Course Structure

The MA Philosophy course is a full year (12 month) course delivered primarily through in person seminars that emphasize student discussion and analysis of key texts and issues. Students may currently enrol on a full-time (1 year) basis. Full-time students typically complete three modules in each of the Autumn and Spring semesters. During Autumn, students also identify a potential dissertation project on a topic of particular interest. Students confirm their dissertation supervisor and also undertake further research training to prepare for their dissertation during the Spring semester. In the summer, students focus on writing up their dissertation project, supported primarily by their dissertation supervisor.

The MA is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000-word research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.

Teaching Times

Teaching times will fall Monday-Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning focuses upon critical reading, writing, and thinking. Weekly module seminars are grounded in small and large group discussion, presentations, and learning activities.

Additional learning opportunities are provided by weekly research seminars in term time given by visiting speakers in Philosophy, as well as research events in HAPP and beyond.

Learning materials focus upon texts, and may also include films, blogs, and podcasts. Learning materials and issues will be drawn from a range of scholarly traditions and geographic locations.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to -

Cognitive Skills

• Identify and solve, resolve or dissolve conceptual problems; read and critically assess relevant academic sources; analyse and criticise arguments, identifying fallacies therein.
• Synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement, primarily through essay writing; identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems; gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources, so as to formulate and support a line of reasoning, or argument.
• Make judgments on the basis of varied and problematic evidence and according to the persuasiveness of the arguments or the reliability of the evidence used; evaluate sources critically in their context; discriminate between what is central and what is peripheral to the issue in question; assess and appraise differing views on significant areas of academic debate.
• Structure, manage and adapt strategies for self-directed independent research; work autonomously; reflect on their own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback; produce intellectually coherent academic analysis under time-managed conditions and within word limits.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of a range of sub-fields in the discipline including ethics, epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy, and history of philosophy.
• Apply philosophy to practical issues, for example, in the area of applied ethics.
• Critically discuss some of the central problems and issues in contemporary philosophy.
• Critically discuss key texts and ideas in the global history of philosophy, along with an appreciation of the plurality of global traditions and histories of philosophy and how the contemporary discipline has developed out of those histories.
• Employ key concepts and tools that are used in philosophical reasoning, with an informed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of multiple approaches and methodologies.

Subject Specific Skills

• Read and interact with seminal philosophical texts, in appreciation of their philosophical insights and modes of argument; research philosophical topics using appropriate tools and resources.
• Solve problems, process and prioritise a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.
• Demonstrate an awareness of key debates arising out of philosophical inquiry, conducted in its various domains.
• Engage with influential primary and secondary sources in philosophy, according to contemporary canons of academic debate and critical analysis.

Transferable Skills

• Use libraries and online resources; use IT skills (word processing, use of internet resources); take notes and summarise accurately and effectively.
• Evaluate and judge evidence and the quality of information; digest material from various sources; collate and process information from an array of sources, including electronic media.
• Communicate and interact effectively; present ideas and arguments orally in both formal and informal contexts; present high-quality analysis cogently and succinctly; and make oral and group presentations using appropriate skills.
• Respond constructively to criticism; manage time efficiently; show self-reliance, initiative, adaptability and flexibility; work effectively both independently and in a team setting.

Assessment

HAP7001: Students complete two practice-based assignments (Methods Portfolio) and a Research Design assignment.

• Modules: Students will complete at least one major paper, or scholarly writing of equivalent significance, in each module. Students also complete oral discussion/presentations during module seminars.
  
  Dissertation: 15,000-word dissertation completed in drafts with advance feedback; feedback is also provided in response to the final dissertation.

Modules

Career Prospects

Introduction

We anticipate that the MA programme is a perfect one-year course to prepare students for PhD entry. The applied and engaged philosophy emphasis is attractive to students with interests in social justice and policy careers, as well as those interested in academic and academic-related careers.

The programme will assist students in gaining wider skills which will be vital in their future careers, including:

• Excellent training in critical thinking, critical reading, critical writing
• Research and publication skills
• Understanding and responding to equality, diversity, and inclusion issues in applied contexts
• Project management: planning and executing components of a long-term project

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	£7,300
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	£7,300
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	£9,250
EU Other 3	£21,500
International	£21,500

¹EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

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