Philosophy - MPhil / PhD

Program Overview

The University of Liverpool's Philosophy Department offers rigorous PhD and MPhil programs in Philosophy, providing students with a stimulating environment to develop their philosophical skills. The program encompasses diverse research areas including metaphysics, language, mind, religion, ethics, aesthetics, and art, with a focus on practical import and collaboration with external organizations. PhD students benefit from dedicated resources, funding opportunities, and active involvement in the department's vibrant research community.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Department of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool aims to maintain the highest standard in research excellence while pursuing fruitful civic engagements, collaborative relationships, and opportunities for knowledge exchange and research impact. The program offers a PhD and MPhil in Philosophy, available both full-time and part-time. The program is designed to provide students with a rigorous and stimulating environment in which to develop their philosophical skills and knowledge. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with leading researchers in the field, and to engage in cutting-edge research.

Other:

The Department of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool has a strong tradition of producing world-class research in practical philosophy. The department's research interests encompass a wide range of philosophical topics and traditions, grouped into three principal areas:

• Metaphysics, Language and Mind: This group focuses on general metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of logic.
Topics include consciousness, space and time, modality, nominalism, the self, philosophy of action, linguistic idealism, and the nature of the proposition.
• Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy: This group draws on expertise in many traditions, including ethics, philosophy of religion, environmental philosophy, political philosophy, feminism and women in philosophy, Indian philosophy, and history of philosophy.
The group shares a focus on practical import.
• Aesthetics, Art and Literature: This interdisciplinary group takes advantage of Liverpool's high density of art galleries and museums outside London.
It enables researchers from different academic disciplines to exchange ideas and methods, collaborate across traditional boundaries, and work closely with other institutions and the community on issues of intellectual and cultural importance. Research interests include aesthetics and art theory, philosophy and literature, history of art, creativity, engaging with museum collections, archiving, and science fiction. The department has senior editorial roles in leading journals within their research areas. For example, Professor Thomas Schramme is co-editor in chief of Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, and Professor Simon Hailwood is Managing Editor of Environmental Values. The department collaborates with colleagues in a wide variety of national and international universities and partner organizations. For instance, they ran a project with colleagues in the Universities of Dortmund, Münster, and Potsdam exploring new ways to understand the concept of alienation. They also collaborate regularly with a wide range of faith groups and others, including legal practitioners, as well as scholars of religion, to bring philosophy into close contact with religious practice. Recent projects in this area include the Philosophy and Religious Practices network and work on Religious Symbols and Discrimination. Further recent or ongoing partnerships and collaborations include the Global Institute for Advanced Studies (New York University), the European Union’s Creative Research Adaptive Roadmap Project, the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research, Tate Liverpool, the Bluecoat Gallery, Budapest Central European University, and the Universities of Durham, Exeter, Konstanz, Mannheim, Münster, Rochester, Rome, and Tromsø. The department has a thriving community of energetic postgraduate researchers who benefit greatly from this research environment and make an important active contribution to it. For example, they recently organized and hosted the British Postgraduate Philosophy Association Masterclass on Alain Badiou’s philosophy. The department's research themes include:
• Philosophy of mind
• Aesthetics
• Indian philosophy
• Environmental philosophy
• Moral philosophy
• Feminist philosophy
• Political philosophy
• Medical ethics
• Philosophy of religion
• Philosophy of language
• Metaphysics
• Plotinus
• Enhancement and Transhumanism.
PhD students have access to dedicated desk space and networked PCs. PhD students have regular work in progress discussions with fellow students and staff. They are encouraged to be involved in undergraduate teaching and marking and given training and support in this. The department has three research groups:
• Metaphysics, Language and Mind
• Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy
• Aesthetics, Art and Literature

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year MPhil / PhD Duration UK students International Students Full time 2-4 years £4,786 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £29,750 (Band A)^ Faculty of Science and Engineering £29,750 (Band A)^ or £23,400 (Band B) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £23,400 (Band B) Part time 4-6 years £2,393 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £14,900 (Band A)^ Faculty of Science and Engineering £14,900 (Band A)^ or £11,700 (Band B) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £11,700 (Band B) The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

• Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project.
Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter. ^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.