Philosophy
At Manchester, you’ll thrive in an inquisitive, intellectually stimulating and supportive environment, where you will enjoy an in-depth study of specialised areas of analytical philosophy alongside inspiring research-active staff.
As part of our friendly and supportive community, you’ll benefit from small group seminars, focused on student-led discussion. You'll also have additional opportunities for debate and discussion alongside Philosophy department staff and PhD students at department events such as workshops, conferences, or reading groups. Examples of recent events organised in the department include workshops on 'Ineffability and Transcendence', on 'Varieties of Fictionalism', and on 'Themes in Oppressive Language'. We’ll support you to develop broad, transferrable and highly sought-after expertise, giving you key critical, analytical and research skills to enhance your career in a wide range of settings.
Student body
Be part of a lively student community with societies that host debates, discussion groups and socials
Renowned
Study at one of the largest Philosophy departments in the country, with a wide range of specialisms
Research excellence
Our department is in the UK's top 10 for Philosophy research, with 90% of our research ranked 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'
(Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Graduate Destinations
Philosophy graduates have the flexibility to choose from a variety of career paths. They are especially adept at thinking critically and objectively, as well as debating opposing viewpoints.
We’ll support you to develop broad, transferrable, and highly sought-after expertise, giving you key critical, analytical and research skills to enhance your career in a wide range of settings.
Many of our MA Philosophy graduates go on to pursue a PhD in Philosophy, while others embark on careers across a wide range of sectors and job titles.
Top job sectors*
*Information based on graduate data across all postgraduate Philosophy programmes, 2017-2021.
Further / Higher Education
Financial Services
Law / Legal Services
Human Resources
Advertising / Marketing
Consulting
Example job titles
- Lecturer
- Research Grant Writer
- Social Services Consultant
- Case Officer
- Departmental Administrator
- Company Director
Example employers
- Information Commissioner’s Office
- PwC
- Barcode Recruitment Ltd
- Calico Group
- Stephenson Harwood LLP
- The University of Manchester
Declan’s Manchester
Declan studied the MA in Philosophy at Manchester. He talks about choosing his course, his student experience and his plans for PhD study.
On studying your course
I chose to study my course at UoM as I really loved the department during my time as an undergrad. The teaching is excellent, and all of the academics are welcoming and happy to provide any support that is needed. Also, the course has a wide array of modules which enabled me to tailor the course to my own interests.
On your student experience
The skills that I developed in my MA are directly transferable to my PhD. The research methods that I developed during my time on the course have set me up to be a successful PhD student. Furthermore, the ideas and arguments that I developed during the MA will be further explored in my PhD thesis. The academic staff on the course were also extremely helpful in advising me on which PhD courses I should apply to and also gave tips on how to write a successful application.
Meet the Academics
You'll be taught by specialists who are known throughout the world for being at the leading edge of their fields, and who incorporate the most up-to-date ideas and findings into our courses and research.
Dr Emily Caddick Bourne
Lecturer in Philosophy
Emily has worked at the University since 2019. As Lecturer in Philosophy, Emily focuses on aesthetics, metaphysics and the philosophy of language, in particular questions about the nature of fiction.
"I am working on a project centring on the idea of a ‘quasi-miracle’. The philosopher David Lewis used this term to describe certain types of events which, although they are perfectly in keeping with the laws of nature, seem as if they are too bizarre to happen. I argue that a variety of interesting experiences, especially aesthetic experiences, involve regarding the world as quasi-miraculous."
Professor in Philosophy
Senior Lecturer
Fraser is a Professor in Philosophy and Chair of Logic and Metaphysics in the School of Social Sciences. Fraser is known as a true expert in his field for his expertise in metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics and history of analytic philosophy.
"The University of Manchester is an extraordinary institution employing thousands of dedicated and celebrated academics, each with their own distinctive research and take on things. It was specifically the fact that the Department of Philosophy at UoM has research strengths in metaphysics and the history of analytic philosophy that led me to take up a post here in 2016."
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester