The University of HullHull, HU6 7RX, UK0870 126 2000admissions@hull.ac.uk

www.hull.ac.uk

H72

HIGHESTTEACHINGQUALITY OUTSTANDING

STUDENT EXPERIENCESUPERB GRADUATE

EMPLOYABILITY INNOVATIONBUILT ON 80YEARS OF

EXPERIENCE

The University of Hull

Philosophy

Key factsDegree course UCAS Duration Special Typical

code reqs offerAmerican Studies and Philosophy TV75 BA/ASP 3 years – 260–280CreativeWriting and Philosophy WV85 BA/CWP 3 years – 260–300English and Philosophy QV35 BA/EPh 3 years A level English 300–320Law with Philosophy M1V5 LLB/LP 3 years – 320Ethics, Religion andEducational Studies VX63 BA/ERES 3 years – 240

BA Philosophy V500 BA/Ph 3 years – 300–320BSc Philosophy V502 BSc/Ph 3 years – 280–300Philosophy with CreativeWriting V5W8 BA/PCW 3 years – 280–300Philosophy and Film Studies VP53 BA/PF 3 years – 280Philosophy with Gender Studies V5L3 BA/PGS 3 years – 280–300Philosophy and modern languages: 4 years – 280–300Philosophy and French VR51 BA/PFrPhilosophy and German VR52 BA/PGerPhilosophy and Italian VR53 BA/PItPhilosophy and Spanish VR54 BA/PSp

Philosophy and Politics LV25 BA/PhP 3 years – 300Philosophy with Psychology V5C8 BA/PPsy 3 years – 300–320Philosophy and Sociology LV35 BA/PhS 3 years – 280–300Philosophy and Theology VV56 BA/PhT 3 years – 280–300Physics and Philosophy FV35 BSc/PP 3 years A level Physics

and Maths 240–300Politics, Philosophyand Economics L0V0 BA/PPE 3 years – 320

Politics, Philosophy and Law LVM0 BA/PPL 3 years – 320Psychology with Philosophy C8V5 BSc/PsyPh 3 years – 280

Courses including Foundation English LanguagePhilosophy V5Q3 BA/PFEL 4 years IELTS 5.0 280–320Politics, Philosophyand Economics LVQ0 BA/PPEFEL 4 years IELTS 5.0 320Politics, Philosophy and Law VLM0 BA/PPL 4 years IELTS 5.0 280–320

If you require further information you can go online to UCAS (www.ucas.ac.uk) and theUniversity (www.hull.ac.uk) or contact the Admissions Coordinator, Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences,The University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK, 01482 466191, k.e.nock@hull.ac.uk. (Ifyou have a UCAS number, please quote it in all correspondence.)

Why philosophy? 1

What is philosophy? 2

Philosophy at Hull 3

Philosophy modules 5

Philosophy: the story so far 6

Life in the department 8

Life after graduation 9

Admissions 10

Staff and their interests 12

Contents

Admissions ServiceThe University of HullHull, HU6 7RXT 01482 466100F 01482 442290E admissions@hull.ac.uk

Why philosophy?

Socrates is reported (by Plato) to have said that ‘to let noday pass without discussing goodness and all the othertopics about which you hear me examining both myself andothers is really the very best thing that someone can do’and that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’.

Have you ever felt that most courses of study stop just whenthings are beginning to get interesting? That certain questionsare disallowed in advance? That what you’ve been taughtrests on unquestioned assumptions? Or perhaps you areunwilling just to accept received wisdom and are suspiciousof arguments based on authority alone?

Philosophy is a subject in which questioning is not curtailedbut encouraged. In philosophy absolutely nothing remainsunexamined or unquestioned: everything is, so to speak, upfor grabs. Philosophers even ask themselves ‘What isphilosophy?’ and disagree over the answer. If you enjoydigging beneath the surface of an issue, uncoveringassumptions and examining first principles, then philosophy isa subject you would enjoy.

The examined life requires us to be open to new, sometimesbizarre, and often very challenging ideas. Philosophy obligesus to follow an argument through to its conclusion, even ifthis is a conclusion we don’t find particularly congenial.Thismay mean that it exposes one’s firmest personal convictionsto close scrutiny. It certainly means that we have to be opento disagreement: that we must take the opinions of othersseriously and – while not necessarily agreeing with them, andmost probably arguing strongly against their position –respect their point of view.The reward, if we are prepared totake the plunge, is that it thereby enriches our view of lifeand gives us a high degree of personal fulfilment.

Philosophical conundrums

Can you really know if someone loves you? How canyou tell?

