Philosophy
Philosophy at Cambridge covers fundamental questions about fundamental topics, from knowledge and reality to morality and art.
At a glance
A Level requirements: A*AA
IB requirements: 41-42 points overall with 7, 7, 6 at Higher Level
Subject requirements: While none are required, a mixture of arts and sciences can be useful
Average students per year: 4
Admissions assessment: None
Written work: None
Admissions
Course overview
Philosophy at Cambridge trains students to ask fundamental questions about fundamental topics – from knowledge and reality to morality and art. It covers a wide range of the discipline’s history, from the ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, through philosophy in the Middle Ages, right up to contemporary philosophy in the analytic and Continental traditions.
Studying philosophy requires critical thinking, rigorous analysis, clear expression, and judicious argument. In the first year, students receive a general grounding in some of the major areas of Philosophy, including metaphysics, philosophy of language, ethics and political philosophy, history of philosophy, and formal methods. In second year, students take one compulsory module in Knowledge, Language and the World, and then pick from a range of optional modules covering topics like aesthetics, epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy, ancient philosophy, and early modern philosophy. In third year, students are free to pick whichever modules they like, covering several of the topics mentioned above as well as many more; third-year students are also able to write a dissertation on a substantive philosophical topic of their choosing.
For more information about the course and its modules, visit the University website.
Interviews
If you are invited to interview in Philosophy at King’s, you will usually have one interview lasting at least 35 minutes. You will meet with two interviewers who teach on the Philosophy course. They will task you a series of questions about various topics in Philosophy. They might ask you about a topic you mention having already studied in your personal statement, or they might ask about a completely different topic you’ve never encountered before. You should think of this as more like a conversation than like a test. Your interviewers are much more interested in seeing how you think than in finding out how much you already know.
What we look for in an applicant
Good philosophers are critical and analytical thinkers. They should be capable of analysing abstract problems with rigour and insight, and of expressing their views with clarity and precision. If invited to interview, be prepared to have your answers challenged. This isn’t necessarily because you’ve said something wrong (often, there is no “right answer” to a philosophical problem!). Rather, you’re likely to be challenged because we want to see how well you can follow an argument, respond to criticism, anticipate (and rebut) objections, and so on.
A top tip for applicants
We’re much more interested in how you think than in how much you already know. Some preparatory reading is sensible, but there are no particular books that an interviewer will expect you to have read. It’s a good idea to read some general (analytical) philosophy books. But it’s also important that, whatever you read, you start reading it in a philosophical way – by analysing, evaluating, and maybe even challenging the arguments in the text.
The Faculty of Philosophy has prepared a list of books and other resources that anyone interested in studying Philosophy at university should find useful.
Find out more
You can find out more about Philosophy by visiting the University website and the Faculty of Philosophy website.
King’s also runs Open Days where you can get a taste of what studying here is like. The World of Words Residential, in collaboration with Christ’s College, is an opportunity for students who attend UK state schools in Y12/S5/Y13 NI to find out more about life at the University of Cambridge and explore a variety of academic sessions themed around languages, literatures, and cultures. You might also be interested in the Small Subjects Residential, which offers students in UK state schools in Y12/S5/Y13 NI the chance to use interdisciplinary approaches to tackle the world's big questions.
Life as a King's Philosophy student
At King’s, there are usually four to five Philosophy students per year, which makes us one of the bigger Colleges for Philosophy at Cambridge. In a typical week, a Philosophy student would normally have one supervision (lasting around one hour) and 10-12 hours of lectures (around two to three hours per day). In first year, students also have one seminar per week (also lasting one hour). Beyond this, students spend the bulk of their work time doing reading, taking notes, and writing their supervision essays. Students have to write one essay per week, for a total of eight essays each term.
The supervision is a small-group teaching session and is the primary vehicle of teaching at Cambridge. Students will be given a reading list on a specific topic. They will have one week to write an essay before they meet with their supervisor, a specialist in the area, to discuss it. In first year, students normally meet in small groups of two or three students and one supervisor. In second and third year, supervisions tend to be one-on-one. The supervision is an opportunity to think through a complex philosophical topic in detail. Different supervisors have different styles. Some common things that might be covered in a supervision include offering feedback on students’ essays, presenting students with new and tricky problem cases, testing students’ knowledge and understanding, and encouraging students to play devil’s advocate by defending a position they loathe or challenging a position they admire.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have studied under the Philosophy Fellows at King’s. Angela, John, and Anna have each played an invaluable role in my academic development. Their research areas are fascinating, and they consistently go above and beyond in their support for students.
- Lucie, 3rd year
I would highly recommend studying Philosophy at King’s. With it being a small subject in terms of numbers, it is certainly a benefit to be at a College that takes in a decent number of philosophers (four in my year, as opposed to only one at other Colleges). Throughout my year studying Philosophy, I have felt supported both by my peers and Director of Studies at the college. I really feel that King’s is enabling me to do the best I can do in my subject.
- Molly, 1st year
Careers and graduate opportunities
The analytical and critical skills that students develop during the Philosophy course are excellent preparation for a wide range of careers, including publishing, journalism, the civil service, law, the arts, consultancy, finance, and many more. Around one in four students go on to graduate work and further study.
