Overview

Our researchers cover a variety of topics, from climate change to migration, and our students have very varied backgrounds. Postgraduate researchers will be encouraged to participate in seminars, conferences, and reading groups in the Philosophy department.

You can study in traditional PhD format, or through our PhD by Papers option. Rather than writing a single book-like thesis examining a single topic, a PhD by Papers gives you the choice of writing a thesis comprising of several separate (though thematically unified) papers, in the style of philosophy journal articles.

You can study the Global Ethics programme from University of Birmingham full-time or part-time, on campus or by distance learning. The College of Arts and Law is experienced in delivering high-quality distance learning to students all over the world.

Why study this course?

World-leading research: Times Higher Education ranked the Department of Philosophy second in the country for its performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework exercise, with 49% of our research judged to be ‘world-leading’.
Employability skills: Birmingham’s Philosophy postgraduates develop a range of skills that are highly desirable in the job market, including: articulacy; precise analytical thought; clarity; rigour in formulating complex problems; and the ability to analyse and construct sound arguments.
Staff expertise: The Department is home to an expanding, energetic and friendly community of philosophers that address the practical and theoretical issues raised by globalisation. Our staff produce world-leading research in all core areas of contemporary philosophy in this area
Postgraduate community: Our postgraduate students play a very active role in the life of the Department and the atmosphere among students and staff is lively, friendly and supportive. They are important contributors to our on-going research activities, including our Research Seminars and Events, such as our weekly speaker series and various workshops and conferences throughout the year.

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Programme Structure

The Department is an international hub of interdisciplinary research, which focuses on justice and development, environment and health, gender justice, and conflict and security.

Check out the full curriculum

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Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months
Part-time
- 72 months
- Flexible

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2023-09-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2023-07-03 00:00:00
Starting 2024-01-30 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

More details

Flexible – September or January encouraged

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

TOEFL^® IBT

88

Delivered

On Campus, Online

Disciplines

International Relations Philosophy & Ethics International Development View 44 other PhDs in Philosophy & Ethics in United Kingdom

Explore more key information

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

TOEFL^® IBT

88

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Birmingham and/or in United Kingdom, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

Applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

Make sure you meet all requirements

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Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

20820 GBP/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 20820 GBP per year during 36 months.
National

4620 GBP/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 4620 GBP per year during 36 months.

UK: £4,620 full-time, £2,310 part-time
International: £20,820 full-time; £10,410 part-time (distance learning only)

Living costs for Birmingham

765 - 1134 GBP /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.