Philosophy (Placement Year) BA Hons

Philosophy is the careful, critical, and reasoned engagement with a wide range of fundamental questions about human existence; about art, politics, justice, right and wrong, truth and knowledge, faith and reason.

Here at Lancaster we approach these questions not only through the history of Western philosophy, examining figures such as Plato, Kant, Descartes and Nietzsche, but also through non-Western approaches to philosophy, and contemporary philosophical discussion of a wide range of topics.

Lancaster is distinctive in two respects:

a large proportion of our experts specialise in applied philosophy and contribute to discussions about public policy and the law, both nationally and internationally.
a number of experts specialise in non-Western philosophy, including Indian and Islamic philosophical traditions.
These two distinctions make Lancaster uniquely placed to provide a wide-ranging programme that is balanced and rounded, drawing on philosophies from around the world. We have a particular focus on how philosophy can be used in daily life, from government to education, international relations to well-being. Our lecturers are passionate about their specialisms and bring their latest research into their teaching.

The degree covers many topics and approaches. As you advance throught the degree, you increasingly have the opportunity to tailor the degree to your own interests by choosing from a wide range of modules.

In your first year you will take three modules. The cornerstone is the core module Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality, which draws on a broad range of philosophical traditions and covers several areas of philosophy including metaphysics and epistemology. It will also develop your ability to reason and think clearly about the most fundamental questions of human existence. We’ll study both European and non-European sources.

In the first year we also strongly recommend that you take the complementary module Moral and Political Philosophy. This will develop your ability to reason and think clearly about questions of how we ought to act and organise our lives together. You will also be able to choose a third module from a range of subjects that complement your studies.

In the second year and final years you can choose from a broad range of options. These are just some of the many modules we offer:

Indian Philosophical and religious Thought
Metaphysics
Understanding Liberty: Theory and Practice
Mind-Body Problem
Moral Philosophy
Nineteenth Century Philosophy
Philosophical Questions in the Study of Politics and Economics
Philosophy of Science
Values and Objectivity
Exploring Politics, Religion and Values
Aesthetics
Darwinism and Philosophy
Feminist Philosophy
Future Generations
The Imagination
PPR in India – includes three weeks at Manipal University in India
The options available in any given year vary depending on our latest research, student feedback and topical concerns. You will find further information about modules in the Course Structure section.

In your final year, you have the opportunity to undertake a sustained investigation of a specific subject that interests you. This is the dissertation option, where you define a question with a member of academic staff, who will discuss the topic with you and advise you in your own research.

The placement year

You will have the opportunity to spend Year 3 on a placement with a public, private or voluntary organisation in the UK or overseas.  This experience should boost your employment prospects and help you to decide on your career direction and the kind of organisation in which you want to work once you graduate. You will be doing a real, responsible job – with all the satisfaction that brings.

Applying for a placement is a competitive process and our Placements Team will support you in finding and applying for a suitable placement. The preparatory modules you will complete in years one and two are designed to give you the best chance of success in both your placement applications and the placement itself.

One of the aims of the placement year is to enhance your understanding of the connections between theory and practice which could benefit your final year of study. Placements provide an exciting opportunity to build up experience and transferable skills, as well as to make contacts with potential employers, which can place you a step ahead in the graduate recruitment market.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities for which you would be welcome to apply.

“Studying philosophy at Lancaster has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and has allowed me to study a wide range of subjects including ethics, epistemology, the nature of the mind and many more interesting topics. Being taught by experts within their field who have a real passion for their subjects and who encourage and guide you through your work is incredibly helpful and is a key strength of the department. I have also been fortunate enough to do a placement year whilst completing my studies. I worked for an international charity called Hospices of Hope which promotes hospice care in southeast Europe. Philosophy has given me key analytic and evaluative skills which helped me conduct research and plan marketing.