Skip to content

Breadcrumbs navigation

Master of Arts (Honours) Philosophy


MA (Hons) Philosophy: First year
Code Module name Credits
PY1012 Reasoning 20 AND
View list Between 0 and 60 credits from Module List: PY1001 - PY1199 AND
PY1010 Mind and World 20
PY1011 Moral and Political Controversies 20
PY1012 Reasoning 20
PY1013 The Enlightenment 20
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
Remaining credits from Level 1000 options

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in the academic year

First and Second Year Philosophy (Single Honours) Programme Requirements:
20 credits: PY1012;
A minimum of 40 credits from: PY2000-PY2103;
A minimum of 20 further credits from: PY1001-PY1199, PY2000-PY2103;

Please balance your choices across the academic year.

MA (Hons) Philosophy: Second year
Code Module name Credits
View list At least 40 credits from Module List: PY2000 - PY2103 AND
PY2010 Intermediate Logic 20
PY2011 Foundations of Western Philosophy 20
PY2012 Meaning and Knowing 20
PY2013 Moral and Aesthetic Value 20
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Between 0 and 80 credits from Module List: PY1001 - PY1199, PY2000 - PY2103 AND
PY1010 Mind and World 20
PY1011 Moral and Political Controversies 20
PY1012 Reasoning 20
PY1013 The Enlightenment 20
PY2010 Intermediate Logic 20
PY2011 Foundations of Western Philosophy 20
PY2012 Meaning and Knowing 20
PY2013 Moral and Aesthetic Value 20
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
Remaining credits from Levels 1000 and 2000 options

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in the academic year
Choose a minimum of 80 Level 2000 credits

First and Second Year Philosophy (Single Honours) Programme Requirements:
20 credits: PY1012;
A minimum of 40 credits from: PY2000-PY2103;
A minimum of 20 further credits from: PY1001-PY1199, PY2000-PY2103;

Please balance your choices across the academic year.

Further details on Entry to Honours - MA

Grades of at least 11 in each module for 40 credits from PY2001 - PY2103 gained at first sitting OR Grades of at least 10 in each module for 40 credits from PY2001 - PY2103 with a mean of 12 or above across these modules, at first sitting.

MA Honours

The general requirements are 480 credits over a period of normally four years (and not more than five years) or part-time equivalent, of which the final two years form an approved Honours programme of 240 credits, of which 90 credits are at 4000 or 5000 level and at least a further 120 credits at 3000 and/or 4000 or 5000 levels.


