Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics

The BA Honours degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics invites students to explore many of life’s big questions. What is the meaning of life? What responsibilities do humans have to other people and the natural world? What can be learned from the history of philosophical and religious thought? How are humans to assess rational arguments for the existence of God? How do religion and non-religion relate to culture, society, and politics?

Students take modules in each of the disciplines of philosophy, religion and ethics, as well as studying them in an integrated way. That will involve drawing on a number of religious perspectives, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism – as well as humanism and atheism. Equally, the degree enables students to study both analytical and continental philosophy.

What makes the University of Roehampton's' BA in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at Roehampton so distinctive is the commitment to practical humanities. Students will learn how to apply their interpretative and analytical skills to a whole range of contemporary problems regarding community, public policy, social justice, and personal life. That could include thinking through challenges in environmental ethics, global cultures, or interfaith dialogue. Likewise, through engagement with media and the arts, students can explore themes such as community peacebuilding, jihad and terrorism, and the ethics of abortion and euthanasia.

As they progress through this course, students will develop highly transferable and employable skills, while tailoring their studies to their own areas of interest. Alongside traditional skills of critical thinking, argumentation, textual analysis, and clear communication, students will also develop the ability to analyse multiple forms of media, to write and present material for a public audience, and to read and analyse policy documents. Students will have opportunities to take up work placements, to build a creative portfolio and to engage in collaborative projects – all designed to equip them for their future career path.

Discussion and debate lie at the heart of this course, and students will be taught by research-active staff, many of whom are leaders in their field, through a variety of methods and formats, including lectures and individual tutorials, class discussions and seminars, some of which are assessed. 

Each year of this course dedicates time to developing students' academic, professional, and key transferable skills so that by the time they graduate, students will be ready for their career, having built professional contacts and gained work experience.  

The University of Roehampton offers extensive career support, with a dedicated career service, excellent connections with organisations and businesses, and an annual employability workshop where students will meet former students and employers from various industries. 

This course offers all students the option of a one-year paid work placement, to boost their employability even further. If students choose this route, they will take the placement following year two of their course, and then return to complete their degree.