Philosophy

Course overview

Philosophy at Cambridge trains students to ask fundamental questions about fundamental topics – from knowledge and reality to morality and art. 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.

What is it like to study Philosophy at King’s?

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 then they met with their supervisor – a specialist in that area. 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. 

What do we look for in an applicant to Philosophy?

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 asked 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 evade) objections, and so on. 

Requirements

A Level: A*AA

IB: 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

Admissions assessment: None

Written work: None

Careers and graduate opportunities

The analytical and critical skills that Philosophy students develop prepare them 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.

What is the best thing about studying Philosophy at King’s?

King’s is a big, friendly College, with a thriving philosophical community. There’s a close-knit group of students and Fellows all interested in working together on big, challenging questions. Past Fellows of the College who have contributed to making it an exceptional philosophical community include Bernard Williams, Peter Lipton, and Richard Braithwaite (in whose rooms the famous incident involving Wittgenstein, Popper and a poker is said to have taken place!). 

A top tip for applicants to Philosophy at King’s

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 text.