Can you ever know what others think and feel?

For that matter, can we really know anything withcertainty?

What do we mean when we say that something istrue?

What justifies politicians’ exercise of power?

Are any governments just? What is justice anyway?

When we say something is right or wrong, are we justexpressing approval or disapproval? Is there more tomorality than this?

Is there a God? Are arguments for His existence sound?Is the very notion incoherent?

What is the nature of time? Is time travel possible?

What am I? What makes me the same person todayas, say, 10 years ago?

Am I my mind? What is the mind? Is it the same thingas the brain?

Is it better to be a discontented philosopher, or acontented pig?

And so on ...

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As you may have gathered already, there is nostraightforward answer to this question. One wayof trying to provide a quick answer would be tolook at the type of issues that philosophers havecontemplated and discussed for more than 2,500years. Many of these issues are highly abstractand often technical, but most have their origins inquestions which you may have puzzled aboutyourself. Some examples are given on page 1.

So how do philosophers answer such questions?Unfortunately for our quick answer, the way thatphilosophers might set about tackling thesequestions will depend on their view of the natureof philosophy.Things are never simple, are they?Small wonder that the subject appears to progressonly by multiplying the problems it sets out tosolve.

Despite such difficulties there is – fortunately –sufficient agreement that philosophers have notrouble in recognising the contributions of theirpeers. Philosophers do not try to answerphilosophical questions by formulating hypothesesbased on observation and experiment likescientists. Nor do they proceed by constructingabstract systems of axioms and theorems likemathematicians.They do not attempt to convertthe unbeliever, and do not think such questions aresettled by an appeal to taste.What they actuallydo is examine the arguments and try to persuadeby an appeal to reason.

No claim is left unquestioned. All assumptionsrequire justification. Ambiguities and obscuritieshave to be clarified. And conclusions must besupported by evidence and reasoned argument.

What use is philosophy?Socrates’ answer was that it makes life interesting.Bertrand Russell argues that it frees the intellect: itsquestions, he says, ‘enlarge our conception of whatis possible, enrich our intellectual imagination, anddiminish the dogmatic assurance which closes themind against speculation’. For some of us, that isenough. But a more practical justification can alsobe made.

Despite philosophy’s long history, The Times wasquite right when it recently described philosophyas ‘the quintessentially modern discipline’. Studentsof the subject need not fear that their study isirrelevant to the modern world. Philosophy’s risingpopularity is not just due to the fact that it affordsa high degree of personal fulfilment; it alsoprovides excellent training for occupationsinvolving the analysis, appraisal and formulation ofargument (that is, virtually any graduate occupationyou care to mention).The skills you acquirestudying philosophy are widely sought after byemployers.

But, you might ask, what are these skills? Verybroadly, they are skills of comprehension,communication and reasoning. More specifically, forexample, they involve the ability to interpret,analyse and evaluate information and assessadditional evidence; to summarise informationaccurately and to present it clearly; to adjudicatebetween various positions; to ask pertinentquestions; to think your way logically and creativelythrough difficult problems; to identify assumptionsand reasoning errors; to draw out implications andsummarise conclusions; and, not least, to reasonand argue a topic through and to develop andpresent new arguments.

We do not promise that studying philosophy willprovide you with conclusive answers to thequestions it raises; but it will provide you with theintellectual resources with which you can thinkclearly about them – resources you will retain anddevelop for the rest of your life.

Of course, it also equips you with the skills toquestion the question.What is it to be ‘useful’anyway? Is it a matter of what is good for you? Iswhat is good for individuals good for society? Andso on ...

What is philosophy?

Philosophy

Suggested reading

• Brenda Almond, ExploringPhilosophy (Blackwell,1995)

• The Philosopher’s SnackPack (TPM, 2000)

• Jostein Gaarder, Sophie’sWorld (Phoenix, 1995)

• John Hospers, AnIntroduction toPhilosophical Analysis(Routledge & Kegan Paul,1956)

• Anthony Kenny, TheOxford Illustrated Historyof Western Philosophy(OUP, 1994)

• Thomas Nagel, WhatDoes It All Mean? (OUP,1987)

• Bertrand Russell, TheProblems of Philosophy(OUP, 1967)

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It was Plutarch who remarked that ‘the mind isnot a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled’.In line with this, our aim is not simply to teachyou about philosophy and its history, but to teachyou to do philosophy: to experience theintellectual excitement of being engaged inphilosophical debate itself.This means that youwill learn to articulate your own views onphilosophical questions, to present arguments forthem and to defend them against objections.