MA (Hons) Philosophy: Third year
Code Module name Credits
View list Between 30 and 60 credits from Module List: PY3100, PY3200 AND
PY3100 Reading Philosophy 1: Texts in Language, Logic, Mind, Epistemology, Metaphysics and Science 30
PY3200 Reading Philosophy 2: Texts in Ethics, Metaethics, Religion, Aesthetics and Political Philosophy 30
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Between 60 and 90 credits from Module List: PY4000 - PY4689, CL4500 - CL4520, ID4801, ID4859
PY401A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY401B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY401C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY402A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY402B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY402C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY404A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY404B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY404C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY405A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY405B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY405C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY406A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY406B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY406C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY407A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY407B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY407C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY408A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY408B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY408C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY409A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY409B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY409C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY410A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY410B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY410C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY411A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY411B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY411C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY412A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY412B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY412C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY4601 Paradoxes 30
PY4606 Contemporary Epistemology 30
PY4607 Continental European Philosophy from Descartes to Leibniz 30
PY4608 Political Philosophy in the Age of Revolutions 30
PY4609 Philosophical Methodology 30
PY4610 Philosophy of Perception 30
PY4611 Classical Philosophy 30
PY4612 Advanced Logic 30
PY4614 Philosophy of Mind 30
PY4615 Metaphysics 30
PY4616 Freedom and Action 30
PY4617 The Philosophy of Saul Kripke 30
PY4618 Animals, Minds and Language 30
PY4622 Kant's Critical Philosophy 30
PY4624 Philosophy of Art 30
PY4625 Philosophy and Public Affairs: Global Justice 30
PY4626 Life and Death 30
PY4632 Contemporary Philosophy of Language 30
PY4634 Philosophy of Logic 30
PY4635 Contemporary Moral Theory 30
PY4638 Philosophy of Religion 30
PY4639 Philosophy of Creativity 30
PY4640 Medieval Philosophy 30
PY4643 Philosophy of Law 30
PY4644 Rousseau on Human Nature, Society, and Freedom 30
PY4645 Philosophy and Literature 30
PY4646 Reasons for Action and Belief 30
PY4647 Humans, Animals, and Nature 30
PY4648 Conceptual Engineering and its Role in Philosophy 30
PY4649 Core Works in Continental Philosophy 30
PY4650 Philosophy, Feminism and Gender 30
PY4651 Effective Altruism 30
PY4652 The Philosophy of Human Rights 30
PY4653 Toleration in the Early Modern Period 30
PY4654 Responsibility, Praise, and Blame 30
PY4655 Advanced Metaethics 30
PY4656 The Philosophy of Love and Sex 30
PY4657 Philosophy of Economics 30
PY4658 Timely Topics in Political Philosophy 30
PY4659 Why Does The World Exist? 30
PY4660 Work, Entitlement, and Welfare 30
PY4661 The Philosophy of the Climate Crisis 30
PY4662 Critical Theory 30
PY4663 Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy 30
PY4664 Ethics of Conversation 30
PY4665 First Contact 30
PY4666 Bioethics 30
PY4667 Philosophy of Music 30
PY4668 Key texts in nineteenth-century Philosophy 30
PY4669 Modal Logic and Metaphysics 30
PY4670 Ethics and the allocation of health resources 30
PY4671 Dreaming and Waking 30
CL4500 Pleasure, Goodness and Happiness: Hellenistic Ethics 30
CL4504 Justice, politics and the good life: Plato's Republic and its critics in the ancient world 30
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above

Further requirements

Choose between 120 to 160 credits in academic year

Third and Fourth Year Philosophy (Single Honours) Programme Requirements:
30-60 credits: PY3100 and/or PY3200 (Students must take at least 30 credits of 3000-level, and may take 60 credits if they wish);
180-210 credits: PY4000 - PY4689, (PY4698 or PY4699 or PY4794 - Fourth Year Only), CL4500-CL4520, ID4801, ID4859, (PY4701 and ID4002 - Fourth Year Only);

Students will take either 180 credits or 210 credits of 4000-level, depending on 3000-level modules taken.

Across the two Honours years up to 30 of these credits may be substituted for credits from another subject area and/or level, including VP modules, provided that permission is obtained from the relevant Head of School.

In total, 210 credits must be achieved at 3000- and 4000-level, including at least 90 credits at 4000-level.

