Philosophy (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The BPhil in Philosophy is a two-year taught course combining classes, supervisions, and independent research, with essays and a thesis covering theoretical, practical, and historical philosophy, preparing students for doctoral study.

The BPhil in Philosophy is an intellectually demanding course that requires a great degree of independence of thought from students, both academically as well as organisationally: students have to put together their own programme of classes, supervisions and topics for assessment. It is regarded both as training for doctoral study and a basis for teaching a range of philosophical subjects.

The main purpose of the BPhil is to provide future doctoral students with:

• a basis of knowledge and understanding of a number of philosophy subjects that they can develop into areas of teaching competence;

• the skills to conduct independent research in philosophy in their chosen area; and

• the ability to produce written work that displays sustained argument, independent thought and lucid structure and presentation.

• Students are encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while another gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.

Each year there is an Oxford Graduate Philosophy Conference, in which most graduate philosophy students participate in some way.

Course structure
Tuition on the BPhil is through a combination of classes, one-to-one supervisions and independent research.

You will write four essays across at least three subjects (with no more than two essays on any one subject), together with a thesis of up to 30,000 words. During your first four terms of study, you will receive one-to-one supervision on three or four chosen subjects, with four hours of supervision per term.

You may also attend any other classes, seminars and lectures in the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you and any classes, seminars and lectures in other faculties that are open to you. Each term many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.