About this course

A Philosophy and History degree at Southampton provides you with an opportunity to explore the events and ideas which have shaped, and continue to shape, the world around us. You'll explore some of the biggest questions of philosophy: Is there a god? What is morality? Can there be objective facts in ethics and politics? How should we think about global poverty or sexual morality? As a history student you'll be able to develop your own interpretations of disputed narratives across a wide range of periods, from Alexander the Great to New World slavery and the Space Age, and many specialist areas including East and Central European history, South East Asian history and Jewish history. Strengths of the degree are a wide choice of topics in the history of philosophy, including non-Western philosophical traditions, and an exceptional diversity of options to choose from in both subjects.

You’ll be taught in small groups in a relaxed and friendly environment. You'll benefit from the expertise of academic staff whose research feeds directly into the course content.

Compulsory modules will give you a strong grounding in both subjects. Optional module choices will give you the freedom to pursue your own interests in topics as varied as metaphysics, Reagan’s America, and witchcraft in 17th century England.

You can broaden your knowledge by taking modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology. You can also study a language.

In this degree you can:

develop an understanding of basic philosophical arguments in matters of ethics, reason, and responsibility
learn about different approaches to history and gain access to a large collection of primary evidence
explore how political motives and other forms of bias shape the way we think about the past
apply philosophical thought to language, morality, sex and other aspects of life
study areas of history rarely taught in most other UK universities, for example: East and Central European history, South East Asian history and Jewish history

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Course location

This course is based at Avenue.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

You’ll have the freedom to shape your degree to suit your interests by choosing modules from a wide range of options in both subjects.

You’ll have the opportunity to broaden your studies by choosing:

You do not need to choose your modules when you apply. We'll guide you through the process before you start.

Year 1 overview

Compulsory modules give you a grounding in the philosophical concepts of reason and argument, freedom and responsibility, and appearance and reality.

Your compulsory modules will also give you a broad introduction to history throughout the ages.

You can choose from a wide range of optional modules to achieve a fascinating combination of philosophy and history that is tailored to your interests. For example, you can study the slave trade of West Africa and the ethics of global poverty. Or you may choose a combination that includes both the reality of life in British stately homes, and the fall of the British empire.

Year 2 overview

Your knowledge of philosophical concepts will be extended by a further compulsory module in the history of philosophy.

You'll also take a further 7 optional modules from a wide choice of topics. This flexibility allows you to build the course around your developing interests.

Year 3 overview

You’ll consolidate your knowledge and skills by writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice from philosophy or history.

You’ll also select further optional modules. These usually cover topics that academic staff are actively researching, introducing you to the latest thinking. Options include studying the work of Nietzsche or Heidegger, or looking at classical Indian or Islamic philosophy.

Historical topics include a series of ‘short histories’ that look at issues relevant to modern times. These include a history of the communication network, and a historical view of far-right thinking.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

How you'll spend your course time:

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:

19%

Scheduled learning & teaching

81%

Independent learning

How we'll assess you

debates
dissertations
individual and group projects
oral presentations
teamwork
written and practical exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

23%

Written exam

72%

Coursework

Practical exam

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Giulia Felappi is the course leader.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,250.
EU and international students pay £22,300.

Your fees will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Find out how to:

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

Philosophy and History (BA)

About this course

Learn more about these subject areas

Philosophy

History

Course location

Awarding body

Entry requirements

For Academic year

Scottish Qualification

Other requirements

Got a question?

Course structure

Year 1 overview

Year 2 overview

Year 3 overview

Modules

Year 1 modules

Ethics

History Matters (Object, Image, Text)

Reason and Argument

Truth, Knowledge, and Objectivity

World Histories Introduced

Antisemitism and Islamophobia in modern European history

Applied Ethics

Faith and Reason

Freedom and Responsibility

From Constantine to Theodosius: Christians, Pagans and Emperors

From Shah to Ayatollah: The Establishment of the Clerical Power in Iran (1979 to Today)

Henry VIII: Reputation and Reality

Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture

Joan of Arc: History behind the Myth

Masada: History and Myth

Peace and Love? Britain in the 1960s

Political Philosophy

Putin and the Politics of Post-Soviet Russia

Puzzles about Art and Literature

The Crimean War

The Roman Army in Britain: life on the northern frontier

Twentieth-Century China

Who is Anne Frank?

Year 2 modules

Making History Part 1

Mind and World in the History of Philosophy

Study Abroad Preparation Module

Year Abroad Report Module for Humanities Students

Year in Employment

Room for Improvement: Building the University of Southampton, 1862-Present

Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art

Ancient Greek 2

Ancient Greeks at War

Ancient Rome: the First Metropolis

Celebrity, Media and Mass Culture, Britain 1888-1952

Cold War? Post-War Conflict from a Jewish perspective

Data Environmentalism

Data, Culture, and Justice

Discipline and Punish: Prisons and Prisoners in England 1775 - 1898

Epistemology: Knowledge and Evidence

Ethics of Global Poverty

Ethics of Public Policy

Fight for your Rights: Protest in twentieth century Britain

Health, Culture, and Discrimination

Immigration, Race and Ethnicity in France

Imperial China: From China’s mythical emperors to the 19th century

Jews in Germany before the Holocaust

Kant’s Copernican Revolution in Philosophy

Latin 1

Latin 2

Logic

McCarthyism

Metaethics: Facts and Feelings in Ethics

Metaphysics: The Nature of Reality

Moral Philosophy

Myth and the Ancient World

Napoleon and his legend

Nelson Mandela: A South African life

Peasants, Empresses and Holy Virgins: Women in Late Antiquity

Philosophy of Religion

Philosophy of Science

Queering the Digital