Ranking
Top 10
for Philosophy in the UK
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Course overview
Follow in the footsteps of Ancient Greek Mathematicians and Philosophers.
Discover the underlying workings and meanings of the universe. In this exciting degree, you'll be taught by world-class talent in fields as diverse as group theory, fluid dynamics, philosophy of mathematics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind and many others.
Course highlights
- Top 10
in the UK for Philosophy
Times Good University Guide 2026
Develop your research, debating and analytical skills, and learn to unpack complicated philosophical thought. You'll hone your ability to formulate and tackle problems, think logically, use technical language and express complex ideas clearly and accurately.
- Focus on philosophy with real-world relevance and contemporary application. Delve into current topics such as mental health, sex, applied ethics, sustainability and more.
- You’ll learn to question the world around you and gain a wide range of skills – formulate strong arguments, problem solve and develop your ability to think differently.
- Benefit from industry links - our Mathematics department has strong links with a wide range of high profile companies, including E.ON, Caterpillar, Jaguar Land Rover, the Office for National Statistics, FDM Group, Barnett Waddingham and IBM.
- Join a vibrant community within the Philosophy department, with visiting speakers, specialist lectures, and a variety of department activities.
Talk to our students
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Course delivery
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts—authors of key works and leaders with global teaching and research experience.
Lecture
Seminar
Tutorial
- Lectures: These give you an insightful, expert introduction to key topics; they also provide guidance to support your reading and assessments.
- Seminars: These are small group discussions where you share and test ideas with your academic tutor and your peers. Seminars help you understand topics better and build confidence in sharing your thoughts.
Support during your studies
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
- Personal Academic Tutors: You'll have a tutor assigned to you who will guide and support you throughout your studies.
- Wellbeing Officers: The Wellbeing team help with extensions, disabilities, extenuating circumstances, or any personal challenges. They’ll also connect you with further support on campus or elsewhere.
- Academic Writing Advisory Service: Tutorials, workshops and support in structuring an argument and developing your own academic voice.
- Student Experience Team: They offer research opportunities, and cultural, intellectual and social activities to enhance your university experience.
Contact hours
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
Module information
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed 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.
Year 1
Year 1
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Problems of Philosophy A | 10 |
| Problems of Philosophy B | 10 |
| Mathematical Foundations, Calculus and Linear Algebra | 40 |
| Philosopher's Toolkit A | 20 |
| Probability, Data and Statistics | 20 |
Students must choose one of the following two modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Moral and Political Philosophy | 20 |
| Reasons to Believe | 20 |
Year 2
Year 2
2027/28 Session
Students must take 60 credits in each subject in Year 2.
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Logic | 20 |
Students should aim for an even balance of credits across semesters.
Students must choose 60 credits from the following Mathematics modules:
Students choose the 40 credits from the optional modules in Philosophy.
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Aesthetics through History | 20 |
| Climate and Environmental Ethics | 20 |
| Elements of Metaphysics | 20 |
| Experience and Reason: Early Modern Philosophy | 20 |
| Feminist Philosophy | 20 |
| Philosophy of Mental Health | 20 |
| Philosophy of Mind and Language | 20 |
| Science and Nature | 20 |
| Sex, Ethics & Philosophy | 20 |
| The Ethics of Killing | 20 |
Please note this is an indicative list, a complete list of modules running in each academic year will be made available at the point of module choice.
Students may also apply to undertake a Professional Skills module. If successful this will be taken in place of 20 credits of taught Philosophy modules.
Year 3
Year 3
2028/29 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Philosophy of Mathematics | 20 |
Students must choose up to 40 credits of independent study in one and only one subject:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Mathematical Project | 40 |
| Philosophical Project | 40 |
| Philosophical Project | 20 |
Students choose at least 60 credits of optional modules across Philosophy and Mathematics, depending on the independent study option chosen.
Students should take a minimum of 40 credits in each subject in total, including any independent study credits.
The following lists are indicative.
Mathematics
Students may also apply to undertake a Professional Skills module on the condition that they are taking 40 credits or more in Mathematics. If successful this will be taken in place of one of their semester 1 taught modules.
You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.
Entry requirements
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
- A Level
AAB including an A in Maths/Further Maths.
- IB
6,6,5 with 32 overall. See below for full information.
- BTEC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus A at A-level. See below for full information.
Number of A levels required: 3
A levels
General studies is not accepted.
IB
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall including HL 6 in Maths/Further Maths.
BTEC qualifications
- BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus A at A-level in Maths/Further Maths.
- BTEC Diploma: DD, plus A at A-level in Maths/Further Maths.
- BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A-level, to include A in Maths/Further Maths.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
- IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
- Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
- Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
- Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill
Presessional English courses
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.
Am I likely to receive an offer for 2026?
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Alternative Offers
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer.
Our Contextual Offer scheme
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
- Pathways to Birmingham
ABC to include A in Maths
- Contextual Offer
ABB to include A in Maths
Fees and scholarships
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
- £9,535*
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2025 entry was £9,535 for UK students. If you are applying for 2026 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
Undergraduate loans
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
Scholarships, grants and bursaries
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
Financial support for Home students
If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.
Financial support for International students
We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Application process
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
- 14 January 2026
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
Career opportunities
Philosophy and Mathematics graduates have a range of knowledge and skills that are highly prized by graduate employers, such as:
- Understanding complex information
- Building a case to critically assess a particular point of view
- Analytic thinking and problem solving
- Report writing
- Critical thinking skills, alongside the ability to research, analyse and interpret the information that you have gathered
- Handling complex information, including complex statistics
- The ability to form concise and articulate arguments
- Managing your time effectively and prioritising your workload
Our graduates go on to pursue highly successful careers in professions such as Law, Journalism, Teaching, Management consultancy, Local and Central government, Publishing and Marketing.
Example employers include:
- AstraZeneca
- Thames Valley Police
- Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham
- CMT Learning
- Brightedge
- Barclays Aero Engine Controls
- BAE Systems Detica
- Ernst and Young
- KPMG
- Lloyds Banking Group
- PWC
- QinetiQ
- Santander
Some graduates choose to progress to further study, not just in Maths or Philosophy but in Politics, International Development, Sociology and other areas.
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits.
The Graduate Market in 2025, High Fliers report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Careers Network
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Built in Birmingham. Forged for the future.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Upcoming events
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Student experience
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Campus life
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Flexible programmes to suit you
Not sure what you want to study?
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.
Take a virtual tour
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.