BA Philosophy and Politics
| UCAS code | VL52 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | VL5F |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | VL7F |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
Why study BA Philosophy and Politics at Exeter?
- You’ll learn how to apply analytical-philosophical skills to the study of political events and theories
- Studying Philosophy will give you the opportunity to discuss long-standing questions about the nature of knowledge, science, reality, ethics, art and beauty, the mind-body relationship, the meaning of life and more
- Our broad range of optional modules in your second and third years gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions
- The Philosophy and Politics student societies will give you the chance to make friends, attend socials and seminars and hear from guest speakers
- Get ready for your future career by developing a range of skills valued by a wide range of employers from the media to teaching and the public, private and charity sectors
Top 15 in the UK for Politics and Philosophy
14th for Politics and 9th for Philosophy in the Complete University Guide 2026
Opportunities to study abroad
92% of graduates employed or in further study 15 months after graduating
Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology: based on full-time, first degree, UK domiciled graduates in/due to start employment/further study. HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2022/23 (published 2025)
Commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB | N/A |
| IB | 34/665 | N/A |
| BTEC | DDD | N/A |
| GCSE | C or 4 | English Language |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade | N/A |
| T-Level | Distinction | N/A |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBB |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
Course content
The Philosophy and Politics degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each. Full-time undergraduate students need to complete modules worth a total of 120 credits each year.
Depending on your programme you can take up to 30 credits each year in another subject, for instance a language or business module, to develop career-related skills or just widen your intellectual horizons.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You may notice changes to some of our modules over the coming months. This is because we are making space for the following:
- Minors: Future Skills Pathways - Alongside your main degree you may be eligible (depending on your course) to choose modules from another subject to broaden your skills and interests.
- Skills to Thrive built into every degree - Essential skills for your future, including communication, problem-solving, teamwork and digital confidence.
- Increased innovation and wellbeing - More room for creative learning, real-world projects and a healthier study rhythm.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
105 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules.
Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall you must:
a - select at least three of the five Philosophy compulsory modules.
b - select one 15-credit Philosophy optional module (this can include any of the remaining compulsory PHL1XXX modules not initially chosen).
c - select 30 credits from this list of Politics optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice 1 | ||
| Knowledge and Reality 1 | 15 | |
| Knowledge and Reality 2 | 15 | |
| Evidence and Argument 1 | 15 | |
| Introduction to Philosophical Analysis | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Morality | 15 | |
| Compulsory Combined Honours 2 | ||
| Classical Political Thought | 15 | |
| Early Modern Political Thought | 15 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Philosophical Problems 1 | 15 | |
| Introduction to Asian Philosophy | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Film | 15 | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 15 | |
| Optional Combined Honours 2 | ||
| Globalisation of World Politics | 15 | |
| The Challenges of World Politics in the Twenty-First Century | 15 | |
| Power and Democracy | 15 | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | 15 | |
| International Politics of the Global South | 15 | |
| The State of the UK: Identifying Marginalised Identities and Addressing Inequalities | 15 | |
| Global Sustainability Policy and Governance | 15 | |
| The Politics of Development | 15 | |
| Introduction to Public Policy and Administration | 15 | |
| Introduction to Social Data | 15 | |
| Data Analysis in Social Science 1 | 15 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules.
Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall you must:
d - select at least three of the six Philosophy compulsory modules.
e - select one 15-credit Philosophy optional module (this can include any of the remaining compulsory PHL2XXX modules not initially chosen).
