• Flexibility – you can study at home, in your own time and at your own pace, so you can combine achieving a qualification with work or family commitments. You also have the benefit of developing your career without having to leave employment.
• Join an active online community – studying by distance learning is not a lonely experience within the Department of Philosophy. You will get to meet interact with students – virtually – which will impact on your learning experience.
• Career changing – a qualification from the University of Birmingham can be the springboard to promotion with your current employer, the platform from which to launch a new career or simply a way to become more effective in your current role. Studying at Birmingham is a rewarding and enriching experience that brings about significant personal development.
• Real application – studying this programme via distance learning means that you can apply new knowledge and insights to your working life while you are still studying; many students choose to tackle work-related topics in their dissertations.
• Support – there is always support available from tutors at the University. The programme is designed to keep you in touch with fellow students and tutors. Our ‘virtual learning environment’ provides a focal point and help provide a structure for your learning. You will be assigned a personal tutor. Personal tutors are available to answer questions regarding the content of your programme, and also to give advice and provide clarification if you don't understand something, for example what an assignment question demands.

You will study three core modules: 

Ethics and Global Ethics

This module aims to introduce you to key concepts and debates in ethics, with some focus on the global dimension of current ethical problems. First, we will explore several prominent traditions in ethical theory; next we will apply these normative ethical theories to concrete ethical questions. In investigating these theories and applications, you will be encouraged to question your presumptions about the nature of ethics and moral values. The module also develops critical reasoning and argumentative skills through philosophical discussion and writing. The theoretical tools of analysis and argument can be applied in all aspects of ethics and global ethics.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Topics in Global Justice

This module will focus on applications of the dominant contemporary moral theories to significant issues in global ethics and politics. The topics to be approached on the basis of these theories are a selection of the following debates: world poverty and the obligations of the affluent; justice and the global economic order; global distributive justice; structural injustice; human rights theory; human development and care ethics; climate change; cosmopolitanism vs priority for compatriots; immigration and freedom of movement; just war theory; terrorism, humanitarian intervention; global gender justice; issues around a global ‘democratic deficit'.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Research Skills and Methods

This module provides an introduction to the methods of contemporary philosophy. Topics addressed typically include: critical thinking in philosophy, reading in philosophy, research skills, dissertation planning, and presenting philosophical arguments in written work. You will also participate in online sessions focused on generic research skills.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

You will also choose one of:

Bioethics 

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues surrounding life and death, especially those involved in biology, health care, research, and the beginning and end of life. This course introduces students to the key debates surrounding a number of theoretical and practical issues in bioethics, including but not limited to those that are transnational in nature. Possible topics covered include: abortion, euthanasia, intellectual property, enhancement, commodification, resource allocation and rationing, and infectious disease control.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words 

Philosophy of Health and Happiness 

This module is an introduction to the philosophical and interdisciplinary study of philosophical issues concerning health and happiness. It introduces you to controversies over the correct account of human happiness and related concepts such as well-being and welfare, covering desire/preference-satisfaction accounts, ‘objective list’ accounts, hedonism and ‘whole-life satisfaction accounts’. The module then moves on to consider the concepts of health and disease, where many similar arguments appear. It examines the debate between normativists and non-normativists about health before concluding with an examination of controversies concerning mental health, its existence and nature.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and two 2,000-word essays

Your remaining two modules are optional. Options available within Philosophy typically include:

God, Freedom and the Meaning of Life

This module is an introduction to a number of philosophical issues that have a relevance to the philosophy of religion, such as: freedom and determinism, the existence of god and the meaning of life. The treatment of the areas covered will often involve discussion of the writings of central figures in the history of philosophy.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words 

Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science

This module covers a range of advanced topics in the philosophy of mind and empirically-informed philosophy of psychology. In any given year, some of the following topics will be addressed in detail: the mind-body problem; perception; theories of intentionality; differences between human and animal cognition; theories of emotion; accounts of cognitive rationality; the relationship between ownership and authorship of thoughts; introspection, neuroscience and free will; and the narrative view of the self.  
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

You can also choose Bioethics or Philosophy of Health and Happiness, if not taken as core.

You may also choose your optional modules from the distance learning programmes offered by the Department of Theology and Religion, the Department of History, and the Department of International Development.

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Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2018/19 are as follows:

• Full-time: £9,000
• Part-time: £4,500

For part-time students, the above fee quoted is for year one only and tuition fees will also be payable in year two of your programme.

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Scholarships and studentships

Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available. To discover whether you are eligible for any award across the University, and to start your funding application, please visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database.

The programme allows for multi-disciplinary entry. You need an upper second-class Honours degree, or equivalent, preferably in Philosophy or another relevant subject (e.g. Theology, Sociology), or a Joint Honours degree of which Philosophy or another relevant subject is a component.

If your undergraduate degree is in another subject, you are still very welcome to apply. We consider every application on its merits and we are happy to consider applicants with diverse academic backgrounds. Your level of academic achievement, letters of reference, and personal statement will all have strong influence on our decision. We may also require you to submit a writing sample. This should be around 3-4 pages long, and although it does not need to be a Philosophy essay, it should provide strong evidence of your potential for the type of discursive, analytical, writing that is required in Philosophy at postgraduate level.

We ask you to submit two academic references as part of your application, but if you have been out of academia for some time we will also accept a professional reference in addition to one academic reference.

Learn more about entry requirements

International students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications; our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

• by holding an English language qualification to the right level
• by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students

Please review our Entry Requirements before making your application.

Application deadlines

Please apply by Friday 31 August 2018. However, we would encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity, to allow adequate time to prepare for starting your studies once receiving a decision on your application.

Late applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Tutor for advice.

Before you make your application

You may wish to register your interest with us to receive regular news and updates on postgraduate life within this Department and the wider University.

Making your application

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now