Philosophy MA
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
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Start date
September 2025 -
Duration
1 year -
Attendance
Full-time
Explore this course:
Applications for 2025 entry close at 5pm on Friday 5 September. Applications for 2026 entry open on Monday 15 September.
Course description
This degree course offers you enormous freedom as you develop a deeper understanding of philosophy. Whether your first degree was in philosophy or you are transitioning from another discipline, this degree will develop your philosophical understanding and enhance your research skills.
Our extensive range of optional modules allows you to focus on a particular area of philosophy in great detail, or to explore widely across the discipline.
Our MA is designed both to prepare students who wish to continue to a PhD (as many do), and to provide skills and knowledge to enhance career prospects outside of academia.
Modules
Core modules:
- Dissertation
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Contact department for more information.
60 credits - Philosophy Research Seminar
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This module is focused on the careful examination and discussion of significant works in philosophy. The module aims to cover the full range of philosophy with texts being selected across different philosophical areas. The aim is then to familiarise students with these different areas and thereby give the students a broad understanding of the issues that are discussed within philosophy. The teaching format is in person discussion where the discussion will be largely conducted in small groups but will include some open class discussion.
30 credits
Optional Modules:
- Guided Reading
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This module is intended to enable students to develop a research project of their own, in a flexible manner. Each student on the module will be assigned a supervisor, with whom they will meet for one hour every two weeks. They will also be encouraged to attend those reading groups run in the department (of which there are typically about 10 per semester) which fit with their project. The objectives of the module are (i) to identify a suitable research topic, in consultation with the supervisor (ii) to develop this project through supervisions and drafts (iii) to complete the project.
30 credits - Politics and Value
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This module aims to introduce students to topics within political philosophy and ethics broadly conceived. Students will be encouraged to audit one of the following modules:
30 credits
1. Political Resistance2. Global Justice
Teaching will then be by the way of weekly hour seminars [organised on the basis of the audited module] and supervision. - Epistemology and Metaphysics
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This module aims to introduce students to topics within epistemology and metaphysics broadly conceived. Students will be encourages to audit one of the following modules:
30 credits
1. Ethics and Belief2. Bodies and Souls3. Freewill and Religion4. Memory and the Self
Teaching will then be by way of weekly hour seminars [organised on the basis of audited module) and supervision - Ethics and Society
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This module aims to introduce students to topics within ethics and social philosophy broadly conceived. Students will be encouraged to audit one of the following modules:
30 credits
1. People, Organisations and Technology2. Moral Theory and Moral Psychology3. Feminist and Queer Studies - History of Philosophy
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This module aims to introduce students to topics within the history of philosophy broadly conceived. Students will be encouraged to audit one of the following modules:
30 credits
1. Ancient Chinese Philosophy 2. Plato's Symposium
Teaching will then be by way of weekly hour seminars [organised on the basis of the audited module] and supervision - Mind and Language
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This module aims to introduce students to topics within the philosophies of mind and language broadly conceived. Students will be encouraged to audit one of the following modules:
30 credits
1. Pain, Pleasure and the Emotions2. Language, Speakers and the World
Teaching will then be by the way of weekly hour seminars [organised on the basis of the audited module] and supervision - PhD Proposal
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To provide both general and subject-specific research training for those intending to pursue research in philosophy or political theory. There is a short course dealing with topics such as study and writing skills, choosing and planning a research project; conducting a literature search, delivering a seminar presentation and chairing a discussion. Students also meet with their research supervisor to plan and produce a detailed PhD proposal and annotated bibliography (6,000 to 8,000 words), outlining their proposed project and locating it in relation to established positions in the discipline.
30 credits
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
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Duration
1 year full time
Teaching
We'll support you in thinking carefully, analytically and creatively about core and contemporary debates in a range of philosophical traditions, as well as key debates in cognitive studies and political theory.
You'll learn through small-group discussions in research seminars and tutorials which accompany the lecture-led modules. These discussions give you the opportunity to explore module reading materials, as well as your own philosophical interests.
We provide one-to-one supervision for your dissertation and your philosophy essays, to help you develop as an independent researcher.
Assessment
For the philosophy modules, you're assessed by a long essay assignment. You'll have the opportunity to develop your ideas and draft your work with detailed feedback from your module convenor.
On the dissertation module, you'll develop a longer piece of philosophical work, with detailed feedback from your dissertation supervisor.
Your career
Our MA is designed equally to prepare students who wish to continue to a PhD in Philosophy (as many do) or to enhance career prospects outside of academia.
We offer support and advice for students who decide to apply for a PhD and our postgraduate training seminars include sessions on PhD funding and on non-academic jobs for philosophers.
For those interested in non-academic career routes, this course will help you develop and enhance a range of crucial transferable skills (for example, research writing, project organization, critical thinking) while developing a deeper understanding of the many fascinating and important questions at the heart of philosophical inquiry. These skills will put you in a strong position when it comes to finding employment.
Our graduates work in teaching, law, social work, computing, the civil service, journalism, paid charity work, business, insurance and accountancy.
“I could not have achieved my successful career progression without my postgraduate degree and the support I received from the University of Sheffield. My degree has enabled me to develop my confidence about my own abilities, and enhance my writing and qualitative data analysis skills. It taught me how to think and write in a way which I had never done before, with such precision, determination and belief in my own research and scrutiny of such.”
Katie Griffin-Pearce
Policy Officer, Durham County Council
Postgraduate Philosophy Student
School
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
In the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, we interrogate some of the most significant and pressing aspects of human life, offering new perspectives and tackling globally significant issues.
As a postgraduate student, you’ll be taught by academics who engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of philosophical disciplines, including epistemology, ethics, social, political and environmental philosophy, metaphysics and philosophy of the mind and various areas of cognitive science, among others.
The diversity of our research expertise allows us to offer programmes which are truly interdisciplinary and flexible - and create a thriving research community where students and staff come together to discuss topics, explore new ideas and expand their knowledge in a supportive environment.
We’ll also provide you with opportunities to use your knowledge to engage with real world problems and make a difference in the community, through projects like our award-winning Philosophy in the City programme, which enables students to teach philosophy in the local community to audiences of all ages.
Our Centre for Engaged Philosophy pursues research into questions of fundamental political and social importance, from criminal justice and social inclusion to climate ethics, all topics that are covered in our teaching. Their events are open to all students and there are opportunities to get involved in event planning and delivery.
Our highly interdisciplinary Hang Seng Centre for Cognitive Studies supports collaborative research on fundamental issues concerning the nature of cognition. With established collaborative links with many universities in the UK, Europe, and the United States, the Centre organises seminars, workshops, and conferences to address core questions in cognitive science. Events are open to all students and there are opportunities to get involved in event planning and delivery.
Facilities
Student profiles
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.
Subject requirements
Your degree should be in an Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences subject.
View an indicative list of degree titles we would consider
English language requirements
IELTS 7 (with 6.5 in each component) or University equivalent
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.
Fees and funding
Alumni discount
Save up to £2,500 on your course fees
Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.