Philosophy

About this programme

Studying philosophy gives you the skills to think about great philosophical questions in a clear and systematic way. A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2. This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme. I chose to study Philosophy at Edinburgh because of the scope of course options that are offered, even at an undergraduate level. At the point of applying, I had no idea what area of philosophy I wanted to study so the flexibility of the courses offered by Edinburgh was extremely appealing – even by the end of my first year I had taken courses in morality, applied ethics, ancient philosophy and logic. If you study abroad in Year 3 through the University's study exchange programme, you will need to pay related costs. These include: You can also use a tool like Numbeo to compare the cost of living abroad to Edinburgh or your home town or city. If you are away on exchange or placement, you may receive a reduction in your tuition fees for the year. This depends on: As an indication, you can see the reductions for students studying away in 2026-27. These are reviewed annually and are subject to change. You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.