Philosophy MA
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
-
Start date
September 2026 -
Duration
1 year -
Attendance
Full-time
Explore this course:
Apply now for 2026 entry or register your interest to find out about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.
Course description
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 MA is designed to offer a coherent but flexible programme of study. All MA students will get to grips with philosophy at its most forward looking, and immerse themselves in one or more methodological traditions. Optional modules cover both theoretical and practical philosophy, with the opportunity to specialise in political theory.
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
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 Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn.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
Interested in postgraduate taught study? Register your interest in studying at Sheffield or attend an event throughout the year to find out what makes studying at here special.
Duration
1 year full time
Teaching
We'll support you in thinking carefully, analytically and creatively about core and contemporary debates.
You'll learn through lectures and also small-group discussions in research seminars. 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 taught philosophy modules, assessments take place through long essay assignments. You'll have the opportunity to develop your ideas and draft your work with detailed feedback from your module convenor.
You'll also experience additional assessment components, specifically designed to enhance your employability.
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 organisation, 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 graduate
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
Other requirements
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school.
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.