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This Diploma is intended primarily for graduates in subjects other than philosophy who wish to study philosophy in depth, bringing them up to postgraduate level. It is a one year (or two year part-time) programme. Further details are available.
We offer the following five MA programmes, which may be taken full time or part time:
The Department welcomes applications for the research degrees of MLitt and PhD. Most students who register for a research degree are aiming for a PhD. Some students, however, may simply wish to register for and complete an MLitt. Further details are available on the Department's Research strengths, Programme of study, and Upgrading to PhD status.
The department research strength lies in analytic philosophy. Our main current research interests are in aesthetics, epistemology and metaphysics; ethics; history of philosophy; philosophy of mind and language; philosophy and history of science and mathematics; and political philosophy. Further details of individual research interests can be obtained by referring to the list of teaching staff. Any individual member of staff can be consulted by email to discuss possible research projects.
Like most other UK universities, Bristol requires all new research students to initially register for an MLitt, even if they intend to complete a PhD. Students then apply to be upgraded to full PhD status when they have demonstrated that a PhD is within their capacity.
In their first year, students registered for the M.Litt. normally follow the same course as students taking any Master’s degree. This involves taking the core MA units: Epistemology and Metaphysics, Value Theory, and the Philosophical Writing and Research Seminar. (Details of the units are given in the course programme M.A. in Philosophy.) Since research students will have been admitted on the basis of some definite research topic, however, they are likely to focus their work in the essays around their thesis topic and to have their thesis adviser as their essay tutor.
Exemption from taking any or some of the core M.A. units can be granted to an M.Litt. student by the Department’s Graduate Studies Committee, but only if they have already undertaken a training programme or can demonstrate substantial research experience.
MLitt students in the Philosophy Department who wish to apply for upgrading to PhD status will normally expect to be considered for upgrading towards the end of their first year or during their second year. The university deadline for upgrading for full time students is the end of their second year and for part time students the end of their fourth year. (Students on AHRB funding should check the deadline which the AHRB lays down for upgrading.) Upgrading is not automatic. The Department will wish to satisfy itself that the student has a viable research topic and can complete a thesis within the prescribed time limit. Arts Faculty guidelines require the submission of one or two satisfactory draft chapters of a thesis, or their equivalent, amounting to about 15,000 words, together with evidence that the necessary bibliographical work is well in hand, evidence that the appropriate training has been completed, and a convincing plan for the remainder of the thesis. The student will have an interview with an independent assessor who will have read the material submitted. Unless the student requests otherwise, the adviser will normally be present at the upgrade interview. The proceedings of the interview will be documented by the assessor and the student will be informed in writing by the Head of Dept or their delegate of the outcome of the interview.
For further information on life as a postgraduate in Bristol, visit the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities.