**Course details**
Studying BA Philosophy and Politics will allow you to develop critical capacities and gain insight into how political theories, organisations and communities work. You will learn skills from both subjects that employers value, including how to analyse evidence, assess experts’ arguments, work collaboratively to solve difficult problems, and write with clarity and precision.
Rather than learning a body of work, the philosophical element of your degree will equip you with the reasoning skills needed to formulate, present, defend and criticise philosophical a...
**Course details**<br/>Studying BA Philosophy and Politics will allow you to develop critical capacities and gain insight into how political theories, organisations and communities work. You will learn skills from both subjects that employers value, including how to analyse evidence, assess experts’ arguments, work collaboratively to solve difficult problems, and write with clarity and precision.<br/>Rather than learning a body of work, the philosophical element of your degree will equip you with the reasoning skills needed to formulate, present, defend and criticise philosophical and political positions.<br/><br/>**Why Durham University?**<br/>**Politics**<br/>We offer a range of courses that are flexible and interdisciplinary in nature. Alongside the study of political theory, comparative politics, and international relations you can choose from a wide selection of modules in areas that align with your interests.<br/>You will be taught by academics with a genuine passion for their subject, whose areas of expertise include government, political theory, political economy and international relations.<br/>**Philosophy**<br/>Amongst the most prestigious departments in the UK, at Durham we pride ourselves on our excellence in teaching and research and we are committed to the pursuit of philosophical knowledge and understanding. <br/>Our distinctive, research-led approach to learning means that our undergraduate courses are constantly shaped in line with research and to reflect contemporary study in the area.<br/>Undergraduate students are invited to attend the Department’s extensive programme of research-related activities, including weekly lectures and seminars, many of which are given by renowned UK and overseas philosophers. Recent visitors have included Amie Thomasson, Noam Chomsky and Peter Singer.<br/><br/>**Rankings**<br/>**Top 100** in the QS World University Rankings 2026<br/>**21** subjects in the World Top 100 (QS World University Rankings 2025)<br/>**5th** in the UK Complete University Guide 2026<br/>**5th** in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025<br/>**6th** in the Guardian University Guide 2025<br/><br/>**Career Opportunities**<br/><br/>**Politics**<br/>We offer a series of employment-related events which include talks from visiting speakers who explore the range of careers open to politics and international relations students, and offer advice about applying for jobs. We also host a regular Civil Service Fast Stream event in which Durham alumni give first-hand advice about how to excel in the recruitment process.<br/>Graduates are equipped with an academic and practical skill set that will take them into a wide range of fields including local and national government, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces. <br/><br/>**Philosophy**<br/>Philosophical training will equip you with a range of theoretical and transferable skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, project management, presenting and researching, that will be of value to employers across a range of industries. <br/>Our graduates work in a vast range of employment sectors worldwide, including law, the Civil Service and politics, management, public relations, teaching, journalism, media and publishing, marketing, retail and business, IT and financial services. Examples of recent employers include Penguin, Random House Publishing, Save the Children, Amnesty International and The Guardian.
1 option available
Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.
Course Details
Information
Study Mode
Full-time
Duration
3 Years
Start Date
28/09/2026
Campus
Durham City
14 January
Application deadline
Provider Details
Codes/info
Course Code
LV25
Institution Code
D86
Points of Entry
Year 1
Not Accepted
A,A,A,A,B
We normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. If you’ve not been able to take three Advanced Highers, then we’ll consider a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers, or just Highers (if your school doesn’t offer Advanced Highers at all). Specific subjects/grades required for entry: An Advanced Higher in a social science or humanities subject at grade A. or A Higher in a social science or humanities subject at grade A, if Advanced Higher in a social science or humanities subject wasn't available for study.
D:30,M:15
Specific subjects/grades required for entry: At least 12 credits must be taken in social science or humanities subjects at Level 3 and passed with Distinction.
37
To include 6, 6, 6 from Higher Level subjects. Specific subjects/grades required for entry: A Higher Level in a social science or humanities subject at grade 6.
DDD
Other BTEC level 3 qualifications are also accepted in combination with each other or with other qualifications. See our website for more information on our BTEC qualification equivalencies. Specific subjects/grades required for entry: An A level or BTEC Level 3 in a social science or humanities subject at grade A or Distinction.
H2,H2,H2,H2,H2
Specific subjects/grades required for entry: A Higher Level social science or humanities subject at grade H2.
DDD
Other level 3 Cambridge Technical qualifications are also accepted in combination with each other or with other qualifications. See our website for more information on our Cambridge technical qualification equivalencies. Specific subjects/grades required for entry: An A level or Cambridge Technical Level 3 in a social science or humanities subject at grade A or Distinction.
A,A,A
Specific subjects/grades required for entry: An Advanced Higher in a social science or humanities subject at grade A.
Not Accepted
A,A,A
Specific subjects/grades required for entry: An A level social science or humanities subject at grade A.
T levels will be considered on a case-by-case basis where the subject area aligns with the course applied to. Please note that additional A levels or equivalent may be required to study certain courses. If you’re interested in applying, then please Ask Us and we’ll see if we’re able to consider this for you: www.durham.ac.uk/study/ask-us/ Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements.
Not Accepted
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Unfortunately, we're unable to gather fee information for this course. Click here to find out more about Philosophy and Politics BA (Hons)'s funding options on the university's website.