Ranking
Top 10
in the UK for Philosophy
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Course overview
Question the systems and practices that shape modern societies and lead the discourse on today’s issues, assumptions and theories.
Engage with experts across subjects. You’ll be taught by world-class academics across the departments of Theology and Religion, Philosophy, and Politics and International Studies, diving deep into a variety of topics.
Course highlights
- Top 10
in the UK for Philosophy
Good University Guide 2026
- Top 10
in the UK for Theology
Complete University Guide 2026
Tailor your undergraduate degree course and focus on the areas of each discipline that interest you most. In your second and final years, you have the option to focus your studies more on theology and religion, philosophy, or politics, depending on where your strengths and interests lie. Whatever you choose to specialise in, you will graduate with well-rounded skills in debating and reflective thinking.
Focus on philosophy with real-world relevance and contemporary application. Delve into current topics such as mental health, sex, applied ethics, sustainability and more.
Access fantastic resources to support your studies and research, including the thousands of religious texts and manuscripts in the Cadbury Research Library.
Learn to critically engage with a wide range of religions and faiths in one of the most religiously and cultural diverse cities in Europe.
Take advantage of opportunities to complete a placement in a variety of settings at home and abroad, ranging from the cultural and educational sectors to NGOs and law firms. You'll enter the workplace with the skills required to shape the political and cultural agendas of the future.
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.
Support
You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham.
Personal tutors – you will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
Wellbeing officers – you will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances or to talk through any problems you might be experiencing and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.
Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.
The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) provides guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.
Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events, including trips.
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 |
| Discover: The Study of Religion | 20 |
| Understanding Politics | 20 |
20 further credits to be selected from optional modules offered by each of the participating departments, up to a total of 60 credits.
Students should normally take 60 credits per semester.
The modules lists are indicative only of what will run each year.
Certain modules are co-requisites. This will be made clear to students in module choice paperwork
Theology and Religion:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Lived Religions in Birmingham and Beyond, A | 10 |
| How do we know what (we think) we know about the Holocaust? | 20 |
| Introduction to Islam | 20 |
| Life After Death: What Happens When We Die? | 20 |
| Lived Religions in Birmingham and Beyond, B | 10 |
| Political Theologies: Wealth, Race, Gender | 20 |
| The Bible and Global Challenges | 20 |
| Traditions and Heresies in Christian Theology | 20 |
| Truth, Deception, and Ethics in Philosophy and Film | 20 |
POLSIS:
Philosophy:
Year 2
Year 2
2027/28 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state | 20 |
| Religion in the Public Sphere | 20 |
80 further credits must be selected from the lists provided by each of the participating departments. That must include at least 20 credits from the Politics list, but no more than 40. Students may choose to take 20 credits from the future skills or CAL-wide module list.
Students are reminded that if they plan to undertake a 40 credit Dissertation option in Theology and Religion, they must select Dissertation Preparation from the theology and religion list.
Students are reminded that if they plan to undertake the 40 credit Dissertation in POLSIS, they must select Research Design from the Politics list.
Students are required to balance their credits in a 60/60 split across the two semesters.
Theology and Religion:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Anthropology of Islam | 20 |
| Auschwitz in History and Memory | 20 |
| Boundaries of Truth in Christian Theology: Development and Content of Christian Doctrines | 20 |
| Critical Issues in Theology, Religion and Education | 20 |
| Dissertation Preparation | 20 |
| Evil in the Human Condition | 20 |
| Gender, Sexualities and Religion | 20 |
| Global Islam | 20 |
| Islamic Ethics | 20 |
| Religion and Ritual | 20 |
| Religion and the Arts | 20 |
| Religions of India | 20 |
| Representations of the Divine | 20 |
POLSIS:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Anthropology of Migration | 20 |
| Comparative Politics | 20 |
| Feminist Political Ideas | 20 |
| Global Governance | 20 |
| Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare | 20 |
| International Political Economy | 20 |
| International Politics & Security in Russia & Eurasia | 20 |
| International Relations Theory | 20 |
| International Relations of the Middle East | 20 |
| International Security | 20 |
| Politics of Sustainable Development | 20 |
| Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging | 20 |
| Public Choice Theory | 20 |
| Research Design | 20 |
| Russian Politics: From Revolution to Putin | 20 |
| Sexuality and Identity Politics | 20 |
| Soviet Politics: Rise and Fall of a Superpower | 20 |
| The Social Life of the Economy | 20 |
| Trust-Building For Global Security | 20 |
| US Politics | 20 |
| War and Peace in Theory and Practice | 20 |
Philosophy:
CAL Future Skills Modules
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Media in Practice | 20 |
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills – Freelance | 20 |
| Sustainable Development: Climate, Culture, Society and Policy | 20 |
Year 3
Year 3
2028/29 Session
Students must choose ONE module from the Independent Research list
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 40 |
| Dissertation (Theology & Religion) | 40 |
| Dissertation (Theology and Religion) | 20 |
| Philosophical Project | 40 |
| Philosophical Project | 20 |
Students must then select at least a further 80 credits, depending on their Independent Research option, from across the Politics, Philosophy and Theology and Religion lists. If students are taking the independent research credits in Politics, they may take their credits only from the Philosophy and Theology and Religion lists.
