Philosophy

Philosophy explores and challenges the assumptions that frame the way we think, act and see the world around us.

With our internationally renowned academics, you’ll assess the arguments of others and arrive at your own conclusions on deep, important issues. You’ll hear distinguished guest speakers and gain skills that last a lifetime and become increasingly valuable as your career grows.

Philosophy focuses on the clear and systematic expression of ideas, the logical development of arguments and the careful use of examples and analogies, so philosophical education develops communication skills, persuasive powers, problem solving and writing abilities.

You can study Philosophy as a single honours or as part of a combined undergraduate degree.

At postgraduate levels, we offer Masters by Research and PhD degrees on a broad range of areas of supervision topics.

Find out how you can prepare for your Philosophy degree

My studies at Herts have helped me to develop my analytical and grammatical skills to a very high level. These are important transferable skills that I use when teaching my students. My study abroad year was the best year of my university life.

Thi My Nhi (Jenny) Vu

BA (Hons) History and Philosophy with Year Abroad

Our teaching team

We’re a small, supportive academic community, where every lecturer is an active researcher and every student can get involved with their exciting, diverse work. Studying Philosophy at the University of Hertfordshire means learning from teachers who love sharing their knowledge, skill and passion with students and who are able to teach you how to create, write and present original, challenging, rigorous Philosophy because they do it themselves every day. Our research topics include the Philosophy of education. This makes us one of the few Philosophy departments in the UK where staff bring their full philosophical skills to bear on teaching Philosophy to students.

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I certainly developed professionalism and employability through studying philosophy, primarily through the methods of rational and logical problem solving I acquired; a skill that is useful in whatever field one works in. However, it is enterprise that I most notably improved on while at Herts.

Rob Baggs

BA(Hons) Philosophy and MA(Res) in Philosophy