Philosophy and English

About this course
Philosophy and English Literature both tackle fundamentally important questions: What should we believe in? How should we live? What does it mean to be human? On this course, you’ll explore these kinds of questions from the complementary perspectives of literature and philosophy, enriching your understanding and appreciation of each discipline in the process. You’ll explore philosophy and literature through diverse times and places, from Viking and Victorian literature to Chinese and Indian philosophy. You’ll also engage with issues of contemporary importance, from the ethics of climate change and AI, to race and culture in American literature.

A degree in Philosophy cultivates a deep understanding of human existence, thought, morality, and the nature of reality. Graduates are equipped with impeccable analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills – valuable assets in virtually any profession. This is reflected in our Graduate Outcomes where 95% of our Philosophy graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation” (Graduate Outcomes, 2022/2023, published 2025)

Key features of the course

• Customize your degree, with a wide range of optional modules, within Philosophy and English and across other disciplines.

• Benefit from small group sizes and personalized attention from lecturers and tutors, with a chance to explore your ideas in depth.

• Career skills are embedded at every stage of our courses

• Access to the Southampton Ethics centre, nurturing inter-disciplinary research and outreach, and the Hartley Library, home to the University Archives & Special Collections.

• Study and research through cutting-edge technology at the Digital Humanities facilities, such as virtual reality, 3D scanners and printers, and a 360 degree fully immersive audio-visual centre.

Student Support
Our courses are taught by philosophy experts with an exceptional breadth of interests. We offer high number of contact hours on a wide range of programmes, with a focus on small-group teaching and one-on-one tuition. Beyond academics, you’ll have access to wellbeing resources, peer mentoring, and careers advice, all in a friendly, welcoming community.

Further information
The BA Philosophy and English is a three-year, full-time course at our Avenue Campus. You can also apply to add a year abroad or placement year, extending your degree to four years. For details, visit our course page.

The programme is designed to ensure that your learning is progressive. You will move from developing foundational skills in Philosophy and English in the first year, to leading your own self-directed research project in the final year.

Year 1: You will develop foundational skills in critical thinking and textual analysis, through modules such as: Reason and Argument and The Novel.
Year 2: You will deepen your understanding of both subjects, exploring key arguments around mind and world in Philosophy, and the global dimensions of English Literature. You will also tailor your degree with a wide variety of optional modules in both subjects.
Year 3: You will personalise your degree through a self-directed dissertation project on any topic in Philosophy and/or English, and will choose from a range of specialist modules, each led by active researchers in the field.

You will also have the option of further tailoring your degree by choosing optional modules outside of Philosophy and English, with subjects including digital humanities and modern languages.

For a full list of modules available please visit the course page.

On this course you will learn through a range of activities that may include lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, individual and group projects, and independent learning (studying on your own).

You will be able to demonstrate what you have learnt through a variety of assessment methods, such as debates, essays, oral presentations, dissertations, individual and group projects, written exams.

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor who will offer support and advice throughout your studies. You will also receive feedback throughout your course, enabling you to identify areas for improvement before your work is formally assessed.