MA (Hons) Philosophy: Fourth year
Code Module name Credits
View list Credits from Module List: PY3100, PY3200 AND
PY3100 Reading Philosophy 1: Texts in Language, Logic, Mind, Epistemology, Metaphysics and Science 30
PY3200 Reading Philosophy 2: Texts in Ethics, Metaethics, Religion, Aesthetics and Political Philosophy 30
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Credits from Module List: PY4000 - PY4689, CL4500 - CL4520, ID4801, ID4859 AND
PY401A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY401B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY401C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY402A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY402B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY402C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY404A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY404B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY404C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY405A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY405B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY405C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY406A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY406B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY406C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY407A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY407B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY407C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY408A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY408B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY408C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY409A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY409B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY409C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY410A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY410B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY410C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY411A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY411B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY411C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY412A Study Abroad: Philosophy (4) 4
PY412B Study Abroad: Philosophy (5) 5
PY412C Study Abroad: Philosophy (6) 6
PY4601 Paradoxes 30
PY4606 Contemporary Epistemology 30
PY4607 Continental European Philosophy from Descartes to Leibniz 30
PY4608 Political Philosophy in the Age of Revolutions 30
PY4609 Philosophical Methodology 30
PY4610 Philosophy of Perception 30
PY4611 Classical Philosophy 30
PY4612 Advanced Logic 30
PY4614 Philosophy of Mind 30
PY4615 Metaphysics 30
PY4616 Freedom and Action 30
PY4617 The Philosophy of Saul Kripke 30
PY4618 Animals, Minds and Language 30
PY4622 Kant's Critical Philosophy 30
PY4624 Philosophy of Art 30
PY4625 Philosophy and Public Affairs: Global Justice 30
PY4626 Life and Death 30
PY4632 Contemporary Philosophy of Language 30
PY4634 Philosophy of Logic 30
PY4635 Contemporary Moral Theory 30
PY4638 Philosophy of Religion 30
PY4639 Philosophy of Creativity 30
PY4640 Medieval Philosophy 30
PY4643 Philosophy of Law 30
PY4644 Rousseau on Human Nature, Society, and Freedom 30
PY4645 Philosophy and Literature 30
PY4646 Reasons for Action and Belief 30
PY4647 Humans, Animals, and Nature 30
PY4648 Conceptual Engineering and its Role in Philosophy 30
PY4649 Core Works in Continental Philosophy 30
PY4650 Philosophy, Feminism and Gender 30
PY4651 Effective Altruism 30
PY4652 The Philosophy of Human Rights 30
PY4653 Toleration in the Early Modern Period 30
PY4654 Responsibility, Praise, and Blame 30
PY4655 Advanced Metaethics 30
PY4656 The Philosophy of Love and Sex 30
PY4657 Philosophy of Economics 30
PY4658 Timely Topics in Political Philosophy 30
PY4659 Why Does The World Exist? 30
PY4660 Work, Entitlement, and Welfare 30
PY4661 The Philosophy of the Climate Crisis 30
PY4662 Critical Theory 30
PY4663 Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy 30
PY4664 Ethics of Conversation 30
PY4665 First Contact 30
PY4666 Bioethics 30
PY4667 Philosophy of Music 30
PY4668 Key texts in nineteenth-century Philosophy 30
PY4669 Modal Logic and Metaphysics 30
PY4670 Ethics and the allocation of health resources 30
PY4671 Dreaming and Waking 30
CL4500 Pleasure, Goodness and Happiness: Hellenistic Ethics 30
CL4504 Justice, politics and the good life: Plato's Republic and its critics in the ancient world 30
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Credits from Module List: PY4698. PY4699, PY4794 AND
PY4698 Dissertation (Whole Year) 30
PY4699 Dissertation in Philosophy 30
PY4794 Joint Dissertation (30cr) 30
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Credits from Module List: PY4701, ID4002
PY4701 Philosophy and Pedagogy 15
ID4002 Communication and Teaching in Arts and Humanities 15
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in academic year

Third and Fourth Year Philosophy (Single Honours) Programme Requirements:
30-60 credits: PY3100 and/or PY3200 (Students must take at least 30 credits of 3000-level, and may take 60 credits if they wish);
180-210 credits: PY4000 - PY4689, (PY4698 or PY4699 or PY4794 - Fourth Year Only), CL4500-CL4520, ID4801, ID4859, (PY4701 and ID4002 - Fourth Year Only);

Students will take either 180 credits or 210 credits of 4000-level, depending on 3000-level modules taken.

Across the two Honours years up to 30 of these credits may be substituted for credits from another subject area and/or level, including VP modules, provided that permission is obtained from the relevant Head of School.

In total, 210 credits must be achieved at 3000- and 4000-level, including at least 90 credits at 4000-level.

Study abroad

In the case of students who spend part of the Honours programme on a recognised Study Abroad scheme, the Programme Requirements will be amended to take into account overseas courses which are approved by the relevant St Andrews School in the Learning Agreement (see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/study-abroad/academic ).