secondary school teaching, law, the fast-track civil service scheme, academia, the intelligence services, media work, film, and publishing.
There is also the opportunity to engage in further study and professional training, for example some of our graduates go on to study MA Philosophy, which focuses on a rich and varied tradition of philosophical theory across Anglo-American and the continental European traditions.
You can apply for the full-time option of this course through UCAS.
UCAS code(s)V500
Institution code: M40
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.