It is this conception of the purpose of aphilosophical education that determines oursyllabus and our teaching and assessment methods.Your contribution to debate is therefore bothencouraged and valued. Because the subject offersno body of established fact, it makes room for theinsights of the novice as readily as the opinions ofthe expert. In fact, professional philosophers canoften find themselves being tripped up inargument by the contributions of their students.

The syllabusThe syllabus here is primarily issue-based: youencounter philosophy’s central figures and itshistory principally through studying its problemsand the suggested solutions to these. No priorknowledge of the subject is assumed.You can gainsome idea of the syllabus by looking at thePhilosophy Modules section on page 5. A popularfeature of our syllabus is the degree of choice itaffords you. Apart from a small number ofcompulsory core modules (mainly in the first andsecond years), our students are completely free tochoose whichever aspects of philosophy they wishto study.You may also select a module each yearfrom outside the department if you wish.You areable to choose modules from a diverse range ofother disciplines: in the last year, for example,philosophy students have taken modules in Englishliterature, French, psychology, Spanish, Buddhism,biology, Italian, history, physics, politics and evencosmology and astrophysics.

Tutorials, seminars and lecturesYou are taught in a variety of formats. Lecturesprovide a means of imparting knowledge andbuilding a firm understanding of the subject whiletutorials and seminars provide ample opportunityfor discussing ideas with others, developing yourcritical and argumentative skills and providing achance for you to develop your own voice in thedebate.

Throughout the first year, students are taught intutorial groups of around 8 to 10 students. In smallgroups it is easier for you to try out an idea(perhaps one of your own) on your peers and forthem to return the favour in kind. In the secondand third years, tutorials are replaced by discussionclasses with larger groups of students, in which

small-group discussion often follows the lecturer’spresentation. In the final year, Single Honoursstudents write a dissertation (an extended essay)on a philosophical topic of their choice, for whichthey have fortnightly supervision on a one-to-onebasis.This is an important part of the finalassessment, and it allows you to research an area,problem or individual philosopher that particularlyinterests you. External examiners have consistentlycommented on the excellent quality of this work.

We think that our students enjoy the informal andfriendly atmosphere in which learning takes placein the department; but don’t take our word for it –a selection of our students’ views are providedwithin this pamphlet.

Methods of assessmentAssessment is based on a mixture of examinationand coursework.What the exact balance isbetween these largely depends on what modulesyou choose.You are therefore able to tailor yourdegree to suit your strengths with respect toassessment.

In recent years, approximately 60% of our studentshave gained good upper second or first classdegree results, while fewer than 2% have failed toachieve at least lower second class Honoursdegrees.The drop-out rate for our undergraduatesis very low indeed.

Foreign exchangeFor over a decade we have had strong links withphilosophy departments in other EU universities.Through the Erasmus and Socrates exchangeprogrammes, Single Honours students and JointHonours language students have had theopportunity to spend part of their degree studyingabroad.

Single Honours students may spend part or all oftheir second year studying philosophy at theUniversity of Murcia (Spain), with which we have along-standing link, or at other Europeanuniversities. Although participating students arerequired to have at least Passport level in therelevant language, in Murcia we can arrange sometuition in English; assessment in English may also beconducted back in Hull. Opportunities also existfor our students to spendYear 2 studying at one ofa range of universities in the United States ofAmerica.

Each year we have students from various Europeanuniversities studying in the department, and theirprofessors sometimes lecture here. As well asarranging teaching exchanges, the departmentwelcomes philosophers from abroad as visitingscholars conducting research.

www.hull.ac.uk

Student satisfactionIn the 2005 and 2006National Student Surveys,our philosophy coursesreceived the highest scoresfor any philosophy coursesin the country, placing thedepartment first in itssubject area.The surveyasked 170,000 final-yearstudents about teaching,assessment and feedback,academic support, learningresources, personaldevelopment andmanagement.

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Courses of studyPhilosophy may be studied on its own as a SingleHonours degree or in an array of combinations.The courses normally extend over three years, orfour years in the case of Joint Honours withlanguages and those including Foundation EnglishLanguage.

Modular frameworkAll degree courses are taught within a modularframework which permits maximum flexibility ofchoice. All modules are assigned a credit value,with a degree worth 360 credits of study. Eachyear you should accumulate 120 credits in order toprogress. Normally students split this evenly acrossthe two semesters. Every course offers thepossibility of gaining a certificate after thesatisfactory completion of one year’s study (120credits), or a diploma after two years (240 credits),if you decide not to proceed any further.

