Philosophy BA
AAA at A level; graduates earn a median £29,000 three years on.
95% of entrants came with A levels · 91% stay on after year 1 · Warwick course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: ABB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
Warwick course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications4
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 36 points36 | — |
| BTEC | —BTECs will be considered for this course. | — |
| Advanced Highers | AAAA in two Advanced Highers, and AAB in Highers in 3 further subjects. | — |
| Access | 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis. Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Di | — |
What do you study?
Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 74% · transversal skills 14% · language & communication 12%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Warwick course page · optional modules vary by year
- Logic 1: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
What you learn (6)
- define what makes an argument logically valid
- distinguish methods for determining argument validity or invalidity
- formulate and assess sentences in propositional and first-order logic
- apply truth tables to evaluate argument validity
- construct formal proofs to establish argument validity
- devise counterexamples to disprove invalid arguments
- Ancient Philosophy
What you learn (7)
- explain the central philosophical problems raised in key ancient texts
- describe the main arguments advanced by ancient philosophers
- evaluate the arguments presented in ancient philosophical texts
- formulate a personal position on the merits of these arguments
- apply close reading techniques to ancient philosophical texts
- explain technical terminology used in ancient philosophical writing
- describe scholarly debates over the meaning of key ancient terms
- Mind and Reality
What you learn (10)
- explain central problems in epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy of mind
- describe key concepts that frame these philosophical problems
- articulate opposing positions within philosophical debates
- outline arguments supporting different philosophical positions
- describe key scholarly literature relevant to the module topics
- analyse arguments for and against positions in the literature
- evaluate the strength of competing philosophical arguments
- present philosophical knowledge clearly in spoken form
- present philosophical knowledge clearly in written form
- relate module ideas to broader debates in philosophy
- Plato and Descartes
What you learn (9)
- explain philosophical issues and arguments underlying contemporary debates
- critique philosophical ideas and arguments
- articulate philosophical issues clearly
- present philosophical ideas verbally to varied audiences
- write philosophical ideas for varied audiences
- analyse complex material drawn from reading and reasoning
- evaluate complex philosophical material
- apply reasoning skills to new philosophical problems
- manage personal study schedules and deadlines
- Reason, Argument and Analysis
What you learn (13)
- identify premises and conclusions within an argument
- reconstruct arguments using standard form and argument maps
- evaluate the validity and strength of arguments
- interpret philosophical texts through close reading
- identify arguments embedded in philosophical works
- reconstruct arguments drawn from philosophical works
- evaluate arguments drawn from philosophical works
- use library and research resources to conduct independent research
- apply appropriate referencing conventions in written work
- present philosophical arguments and ideas clearly and concisely
- produce written assignments demonstrating clear communication
- communicate ideas orally in discussions and presentations
- collaborate effectively within a group to complete a joint project
- Key Debates in Moral and Political Philosophy
What you learn (3)
- explain major debates within moral and political philosophy
- apply key philosophical concepts to analyse individual conduct
- apply key philosophical concepts to analyse collective social life
1 optional module
- Philosophy for the Real World: Knowledge, Ignorance and Bullshit
What you learn (3)
- explain key concepts and debates in epistemology
- apply abstract philosophical concepts to real-world issues
- identify relevant works in the philosophical literature on knowledge
Year 2 · 1 core, 1 optional · 30 credits ≈ 300 hours
- History of Modern Philosophy
What you learn (5)
- explain key ideas and arguments from modern philosophical texts
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of philosophical arguments
- formulate a personal position on philosophical debates
- compare differing interpretations of key philosophical texts
- present philosophical ideas verbally in group discussion
1 optional module
- Applied Ethics
What you learn (9)
- differentiate competing positions on key applied ethics issues
- support or criticise ethical views using case studies and empirical evidence
- present ethical arguments clearly in spoken discussion
- present ethical arguments clearly in written form
- identify key claims within philosophical readings
- analyse the logical structure of philosophical arguments
- evaluate ethical theories using case studies and empirical evidence
- organise philosophical research drawing on diverse sources
- engage independently in ethical debate
Year 3 · 0 core, 8 optional
8 optional modules
- Philosophy of Religion
What you learn (4)
- explain key ideas and arguments in philosophy of religion
- evaluate philosophical ideas and arguments independently
- discuss philosophical ideas and arguments with peers
- refine personal understanding through group discussion
- Making Decisions
What you learn (3)
- describe philosophical debates surrounding decision making
- relate decision-making debates to other philosophical areas and empirical research
- apply key philosophical concepts to analyse human decision making
- The Philosophy of Terrorism and Counterterrorism
What you learn (3)
- explain key concepts and arguments in terrorism philosophy
- describe ethical and epistemological issues in counterterrorism debates
- relate terrorism debates to broader questions of morality and causation
- Moral Psychology: The Science of Good and Evil
What you learn (3)
- report empirical findings relevant to ethical questions
- evaluate whether empirical findings genuinely support ethical claims
- integrate psychological findings with philosophical ethical theory
- Philosophy of Evil
What you learn (11)
- identify key historical philosophers who addressed the problem of evil
- describe how philosophical thought on evil has evolved over time
- explain core theoretical concepts in the philosophy of evil
- apply technical philosophical terminology relevant to the study of evil
- communicate philosophical ideas clearly in written form
- communicate philosophical ideas clearly in spoken discussion
- research primary and secondary philosophical texts independently
- present findings from philosophical source analysis
- evaluate complex philosophical texts critically
- construct original philosophical arguments on positions regarding evil
- defend a philosophical position against counterarguments
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 100 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 14, 23
Half of graduates earned between £22,500 and £38,500. Five years on, the median is £38,500. 84% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 85% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 19% left | 91% | 60 |
| In work or study, 15 months on6% studying | 84% | 60 |
| Professional or managerial job | 85% | 45 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £33,000 | 30 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £29,000 | 100 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £38,500 | 105 |
What does it cost?
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Warwick fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold.
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 70% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 40 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 1; lowest: 75% on question 24.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 100% |
| Question 2 | 95% |
| Question 3 | 100% |
| Question 4 | 93% |
| Question 5 | 90% |
| Question 6 | 95% |
| Question 7 | 88% |
| Question 8 | 86% |
| Question 9 | 93% |
| Question 10 | 79% |
| Question 11 | 98% |
| Question 12 | 83% |
| Question 13 | 100% |
| Question 14 | 76% |
| Question 15 | 100% |
| Question 16 | 98% |
| Question 17 | 98% |
| Question 18 | 100% |
| Question 19 | 93% |
| Question 20 | 100% |
| Question 21 | 100% |
| Question 22 | 93% |
| Question 23 | 95% |
| Question 24 | 75% |
| Question 25 | 76% |
| Question 26 | 88% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Warwick’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Warwick is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.