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Philosophy and the Arts (MA) (2024 Entry)

This image shows a male Philosophy student reading an assign textbook

Explore our Philosophy of the Arts taught Master's degree.

Philosophy and the Arts is an interdisciplinary degree, allowing you to combine philosophy with any or all of three arts disciplines. This MA is designed for students to take advantage of Warwick's strengths across Philosophy, English, History of Art, and Film and Television Studies.


Course overview

This course allows you to combine the study of philosophy with any/all of three arts disciplines. Warwick has been a home for interdisciplinary work in philosophy and literature since the early days of the university.

This degree is designed to take advantage of our strengths across Philosophy, English and Comparative Literary Studies, History of Art, and Film and Television Studies. Warwick has excellent research strength in all of these areas, and it also has considerable scholarly interaction across these fields, especially through the programming of the Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature and the Arts.


General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject; a writing sample of around 2,500 words on a philosophical topic.

See our departmental guidanceLink opens in a new window.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Topics in Philosophy and the Arts

This module introduces students to a range of question in the philosophy of art, addressing questions about art in general and about particular art forms or works.

The first half focuses on methodological and foundational questions. What is it to study the arts philosophically? Is the philosophy of art a descriptive or normative endeavour? What is the relation between artistic and other forms of value?

The second half focuses on a diverse range of artists, authors, works or genres from across the arts; these provide an opportunity to explore the philosophical challenge of individual cases. The module aims to integrate study of broad theoretical questions with reflection on - and provocation from - specific art practices. Students will be encouraged to draw on their own experience and expertise in relation to the arts, to test claims on offer.

Read more about the Topics in Philosophy and the Arts moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).


Optional modules

The programme gives students access to a wide range of modules across four departments.

If you write a dissertation, you will take three optional modules (one from Philosophy and two from the other contributing departments). If you follow the non-dissertation route, you will take five optional modules (up to three from Philosophy and at least two from the other departments). In previous years, optional modules have included:

  • Appearance Matters
  • Hegel's Aesthetics
  • Revolutionary Aesthetics
  • Nietzsche
  • Philosophies of the Future
  • 20th Century French Philosophy
  • Husserl on Knowledge
  • World Literature and the Anthropocene
  • Critical Theory, Culture, Resistance
  • Feminist Literary Theory
  • Queer Theory and Praxis
  • Ecopoetics
  • Screen Cultures and Methods
  • Film Criticism, Film Style
  • Issues in Documentary
  • Irony in Film
  • Post-Colonial Cinemas
  • Colour and its Meaning
  • Visual Art and Poetry
  • Reality after Film
  • Latin American Modernism
  • East meets West: the Visual Arts in Colonial and Post-Colonial India

Read more about our optional modules.Link opens in a new window

Teaching

On this course, you will follow a programme of taught modules. If you choose to take the dissertation route, you will take three taught modules followed by a 10,000-word dissertation. If you take the non-dissertation route, you will take five taught modules. Your exact pathway will depend on your selection of optional modules. Philosophy modules are assessed through essay-based assignments.


Class sizes

Seminar class sizes range from 8-20 people for this course.


Typical contact hours

For taught components, there are typically two hours of teaching per module per week for this course.


Assessment

You will submit assessed essays during the academic terms. If you take the dissertation route, you will also begin planning your dissertation and generally you will undertake your supervision sessions for this with your agreed supervisor during the summer term. As long as you pass your taught components, you will then focus on completion of your MA dissertation in the summer months of July and August.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Any compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Completing an MA provides a strong foundation for those intending to study for a PhD. In addition to those pursuing further study, graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: NPower; Oasis Academy; Teleperformance and the University of Warwick.

Our graduates have pursued roles such as: further education teaching professionals; IT business analysts, architects and systems designers; library clerks and assistants and secondary education teaching professionals.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Identifying Your Skills, Strengths and Motivators for Philosophy Students
  • Thinking about Work Experience for Philosophy Students
  • Careers in the Public Sector
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

Philosophy at Warwick

Philosophy at Warwick is recognised for our support of diverse philosophical traditions, including both analytic and continental philosophy. We have particular strengths in:

  • Philosophy of Mind, Action, and Epistemology
  • Philosophy of Psychology
  • Philosophy of Literature and the Arts
  • Moral and Political Philosophy
  • Kant and Hegel
  • 19th and 20th Century Post-Kantian (Continental) Philosophy, including Schopenhauer, Neitzsche, Husserl, Heidegger
  • Mathematical Logic

We also collaborate extensively with academics and practitioners in other subjects and have long-standing collaborations with researchers and practitioners across all faculties.

At Warwick, you’ll be part of an inclusive staff and student community. We provide a vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for philosophy and develop their skills as researchers.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window


Our Postgraduate courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  


Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support. 

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed. 

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.


Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Philosophy Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Our hosted events run throughout the year, with a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions. These events are a great way to learn more about our courses and departments, chat to current students and staff, and find out more information about accommodation, careers, and how to apply.

Postgraduate Fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Live chats

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.