If students are taking any other independent research credit arrangement, their further credits must include one 20 credit option from Politics only.
Students are expected to balance their taught module credits evenly across semesters, or if taking the one of the 20-credit dissertation/project options, no more than 70 credits in either semester.
Certain modules are co-requisites. This will be made clear to students in module choice paperwork.
The list below is indicative and may vary from year to year. All students on the programme will be provided with a definitive list of the optional modules available in a given year as part of the module choice exercise in the summer term of the preceding academic year.
Theology and Religion:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Jewish Religious Responses to the Holocaust | 20 |
| Advanced Readings in Christian Ethics | 20 |
| Atheisms: From Voltaire to Dawkins | 20 |
| Christmas and Ethical Consuming | 20 |
| Gender, Sexualities and Religion | 20 |
| God Beyond Borders: Building Interfaith Bridges | 20 |
| God in Modern Philosophy | 20 |
| Historical and Contemporary Debates on the Holocaust | 20 |
| Law and ethics as theology in Christian and Muslim thought and practice | 20 |
| Politics in the Name of God: From Democratization to Holy War | 20 |
| Power, Society and Identity : critical thinkers for the study of religions 2 | 20 |
| Religious Feminisms | 20 |
| The Ethics of Character | 20 |
| Understanding and Countering Radical Islamic thought and practices | 20 |
| Visions of God in Christian Theology | 20 |
| Visions of the Intellectual Life | 20 |
POLSIS:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe | 20 |
| Climate Change in Asia | 20 |
| Conflict and Peace: Theory and Practice | 20 |
| Contemporary International Political Economy | 20 |
| Corruption and Clientelism: Global Perspective | 20 |
| Environment and climate politics: from global to local | 20 |
| Global Capitalism and Migration | 20 |
| Global Security | 20 |
| International Negotiation | 20 |
| International Political Theory | 20 |
| Parliamentary Studies | 20 |
| Political Theory and Social Criticism | 20 |
| Power in Britain | 20 |
| Regionalism and the Global South | 20 |
| Security in Europe: Actors, Crises and Threats | 20 |
| The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict | 20 |
| The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict | 20 |
| The Politics of Protest and Dissent | 20 |
| Topics in British Politics | 20 |
Philosophy:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Fantastic Beasts and How to Understand them: Topics in Philosophy of Biology | 20 |
| It's About Time! | 20 |
| Just War | 20 |
| Nietzsche | 20 |
| Philosophy of Mathematics | 20 |
| Prejudice Race + Gender | 20 |
| Reason and Belief | 20 |
| Social Justice | 20 |
| Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 |
CAL Future Skills Modules CAL Future Skills Modules (Students who undertook a Professional Skills module at level I will not be able to undertake a Professional Skills module at level H.)
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills - Freelance | 20 |
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
- IB
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall.
- BTEC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD. Equivalent accepted, see below for full information.
Number of A levels required: 3
A Level
AAB or equivalent.
IB Diploma
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall.
BTEC qualifications
- BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD.
- BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level.
- BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level.
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.
Core Maths qualification
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification 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 Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. 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?
Stay up-to-date with news and updates from the University of Birmingham including events, our courses and studying with us by registering your details. If you do so, you will be able to use our Offer Calculator.
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
BBB - A level
- Contextual Offer
ABB - A level
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
Studying within the department of Theology and Religion at Birmingham will provide you with skills highly sought-after by employers within the graduate job market:
- Understanding complex information
- Writing clearly and effectively
- Building a case to critically assess a particular point of view, strategy or course of action
- Respecting the views of others even if they disagree with you
- Generally thinking for yourself
Career destinations
Our Theology and Religion students have gone on to secure roles such as Community Development Worker, Policy Officer, Paralegal, Researcher, and Religious Minister, working for organisations such as:
- BBC
- NHS
- UK Civil Service
- National Grid
- The Labour Party
The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.
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.
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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.