This degree gives you access to the very wide range of philosophical topics and expertise available in the Department. It's an excellent preparation for research in philosophy, as well as being an attractive postgraduate course in itself. This programme also offers a specialist pathway focusing on public policy – see MA Philosophy (Public Policy).IntroductionThe course is designed to give you the competence and understanding to pursue doctoral research in philosophy, while also acquiring professional skills needed for a broad range of careers. Alongside your philosophy modules you will receive personalised subject-specific research and professional skills training through a practice-based skills module.The emphasis in the core philosophy modules is on frontier research. Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy and Metaphysics, Language and Mind are two team-taught modules in which the department’s top researchers will introduce you to their current area of work. Recent subjects include religious expression, empathy in medicine, social epistemology and linguistic idealism. You will also write a dissertation - an extended piece of independent research conducted under the guidance of an academic expert.You can use your elective modules to tailor the programme towards your philosophical interests – be that political and social philosophy, ethics and religion, or metaphysics and mind. Or you can add something new to your studies, like Indian philosophy or philosophy of film. Besides the MA-level electives, students can also choose a course from our third year undergraduate provision to take at MA level (for an indicative list please see here). Students following the Public Policy pathway have the option to take an elective from another department.You will actively participate in the research activities of the Department as part of your Research and Professional Skills module. You will have a chance to lead one of the fortnightly Insights workshops with a world-renowned visiting speaker and will contribute to the staff work-in-progress seminar, by giving feedback on the work of our academics. You will gain confidence and knowledge through being part of our research community.