Single HonoursThere are three ways of studying philosophy as aSingle Honours subject. In each semester of thefirst year you must take two core modules, andyou choose from a number of other modules tomake up the credit balance.You may take up to 20credits per year from outside the PhilosophyDepartment if you wish. All three courses are alsoavailable part-time (see below).

• BA Philosophy (V500 BA/Ph)• BSc Philosophy (V502 BSc/Ph)• BA Ethics, Religion and Educational Studies

(VX63 BA/ERES)

Joint HonoursPhilosophy may be taken in numerouscombinations. In terms of annual credits, these are60/60 combinations (that is, you take 60 credits ineach subject per year).The modules studied areexactly the same as those for Single Honoursstudents, but as a Joint student you take only halfof them.

• BA American Studies and Philosophy (TV75BA/ASP)

• BA CreativeWriting and Philosophy (WV85BA/CWP)

• BA English and Philosophy (QV35 BA/EPh)• BA Philosophy and Film Studies (VP53 BA/PF)• BA Philosophy and French (VR51 BA/PFr)• BA Philosophy and German (VR52 BA/PGer)• BA Philosophy and Italian (VR53 BA/PIt)• BA Philosophy and Politics (LV25 BA/PhP)• BA Philosophy and Sociology (LV35 BA/PhS)• BA Philosophy and Spanish (VR54 BA/PSp)• BA Philosophy and Theology (VV56 BA/PhT)• BSc Physics and Philosophy (FV35 BSc/PP)

Interdisciplinary Honours• BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics (L0V0

BA/PPE)• BA Politics, Philosophy and Law (LVM0 BA/PPL)

These degrees enable you to take a wider range ofrelated courses while specialising in one of them. Inthe first year the credit combination is 40/40/40,after which you may vary it to suit your interests.

Major/minor combinations• LLB Law with Philosophy (M1V5 LLB/LP)• Philosophy with CreativeWriting (V5W8

BA/PCW)• BA Philosophy with Gender Studies (V5L3

BA/PGS)• BSc Psychology with Philosophy (C8V5

BSc/PsyPh)• BA Philosophy with Psychology (V5C8 BA/PPsy)

These degrees are available in an 80/40 annualcredit combinations except Law with Philosophy,which is 100/20.There are no restrictions on whichphilosophy modules you may take.The Law withPhilosophy and Psychology with Philosophycourses are professionally accredited.

Foundation English LanguageWe also have three four-year courses specificallydesigned for overseas students who require someadditional English language supervision.They arenot suitable for absolute beginners and requireIELTS 5.0 or the equivalent level of Englishlanguage competence.

• BA Philosophy (including Foundation EnglishLanguage) (V5Q3 BA/PFEL)

• BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics (includingFoundation English Language) (LVQ0BA/PPEFEL)

• BA Politics, Philosophy and Law (includingFoundation English Language) (VLM0BA/PPLFEL)

Part-time coursesWe also offer part-time certificates, diplomas anddegrees after the satisfactory completion of two,four and six years’ study on any of the abovecourses. Applications for the part-time coursesshould be made directly to the department andnot through UCAS.

Philosophy

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All Single Honours and Joint Honours studentstake core tutorial modules and choose from amenu of options taught in larger groups.A fewoptions may be unavailable in any one year (dueto staff study leave), but we try to ensure that alloptions will be on offer to you at some pointduring your three years of study.

First-year modulesIn each semester of Year 1 you take one coretutorial module.These modules introduce you tothe main problems of philosophy.Topics coveredinclude scepticism and knowledge, the existence ofGod, the mind/body problem, language andmeaning, idealism and realism, key ethical theories,the nature of moral reasoning and the objectivityof morality, as well as specific moral problems andtheir suggested solutions.They are accompanied bytwo other core modules for Single Honoursstudents: Philosophical Methods and PhilosophicalTexts.

From the list of options you may choose moduleswhich introduce aspects of the Socratic moralphilosophy and Plato’s early dialogues; to Plato’spolitical philosophy and theory of knowledge, aswell as Aristotle’s thinking on a range ofmetaphysical and moral topics; and to the centralquestions in moral and social philosophy.

Other modules examine the empiricist claim thatall ideas are ultimately derivable from experience;the differences between the five senses;fundamental questions in aesthetics and ethics andhow judgements of taste are to be distinguishedfrom moral judgements; the question whetherareas of knowledge are gendered and theintersection of gender theories and traditionalpolitical philosophies; fundamental logical conceptsand fallacies in reasoning; and whether the logicalstructure of thought is mirrored in the grammaticaland syntactical structure of language.

