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The University of Edinburgh: Philosophy
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
The Philosophy department at the University of Edinburgh ranks highly for research. While we have particular areas of research strength, we are able to supervise a thesis on almost any area of analytical philosophy.
We maintain close links with other disciplines and subject areas within the University, such as:
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psychology
-
linguistics
-
cognitive science
-
informatics
-
jurisprudence
-
politics
-
classics
-
Science Studies Unit
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
The Philosophy department at the University of Edinburgh ranks highly for research. While we have particular areas of research strength, we are able to supervise a thesis on almost any area of analytical philosophy.
We maintain close links with other disciplines and subject areas within the University, such as:
-
psychology
-
linguistics
-
cognitive science
-
informatics
-
jurisprudence
-
politics
-
classics
-
Science Studies Unit
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc
Summary
Our flagship MSc Philosophy degree programme offers you an excellent opportunity to enhance your learning and join a large, vibrant and supportive postgraduate community.
This programme provides an intensive grounding in philosophy, its methodology and techniques of research. It is excellent preparation for those who intend to pursue a PhD, as well as those who wish to delve more deeply into philosophy at the postgraduate level before pursuing a non-academic career.
We provide a broad, advanced education in philosophy, covering all the core areas of contemporary analytic philosophy:
-
epistemology
-
metaphysics
-
logic
-
philosophy of mind and language
-
philosophy of science
-
ethics
-
social/political philosophy
Beyond contemporary analytic philosophy, we also regularly offer courses in:
-
Africana philosophy
-
Islamic philosophy
-
Japanese philosophy
-
Buddhist philosophy
-
history of ancient Greek
-
modern European philosophy, including post-Kantian traditions such as existentialism and phenomenology
Key research areas
The programme provides the ideal foundation for future research in philosophy, and you have the option to keep your studies general or focus on a particular area.
Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation in a core research area, an original, publication-quality piece of research, undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in the relevant group.
The department has particular focus in the following areas:
-
Meta-ethics and applied ethics
-
Philosophy of mind and cognitive science
-
Philosophy of race and gender
-
History of philosophy, including ancient Greek and Islamic philosophy, early modern and late modern European philosophy
-
Philosophy of science and epistemology
What will I learn?
One of the main advantages of the MSc in Philosophy is its flexibility. There is only one compulsory course for the degree (a proseminar in Semester 1), thus allowing you to develop a path that is tailored to your interests.
You can also take advantage of the highly interdisciplinary nature of research within philosophy and draw on teaching and research both elsewhere in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences and within other relevant Schools.
Is this MSc for me?
This programme provides an opportunity for you to deepen your understanding of a wide range of topics in philosophy.
It provides an excellent preparation for further research and knowledge of philosophy, whether you choose to pursue this further in academic research or in a professional career.
Reputation, relevance and employability
Edinburgh has a proud and distinguished place in the history of philosophy and has long been associated with some of the field’s most important thinkers.
Our philosophy department, one of the largest in the world, is now home to academics leading research into a wide range of contemporary topics.
You will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, having the opportunity to select option courses and attend research seminars across different disciplines.
Our students’ research projects are often published in academic or professional journals.
Our programme has an excellent reputation among employers and is known to prepare students well for further research opportunities. Many of our graduates have gone on to PhD training, and we have a high academic job placement record.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Our flagship MSc Philosophy degree programme offers you an excellent opportunity to enhance your learning and join a large, vibrant and supportive postgraduate community.
This programme provides an intensive grounding in philosophy, its methodology and techniques of research. It is excellent preparation for those who intend to pursue a PhD, as well as those who wish to delve more deeply into philosophy at the postgraduate level before pursuing a non-academic career.
We provide a broad, advanced education in philosophy, covering all the core areas of contemporary analytic philosophy:
-
epistemology
-
metaphysics
-
logic
-
philosophy of mind and language
-
philosophy of science
-
ethics
-
social/political philosophy
Beyond contemporary analytic philosophy, we also regularly offer courses in:
-
Africana philosophy
-
Islamic philosophy
-
Japanese philosophy
-
Buddhist philosophy
-
history of ancient Greek
-
modern European philosophy, including post-Kantian traditions such as existentialism and phenomenology
Key research areas
The programme provides the ideal foundation for future research in philosophy, and you have the option to keep your studies general or focus on a particular area.
Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation in a core research area, an original, publication-quality piece of research, undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in the relevant group.
The department has particular focus in the following areas:
-
Meta-ethics and applied ethics
-
Philosophy of mind and cognitive science
-
Philosophy of race and gender
-
History of philosophy, including ancient Greek and Islamic philosophy, early modern and late modern European philosophy
-
Philosophy of science and epistemology
What will I learn?
One of the main advantages of the MSc in Philosophy is its flexibility. There is only one compulsory course for the degree (a proseminar in Semester 1), thus allowing you to develop a path that is tailored to your interests.
You can also take advantage of the highly interdisciplinary nature of research within philosophy and draw on teaching and research both elsewhere in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences and within other relevant Schools.
Is this MSc for me?
This programme provides an opportunity for you to deepen your understanding of a wide range of topics in philosophy.
It provides an excellent preparation for further research and knowledge of philosophy, whether you choose to pursue this further in academic research or in a professional career.
Reputation, relevance and employability
Edinburgh has a proud and distinguished place in the history of philosophy and has long been associated with some of the field’s most important thinkers.
Our philosophy department, one of the largest in the world, is now home to academics leading research into a wide range of contemporary topics.
You will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, having the opportunity to select option courses and attend research seminars across different disciplines.
Our students’ research projects are often published in academic or professional journals.
Our programme has an excellent reputation among employers and is known to prepare students well for further research opportunities. Many of our graduates have gone on to PhD training, and we have a high academic job placement record.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc (Res)
Summary
This programme offers the opportunity to focus on an area of your choosing, while still being able to take some taught courses.
It is intended for those who already have a good background in philosophy, typically from undergraduate study or a previous taught postgraduate degree.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
This programme offers the opportunity to focus on an area of your choosing, while still being able to take some taught courses.
It is intended for those who already have a good background in philosophy, typically from undergraduate study or a previous taught postgraduate degree.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …
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