BA Philosophy and Politics

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures of philosophy. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language.

Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In your second and final years you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen subjects in more depth, with modules such as Contemporary Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and the History of Political Philosophy. You will also have the chance to examine non-Western philosophies, such as Indian philosophy.

By studying politics you will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements of the subject such as political ideas and democratic processes. You can study a wide range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topics such as British government and politics, European political integration, and political thinking.

You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Our small class sizes ensure you will receive dedicated, individual attention.

All students are encouraged to undertake a work placement, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or final year.

We are ranked in the top 125 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities and those offering History, Philosophy and Theology’ (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024), and 5th in the UK for politics (the Daily Mail University Guide 2025).

Placement opportunities

We encourage you to take placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.

You can also choose our four-year BA Philosophy and Politics with Placement Experience course, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third year of study.

Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.