Second- and third-year modulesIn Year 2, there are core modules titled MoralPhilosophy andWays of Knowing; Single Honoursstudents take both and Joint Honours studentstake one. From the list of options, you may chooseto take modules in the philosophy of psychology;the philosophy of science; the philosophy oflanguage; nations and cultures; bodies and selves;and contemporary European thought.

In Year 3, modules often reflect the researchinterests of members of the department. Optionsare available in a diverse range of specialisms,including environmental philosophy; applied ethics;Wittgenstein on language and reality; virtues andvices; pleasure, pain, emotion and the will;Wittgenstein on knowledge and certainty;philosophy of law; free will and determinism; Plato;issues in public policy and applied ethics; Aristotle’smoral philosophy; gender, science and knowledge;scepticism, naturalism and common sense; andbodies and selves.

Single Honours students also undertake researchfor a dissertation (an extended essay) in an area oftheir choice.This is a core module which coversboth semesters of the final year, and for whichstudents receive individual supervision.

www.hull.ac.uk

My route to universitywas very much non-standard – I had severaljobs and an abortivecareer in the Armybefore convincinganyone to allow meaccess to highereducation.Yet I havenever felt more relaxedand at home than I dohere.

What I think issignificant to thosearound me, and thedepartment is veryactive and lively. In myfirst semester I haveserved on theStaff–StudentCommittee andparticipated in thedepartment’s researchseminars. Beyondphilosophy I have alsorepresented theUniversity in basketball,learned a new sport(‘Hulltimate Frisbee’)and performed in a playwith the University’sDrama Society.There isan active social life and Ican always be sure thatif I wander into a bar Iwill find someone to talkto about anything fromSocrates to Star Wars,and probably both atonce.

The course itself isexceptionally interestingand taught by dedicated,passionate people whoare themselves still verymuch involved inphilosophy.The courseputs a lot of emphasis onthe individual decidingwhat interests them, andeven allows outsideinterests in otherdisciplines.To conclude,I’m really rather pleasedwith the place and thecourse: anyone seriouslyinterested in taking adegree in philosophyshould strongly considerHull.

Daniel PorsaBA Philosophy

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PhilosophyPhilosophy:thestorysofar

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www.hull.ac.uk

©BobFitter,1989

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We think you will find the departmentintellectually stimulating, but relaxed and friendly– an atmosphere conducive to profitablediscussion.Through the close contact of thetutorials, staff and students get to know eachother very well.There are about 30 SingleHonours and 35 Joint Honours undergraduatestudents in each year, plus a good-sized graduateschool of about 25 students.

The department is active in research and scored 4in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise(RAE), meaning that our research was deemed tobe of national excellence in virtually all areas, withsome of international excellence.* This was anexceptionally good result for a department of ourmodest size.We firmly believe that teaching andresearch are mutually beneficial and are thereforekeen to sustain a departmental research culturewhich benefits the intellectual development of staffand students. As well as sponsoring internationalconferences, we hold regular research seminarsthroughout each semester in which staff,postgraduate students and visiting philosophersfrom other universities give papers on questions ofcurrent interest.These events are open to allstudents, whom we encourage to attend.

* The RAE rating is a seven-point scale from 1(low), through 2, 3b, 3a, 4 and 5, to 5* (high).

Centres of researchThe department co-sponsors two research centresat Hull. Based within the department is theInstitute for Applied Ethics, whose philosophicalwork involves investigating ethical problemsrelevant to practical decision making in areas ofeducation, health, welfare, management, politics andthe law.The department is also a co-sponsor ofthe Centre for Gender Studies, with a particularinterest in its philosophical investigations of theconstruction of gendered subjectivity, the role ofthe body, and the gendered nature of science andother areas of knowledge. Both centres organiseseminars at which students are welcome.

The Philosophy SocietyInformal discussion evenings are also organised bythe Philosophy Society, a student-run organisationaffiliated to Hull University Union which comprisesnot only philosophy students but also interestedstudents from across the University.

Student involvementThe department is keen that students’ formalinvolvement in its affairs goes beyond the teachingcontext.We encourage active student participationin the organisation and running of certaindepartmental activities.The Philosophy Society isencouraged to suggest speakers that studentsparticularly wish to hear. It is also responsible formaintaining the departmental library.

During each semester there are regular meetingsof the Staff–Student Committee, which consists ofmembers of staff and an equal number of electedstudent representatives. Although the committee isan advisory body, the department takes itsrecommendations extremely seriously. It is worthremarking that the syllabus and teaching systemoutlined earlier were introduced followingrecommendations made by this committee.Through it, all students have an effective share indetermining what it is like to study philosophyat Hull.