f - select 45 credits of Politics optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice 1 | ||
| Philosophy of Mind 1 | 15 | |
| Body and Mind | 15 | |
| Metaphysics | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Language | 15 | |
| Philosophical Research | 15 | |
| Moral Agency in Social Context | 15 | |
| Compulsory Combined Honours 2 | ||
| Political Thought of Modernity | 15 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Phenomenology | 15 | |
| Existentialism | 15 | |
| Symbolic Logic | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Science | 15 | |
| Critical Theory: The Frankfurt School and Communicative Capitalism | 15 | |
| Aesthetics | 15 | |
| History of Philosophy | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Psychiatry | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Law | 15 | |
| The Deep Past, History and Humanity | 15 | |
| Ethics of Emerging Technologies | 15 | |
| Mind and World in Contemporary Japanese Philosophy | 15 | |
| Plato's Dialogues | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Music | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Games | 15 | |
| Digital Worlds and Social AI | 15 | |
| The Holocaust: Explanation, Understanding and Responsibility | 15 | |
| Cyborg Studies | 15 | |
| Optional Combined Honours 2 | ||
| Islamist Movements: From the Muslim Brothers to the Islamic State | 15 | |
| Gender-Identity and Modernity in the Middle East | 15 | |
| Islamic Law and Society | 15 | |
| Ethnography of the Middle East | 15 | |
| Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel | 15 | |
| Muslims in Britain | 15 | |
| A History of the Modern Middle East, 1900-2014 | 15 | |
| Contemporary Theories of World Politics | 15 | |
| The Politics of the World Economy | 15 | |
| The Economics of Politics | 15 | |
| American Politics | 15 | |
| Political Philosophy | 15 | |
| Security Studies | 15 | |
| Political Thought of Modernity | 15 | |
| Explaining Public Policies | 15 | |
| Comparative Electoral Systems | 15 | |
| Environmental Governance | 15 | |
| Research Design in the Social Sciences | 15 | |
| Data Analysis in Social Science 2 | 15 | |
| Mapping the Social World: Introduction to Spatial Analysis in the Social Sciences | 15 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
If you choose a study abroad or employment experience option, this will take place in your third year. Find out more about placement options.
With Study Abroad
120 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Study Abroad | 120 | |
With Employment Experience
120 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 2 | ||
| Employment Experience | 120 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of Philosophy modules and 60 credits of Politics modules.
You must choose either PHL3040 or POL3040.
Depending on your dissertation choice, you must select 30-60 credits of optional Philosophy modules and 30-60 credits of Politics modules:
- If PHL3040 is chosen, select 30 credits of Philosophy optional modules and 60 credits of Politics optional modules.
- If POL3040 is chosen, select 30 credits of Politics optional modules and 60 credits of Philosophy optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Philosophy Dissertation | 30 | |
| Dissertation | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Phenomenology | 15 | |
| Existentialism | 15 | |
| Symbolic Logic | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Science | 15 | |
| Aesthetics | 15 | |
| History of Philosophy | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Psychiatry | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Law | 15 | |
| Critical Theory: The Frankfurt School and Communicative Capitalism | 15 | |
| The Deep Past, History and Humanity | 15 | |
| Philosophy and Psychedelics | 15 | |
| Ethics of Emerging Technologies | 15 | |
| Mind and World in Contemporary Japanese Philosophy | 15 | |
| Plato's Dialogues | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Music | 15 | |
| Philosophy of Games | 15 | |
| Digital Worlds and Social AI | 15 | |
| The Holocaust: Explanation, Understanding and Responsibility | 15 | |
| Cyborg Studies | 15 | |
| Optional 1 | ||
| Drugs: Histories, Science, Policy | 15 | |
| Nationalisms in the Middle East | 15 | |
| The History and Political Development of Iraq | 15 | |
| The Kurds: History and Politics | 15 | |
| Iranian History, 1500-the Present | 15 | |
| Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond | 15 | |
| Britain in the Middle East, 1798-1977 | 15 | |
| Politics and Reform in the Gulf | 15 | |
| Gender, Sexuality and Violence in Palestine/Israel | 15 | |
| Queer Theory in a Global Context | 15 | |
| The Politics of Authoritarian Rule | 15 | |
| Violence and Revolution in the Modern Middle East | 15 | |
| Brexit: Causes, Interpretation and Implications | 15 | |
| The Transformation of Politics in the Global Age | 15 | |
| Surveys and Experiments: Design Implementation and Analysis | 15 | |
| Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Regime Change | 15 | |
| Contemporary African Politics | 30 | |
| Chinese Political Economy and Foreign Policy | 30 | |
| Comparative Political Economy: Theory, Evidence, and Policy | 30 | |
| LGBTQ+ and Gender in UK Public Policy | 30 | |
| Political Theory and the Future | 15 | |
| Radical Political Thinking: Power, Life, Progress | 15 | |
