Philosophy has been at the core of Western intellectual life for at least 2,500 years. It is central to our understanding of the world and our interaction with it. Philosophy gives you the skills to think about great philosophical questions in a clear and systematic way. While there are different approaches that philosophers have taken, the study of philosophy focuses on: * argument * critical enquiry * rigour in reasoning * clarity of expression, including making important distinctions

The University has a strong historic connection to the subject, counting Adam Ferguson and Sir William Hamilton among its former students. Edinburgh has one of the UK’s largest philosophy departments and the Philosophy Society attracts high-profile speakers.

The English language has a well-recorded history of more than 1,000 years. Its changes can be traced through:* medieval manuscripts * text messages * recordings of spoken English. Using techniques from modern linguistics, you will analyse the structure of written and spoken English and explore how the language has changed in the course of its history. You can also study modern-day varieties of English and Scots and identify the similarities and differences between English and other languages.

This joint programme provides in-depth knowledge in both subject areas, and the opportunity to specialise in the topics that interest you most.