Life in the department

Philosophy

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Once you have graduated, what then? Havingread for an Honours degree in philosophy, wehope that at the very least you will be a morerounded, and possibly a more interesting andinterested, individual – one with a betterunderstanding of the ideas that continue to shapeour culture and with the intellectual tools forcritically appraising the wider world. But whatcan you do with a degree in philosophy?

Career opportunitiesIf you assume that the past is a reliable guide tothe future, you may like to know that our recentphilosophy graduates have gone on to careers inlaw, television and radio production, businessmanagement, teaching, the civil service, journalism,computing, financial management, freelance writing,local-government management and theatreproduction.The choice of career is yours.

Many career opportunities for graduates arecompletely open, so the fact that you have studied,say, philosophy, history, English literature or businessstudies is much less important than the fact thatyou have graduated with a good Honours degreefrom a respected institution. Graduates of anydiscipline who are looking for satisfying work havealways had – and will continue to have – aconsiderable advantage over non-graduates. Sostudying philosophy will not materially disadvantageyou. In fact, research reveals that the vast majorityof philosophy students are in satisfying careerswithin a year or so of graduating, and most ofthem find their philosophical background a positiveadvantage in their jobs (see the section entitledWhy Philosophy?).

The University has an excellent graduateemployment record, as testified by league tablespublished in the national press. The Guardian, forinstance, recently placed us among the top 10universities nationally for graduates’ job prospects.

Postgraduate opportunitiesFor some students the ideal choice for life aftergraduation is more study. Many of our graduatesprogress to further study at postgraduate level,either in philosophy or on more vocationallyoriented courses such as the PGCE (teachertraining) or CPE (leading to Law Society finals).Thedepartment has its own highly active graduateschool, and we are happy to consider graduateswith good Honours degrees for MA programmesor research.

MAApplied EthicsThis taught Masters degree offers a grounding inapplied philosophy and opportunities to study aselection of topics including environmental issues,medical ethics, moral education, personal and socialvalues, and race, gender and individual rights.Thedegree may be taken in one year full-time or twoyears part-time.

MA (Research) in Philosophy of Mindand BodyThe study of this fast-developing subject issupported by weekly two-hour seminars, withindividual supervision in areas of special interestplus specialist research training modules.Thedegree may be taken in one year full-time or twoyears part-time.

Higher degrees by researchWe take graduates with good Honours degrees tocarry out full- or part-time research leading to thepreparation of a thesis for an MPhil or PhD.Supervision is available in a variety of areas, andthe library provides excellent facilities inphilosophy.There are currently more than 20postgraduate students in the department.

Those who are interested in pursuingpostgraduate study should contact Dr KathleenLennon, Department of Philosophy,The Universityof Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, or at k.lennon@hull.ac.uk.

www.hull.ac.uk

I chose to studypsychology togetherwith philosophy atuniversity because Ithought they were twosubjects that wouldcomplement each otherperfectly. I wasn’tdisappointed.Theircombination gives you achance to applyknowledge from onearea in the other, withthe wide scope andanalytical approach ofphilosophy providing aninteresting contrast tothe heavily specific andscientific way in whichpsychology is studied.Reading psychologymakes the philosophythat bit more tangible,giving real-life insightinto the issues involved,whereas the philosophyhelps me consider theethical implications ofmy psychologicalstudies, understandtheir theoretical basisand grasp theirrelevance to the way welive. I’ve found it to bean immensely variedand rewarding course.You do learn somethingnew every day and youwill end up talkingabout it to your matesdown the pub.

VictoriaWhitbyBSc Psychology withPhilosophy

Life after graduation

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Philosophy appeals to people with a wide rangeof interests and aptitudes.We do not, therefore,have any special requirements.Apart fromapplications to part-time courses, all applicationsshould be made through the Universities andColleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

GCE A levels are the most frequent entry route.For the Single Honours courses we do not restrictthe choice of subjects at A level.This is also true ofour Joint and ‘with’ combinations except JointEnglish (a grade B or better is required in A levelEnglish Literature, English Language, or combinedEnglish Language and Literature), Joint Physics (aminimum of grade C is required in A level Physicsand A level Maths) and with Mathematics (a gradeC or better is required in A level Maths).Weaccept A level General Studies for entry to any ofour courses.

We are happy to accept a variety of otherqualifications for admissions purposes, including theEuropean Baccalaureate, the InternationalBaccalaureate, the Irish Leaving Certificate, theScottish Certificate of Education and theappropriate university matriculation examinationsfor all European Union (EU) countries. Applicationsfrom those taking vocational qualifications such asthe Advanced GNVQ or VCE A levels areconsidered on an individual basis.