| Political Thought of the 20th Century: From Liberalism to Postcolonialism | 15 | |
| Political Psychology and the World | 30 | |
| Political Violence, Intervention, and the Aftermath | 30 | |
| The Politics of Feminism: Everyday Rebellions | 30 | |
| Race, Politics, and Policy | 15 | |
| Policy, Public Management, and Artificial Intelligence | 15 | |
| Public Opinion and Global Crises | 30 | |
| Russian and Eurasian Politics and Security | 30 | |
| Latin American Parties, Politics, and Elections | 15 | |
| Data Visualisation | 15 | |
| Social Networks | 15 | |
Course variants
BA Philosophy and Politics with Study Abroad
UCAS code: VL5F
Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.
Why study abroad?
Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.
Where can I study abroad?
We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.
Are there any academic requirements to study abroad?
Yes. If you wish to study abroad as part of this degree course, you must achieve an overall grade of at least 60% (a 2:1) for your first year of study. This applies to all students, even if you are registered on the 'with Study Abroad' variant from the start of your degree.
Does it count towards my degree?
Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are studying abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree.
How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?
For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. You will continue to receive a maintenance loan if you are eligible for this whilst on your Study Abroad year.
BA Philosophy and Politics with Employment Experience
UCAS code: VL7F
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree offers you the option of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements, within the UK or abroad, as part of your degree.
Why choose to include Employment Experience?
Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career.
A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate-level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.
Where will I do my work placement?
The sector and country you choose to work in is very much your choice, as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement.
We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.
How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?
For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.
Is the placement paid?
You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.
Find out more
Fees
Tuition fees for 2026 entry
UK students: £9,790 per year
International students: £24,950 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships*. We also provide scholarships for sport, music and other achievements, alongside regional and partner awards such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. Financial support is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
We use a wide range of teaching and learning methods and encourage you to develop your writing and presentation skills in a supportive atmosphere:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Project work
- One-to-one sessions
- Small group tutorials
- Independent study
You will also have access to personal and subject tutors who will give you the individual help and guidance you need to succeed.
How will I be assessed?
- Exams
- Essays
- Projects
- Practical assignments
You must pass your first year modules in order to proceed but your performance at this level does not count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Minors: Future Skills Pathways
You can study a Future Skills Pathway alongside your main degree by choosing up to 30 credits of modules from a different subject area in your second and final years.
Your future
As a Philosophy and Politics graduate you will develop a range of professional, academic and personal skills that are good preparation for a number of careers including in the media, public sector, legal profession, business and management.
- Analytical, critical and independent thinking
- Independent research
- Discussion and group work
- Collecting, assessing and presenting evidence
- Written and verbal communication
- Articulating ideas and arguments
- Organising, planning and time management
Career paths
The broad range of transferable skills gained on a Philosophy and Politics degree enable graduates to pursue further study or employment in a wide range of careers including:
- Teaching and research
- Local or national government
- The Civil Service
- Business and finance
- Charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the UK and abroad
- Marketing and public relations
- Management and administration
Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award
Many of our students participate in the Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award. These schemes encourage you to participate in employability related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market.
Developing your skills and career prospects
We provide a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. You will be able to access a range of specific activities such as careers skills sessions and employer-led events, or seek bespoke advice and support from Employability Officers.
The Career Zone also organises a busy schedule of activities including careers fairs, skills workshops, and training events, and can advise on graduate opportunities and volunteering.
