GDip
GDip Philosophy
This GDip conversion course provides a bridge to higher level study in philosophy for students who do not have formal training in the subject.
How to apply Apply via UCASCourse details
Start date
Degree Type
GDip
Program Code
V5K022
Course length
9 months full-time, 21 months part-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £8,000 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £18,600 per year
Overview
The Graduate Diploma in Philosophy enables you to pursue your ambition to study philosophy, be it to progress to an MA or to feed a desire to understand more about the study of knowledge and existence, and the contribution it has made to society for millennia. The course is offered over nine months full-time or 18 months part-time and does not require any formal background in philosophy as an academic discipline. You will select four optional modules, ranging in content from ethics and values to the history and theory of medicine, and from ancient philosophies to 20th century European philosophy. You will also be required to produce a dissertation. As a GDip student you will benefit from the wealth of activities in the Department, including joining EIDOS, the postgraduate philosophy society, weekly research seminars and reading groups, and occasional conferences, workshops and Royal Institute of Philosophy lectures. We not only pride ourselves on our reputation for excellence in research and teaching but also in being able to offer a vibrant and supportive place of learning for our student community. We are at the forefront of teaching and research in philosophy and how it may be applied to major issues that we face throughout the world. Our intention for you as a GDip student is to develop the skills and knowledge that will enable you to make a positive contribution in global debates and policy that informs the lives that we all lead.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
GDip
Program Code
V5K022
Course length
9 months full-time, 21 months part-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £8,000 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £18,600 per year
What you'll study
Core modules
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Dissertation
A 12,000-word on a topic of interest, chosen in consultation with your dissertation supervisor.
Optional modules
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In recent years, optional modules have included:
The remainder of the course is made up of four optional modules, at least two of which must be at Level 3 and no more than one should be at Level 1. Level 1 Ethics and ValuesKnowledge and RealityReading PhilosophyThe Philosophical TraditionsBeing Human: An Introduction to Post-Kantian PhilosophyScience, Medicine and Society Level 2 Philosophy of MindPhilosophy of ReligionPolitical PhilosophyLanguage, Logic and RealityMoral TheoryBiomedical Ethics Past and PresentHistory, Science and MedicinePhilosophy of SciencePhilosophy of Economics: Theory, Methods and ValuesFundamentals of LogicFeminist PhilosophyEpistemologyEarly Modern Philosophy Level 3 AestheticsIssues in Contemporary EthicsLanguage and MindPhilosophical Issues in Contemporary ScienceMetaphysicsHistory and Philosophy of Psychiatry20th Century European PhilosophyHistory and Philosophy of PsychiatryEthics in Business PracticeFormal and Philosophical LogicBiomedical Ethics Past and PresentPhilosophy, Climate Change and the EnvironmentRevolutions in Modern Philosophy: Kant and the other Trailblazers
Learning
This GDip course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and seminars. There is also a requirement for you to carry out further independent reading and study for each lecture or seminar. The study of philosophy requires space for dialogue and the lectures include time for questions. Meanwhile, tutorials consist mainly of structured and critical dialogue in a supportive learning environment, while the seminars provide the forum for extending discussions. You will also be required to complete a dissertation which, alongside independent study, includes six hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision in your chosen subject area.Assessment
Assessment is rigorous throughout the course and includes a combination of essays and exams depending on the options you choose, as well as the dissertation. Essays are based on the topics discussed in the modules and on your own independent reading. The dissertation of up to 12,000 words is completed on a subject of particular interest to you and will be written under supervision.Entry requirements
To learn more about the qualifications we typically accept, please select your country from the drop-down menu below.
Minimum entry requirements | You will be usually be expected to have at least a 2:1 (or international equivalent) undergraduate degree in any discipline. However, this is not a strict requirement and decisions are made on a case by case basis. The entry requirements for this course have been designed to encourage applications from as wide a range of interested and able people as possible, including mature students, who may have been away from university for a long time, and international students. A 500-word personal statement which may include the following: Why have you chosen the GDip in Philosophy at Durham University?What are your specific philosophical interests and how do they relate to your chosen programme?Which specific philosophical texts interest you and why?How do your prior qualifications prepare you for your chosen programme? You may wish to highlight essay writing experience or other relevant work.What do you hope to get out of the course? |
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Typical offer | |
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Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£8,000 per year
International / EU Students
£18,600 per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £ per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £ per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
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The Department of Philosophy is one of the most prestigious departments in the UK with inspirational researchers who are experts in their field. We nurture the thoughts and words of postgraduates as they study ancient and modern thinking on philosophical questions such as who we are and how we understand ourselves and our world. As well as the more traditional philosophical areas such as aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics and philosophy of mind, we offer learning in other contexts that include environmental philosophy, history and philosophy of medicine, and phenomenology. The Department has a postgraduate community that is both diverse and collaborative, and staff are passionate about providing the space literally and figuratively in which to study. We understand the importance of generating new philosophical ideas and how they contribute to the Department’s research culture. A dynamic and influential programme of guest speakers, seminars, workshops and reading groups reflects this belief. We are also home to the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society (CHESS) and we have strong links with several interdisciplinary research centres including the Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage and the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
The Department of Philosophy is located at Old Elvet in the heart of Durham. We occupy a listed building in this ancient part of the city, near the medieval Elvet Bridge, and within easy walking distance of the Students’ Union, the colleges and the Castle and Cathedral within Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage site. The Department offers an extensive programme of research-related activities, including weekly lectures and seminars, many of which are given by renowned UK and international philosophers.
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