The level of offer will vary from course to course;we give examples of typical offers, in terms of Alevel grades, under ‘Key Facts’ on the inner frontcover. But we would like to add an importantcaveat: we look at an application ‘in the round’,taking into account other factors (such as specialcircumstances, the personal statement, thereference), and therefore may be prepared to varyoffers in individual cases.

Mature studentsWe actively recruit mature students into thedepartment, and these normally constitute aboutone-third of our intake.The department recognisesthe responsibilities that many mature students haveand tries to be as flexible as possible in order tofacilitate study.The University has a nursery oncampus.

We encourage those who have been out ofeducation for some time to undertake akitemarked Access course before entering highereducation, as these provide a good grounding forour subject. If you are unable to take an Accesscourse (which may be difficult for those in full-timeemployment, for example), we encourage you totake one or more A levels or an alternative courseinvolving the production of written work. Inexceptional circumstances we may considerapplications from people without formalqualifications. In such cases applicants are asked todemonstrate that their life/work experience hasequipped them with the qualities and skillsrequired to complete the course successfully.

Our part-time certificates, diplomas and degreesoffer an attractive alternative to students whoseextracurricular responsibilities mean that full-timestudy is difficult or impossible.The modules studiedare exactly the same as those for full-timeHonours students, except that each year’s creditload is half that of a full-time student.

Mature applicants who would like to discuss theirapplications, or who are interested in part-timestudy, are invited to contact

Dr Stephen BurwoodDirector of StudiesDepartment of PhilosophyThe University of HullHull, HU6 7RXE s.a.burwood@hull.ac.uk

If you have a UCAS number, please quote it in allcorrespondence.

Admissions

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International studentsWe welcome applications from outside the EUand recognise a range of qualifications from manycountries. In most cases school leaving certificatesneed to be supplemented with A levels, AICE orthe International Baccalaureate. However, as withUK and EU qualifications, the usual caveat applies:we look at an application ‘in the round’, taking intoaccount factors other than formal qualifications,and therefore may be prepared to vary offers inindividual cases. Applicants whose first language isnot English must be able to demonstrate a certainlevel of proficiency in English.This may mean thatthey require additional English languagequalifications.

Further information concerning English languagequalifications can be obtained from

The Admissions OfficerThe University of HullHull, HU6 7RX, UKE admissions@hull.ac.ukT +44 (0)1482 466100

If you have a UCAS number, please quote it in allcorrespondence.

Applications and further detailsApplication forms and further details of theadmissions procedure may be obtained fromUCAS, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham,Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ:

E app.req@ucas.ac.ukT 0870 112 2200

Further details of all the philosophy study courses,entry requirements and advice for applicants canbe obtained online at UCAS’s and the University’swebsites:

www.ucas.ac.ukwww.hull.ac.uk/philosophy

Scholarships and bursariesThe University offers a number of competitivescholarships or bursaries: Local Student Bursary(£500 per session – open to applicants resident inHull and the surrounding area); Sir Roy MarshallScholarship (half tuition fee – open to overseasapplicants); LordWilberforce Scholarship (fulltuition fee – open to overseas applicants). Forfurther details please contact The Secretary to theScholarships Committee, Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences,The University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX.

My coming to Hull maywell be taken asevidence that thePhilosophy Departmenthere is extraordinarilywelcoming. I had beenrefused admission to afew other UKuniversities for nothaving completed highschool in America,despite having otherqualifications and apassionate interest inphilosophy.Yet after aseries of messagesbetween myself and theAdmissionsTutor atHull, I was finallygranted a place basedon the qualifications Idid hold and a shortessay. I learned laterjust how fortunate I wasto be given a placehere: working within thedepartment has beenan enjoyable andenriching experience forme. Every member ofstaff I have met,whether in thePhilosophy Office,corridors, lecturetheatres or seminarrooms, has proven verypleasant and friendly.My lecturers havealways provided greatinsight into the subject,as each one has aparticular enthusiasmfor what they teach.They have also neverfailed to give usefuladvice and direction formy own independentstudy, which is, I believe,an important elementin philosophicalengagement. In myexperience, studyingPhilosophy at Hullallows for every studentto excel as far and aswell as one can wish.

Justin JohnsonBA English and Philosophy

I developed an interestin philosophy afterstudying ethics at A leveland wanted to expandmy knowledge of thesubject. From studying itfor a couple of yearsnow, I find that I tend toquestion most things anddo not accept them atface value.The subjecthas taken aparteverything I thought Iknew and turned itupside down. Now I’mnot entirely sure I knowanything with certainty,but it has been one hellof an exciting voyage ofdiscovery.The course,and the way that it’staught (encouraging lotsof discussion), hasdefinitely enhanced myskills of analysis andargumentation. It’s noweasy to see just howinconsistent and poormany arguments are –and especially thoseconstituting what passesfor public debate.

The most positive aspectof the course for me wasalso the most surprising:that philosophy has a lotto do with everyday life.I also like the waystudents are encouragedto express their ownviews (so long as theseare argued for!) and notsimply report the viewsof others. I have learnedto take aspects of thephilosophy I have beentaught, and the views ofthe famous philosophersI’ve read, andincorporate them intomy own philosophicalopinions. Philosophy isone of those subjects atuniversity that is a realchallenge; but it is onethat will influence youfor the rest of your life.

Jay FinchamBA Philosophy

www.hull.ac.uk

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Ferens Professor of PhilosophyKathleen Lennon BA, BPhil, DPhilPhilosophy of mind, feminist philosophy, philosophyof the social sciences, gender theory

Reader in Applied EthicsSuzanne Uniacke BA, MA, PhDApplied ethics, ethics, philosophy of law, social andpolitical philosophy

Senior LecturerJohn McMillan BA, PhDBioethics, philosophy of mind

LecturersStephen Burwood BSc, PhDPhilosophy of body and mind, environmentalphilosophy, philosophy of science,Wittgenstein,philosophy of education

Stella González Arnal Lda en Filosofia, MA, PhDFeminist philosophy, epistemology, philosophy ofmind, philosophy of science

Antony Hatzistavrou MA, PhDPhilosophy of action, legal philosophy, ancientphilosophy

WayneWilliams BAAnimal rights, terrorism, Rawls

RCUK Research FellowSøren Overgaard BA, MA, PhDWittgenstein, Levinas, subjectivity, philosophy of theordinary

Tutorial AssistantsTom Hall BA, MAPhilosophy of mind

Angie Shepherd BA, MAPhilosophy of mind

DanielWalters BA, MAPhilosophy of mind

Emeritus Professor of Moral and SocialPhilosophyBrenda Almond BA, MPhil, doc.hcApplied philosophy and applied ethics

Emeritus Professor of PhilosophyPaul Gilbert MAHuman relationships (personal and political),nationalism, terrorism, philosophy of mind,epistemology,Wittgenstein

Members of staff and their teaching andresearch interests

Philosophy

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free electivemodule from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus.You caneven take a module from another faculty. Inthe past philosophy students have foundelectives in the following areas particularlyrewarding:

• Theology• Gender Studies• English• Politics and International Studies• Film Studies• History• Sociology and Anthropology• Law• Psychology• Computer Science

What are the main reasons forparticipating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity

to study a subject without having tocommit yourself to taking furthermodules in that subject area.

• By taking a free elective you are able tofollow up your interests as part of yourdegree.

• With a broader education you mayacquire extra skills that will help youwhen you enter the employment market.

SEMESTER 2

20 credits

20 credits

20credits

20 credits

20 credits

SEMESTER 1

Here you take modules fromyour main course of study.

Here you have the option to takea free elective or another modulefrom your main course of study.

20credits

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided in thispamphlet is intended as a general guide andcannot cover all possibilities. Entryrequirements are generally stated in terms ofA level grades and/or UCAS points, but weencourage applications from people with awide range of other qualifications and/orexperience. Some further details of thevarious entry routes are included in ourgeneral prospectus. Please contact theAdmissions Office (see below) with anyspecific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis pamphlet is intended principally as aguide for applicants.The matters covered byit – academic and otherwise – are subject tochange from time to time both before andafter students are admitted.While everyreasonable precaution was taken in theproduction of this pamphlet, the Universitydoes not accept liability for any inaccuraciesor changes. Information relating to studyprogrammes is issued for the generalguidance of students entering the Universityand does not form part of any contract.TheUniversity hopes to provide the courses andfacilities described, but reserves the right towithdraw or to make alterations to coursesand facilities if necessary.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write to

Admissions SserviceThe University of HullHull, HU6 7RXT 01482 466100F 01482 442290E admissions@hull.ac.uk

Dates of semestersFor the current semester dates pleasevisit our website at www.hull.ac.uk.

Studying for a degree at Hull is a unique experience.We aim toprovide you with an education that offers both depth andbreadth of knowledge.To meet these ends the University hasdeveloped an optional Free Elective Scheme.This scheme enablesthe majority of undergraduate students to take one module ayear from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

Free Elective Scheme