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University of Southampton · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Philosophy Ethics and Religion Bachelor's degree at Southampton
BA (Hons) Philosophy Ethics and Religion at Southampton. Philosophy, ethics and religion don't sit neatly apart from one another, and this degree at the University of Southampton treats them as genuinely interconnected rather than three subjects taught side by side.
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Combine philosophy, Ethics and religion on this BA degree. Learn about ethical issues and belief systems in topics like anthropology, archaeology and history. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Philosophy Ethics and Religion is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Southampton. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Philosophy graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 60% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Philosophy & Religion, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
8.9
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional91
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional92
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 13 modules
- Ancient Greek PhilosophyCore
- EthicsCore
- Faith and ReasonCore
- Human Understanding and Understanding HumansCore
- Reason and ArgumentCore
- Truth, Knowledge, and ObjectivityCore
- Applied EthicsCore
- Freedom and ResponsibilityCore
- Human OriginsCore
- Introduction to Ethnography: Food and CultureCore
- Philosophy of RaceCore
- Primary and Secondary Education: Critical ObservationsCore
- Puzzles about Art and LiteratureCore
Year 2 23 modules
- Mind and World in the History of PhilosophyCore
- Moral PhilosophyCore
- Philosophy of ReligionCore
- Self and Agency in the History of PhilosophyCore
- AI Utopias and the Climate CrisisCore
- Animal Ethics, Animal MindsCore
- Cities of the Dead: Death, Mourning and Remembrance in Modern BritainCore
- Cognitive Psychology in EducationCore
- Darwin and the Making of Evolutionary Thought: Myth, Memory, and Modern SocietyCore
- Data, Culture, and JusticeCore
- Digital Futures of the Past: Power, Ethics, and RepresentationCore
- Epistemology: Knowledge and EvidenceCore
- Ethics of Global PovertyCore
- Exploring Other CulturesCore
- Humanities and Professional PracticeCore
- Islam's Identity Crisis: Between Violent Jihadism and Peaceful ReformationCore
- Kant’s Copernican Revolution in PhilosophyCore
- Learning about Culture: Introduction to EthnographyCore
- Political PhilosophyCore
- Self, society, nature, and normativityCore
- Sin and Society, 1100-1500Core
- The Mind, The Brain, and ConsciousnessCore
- The Power of Rome: Europe’s first empireCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The degree is structured to build steadily over three years. You'll start with core theory, getting to grips with the foundational arguments, frameworks and vocabulary of philosophy, ethics and religious studies, the groundwork that makes later, more specialised work possible. Alongside this, you'll be introduced to research and methods, learning how scholars in these fields actually construct and test arguments, interpret texts, and handle evidence from disciplines like archaeology and history. As you progress, the course moves into applied practice, where the ethical theories and religious frameworks you've studied get tested against real, often messy, contemporary and historical problems. You'll then choose from specialist options such as particular ethical traditions, historical periods, or specific belief systems, allowing you to follow the threads that interest you most. An independent project gives you the chance to pursue a question of your own choosing in depth, working more autonomously than in earlier years. Professional skills are woven throughout, so you leave with the kind of clear reasoning, writing and argumentation abilities that are transferable well beyond an academic setting.
Who it's for
This course suits people who find themselves genuinely curious about why humans believe what they believe, and how those beliefs shape what we consider right and wrong. If you're the sort of person who enjoys picking apart an argument, questioning assumptions others take for granted, or wondering how a moral code from centuries ago might still (or might not) apply today, you'll likely feel at home here. It also rewards students who like connecting disciplines rather than staying in one lane, the willingness to think about a religious practice through an archaeologist's evidence, or an ethical dilemma through a historian's context, matters more than any single set of prior qualifications. Most students admitted to Southampton arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically within the 128–143 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what recent entrants have held rather than a fixed requirement. Expect plenty of reading, discussion and writing; the degree suits those who are comfortable sitting with uncertainty and enjoy building a considered position rather than reaching for easy answers. It's also a reasonable fit if you're not yet sure exactly what career you want, since the analytical and communication skills built here tend to open doors across quite different fields.
Careers & job market
Graduates from Philosophy & Religion courses nationally aren't funnelled into one obvious career path, and that's reflected in the labour-market figures. Across the field, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled. Around 90% of students continue past their first year, which gives some indication of how well students settle into courses in this field once they begin. On national earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO figures, not specific to Southampton or guaranteed outcomes), graduates typically earn between £23,500 and £30,000 fifteen months after finishing, with earnings after three years sitting between £20,825 and £29,400, and after five years between £25,500 and £36,000. These ranges reflect the varied destinations graduates from this field pursue, from further academic study to roles in areas like law, publishing, the civil service, teaching and charitable or religious organisations, rather than a single expected outcome.
University & format
You'll study full-time over three years at the University of Southampton, with teaching and assessment delivered in English. The course is coded VV56 on UCAS and leads to a BA (Hons) award. As a Russell Group institution, Southampton is research-intensive, meaning much of what you're taught is informed by active scholarship in the field. It's worth checking the university's own funding pages directly for details on any bursaries or scholarships you might be entitled to, as these can vary and change from year to year.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Published entryABB typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Industrial placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen days and visits
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of ABB. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent98% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 128 - 143 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Southampton's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 98% |
| an Access course | 1% |
| a foundation course | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesAABA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeVV56quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code VV56). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Southampton whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£24,800 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Southampton →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All Southampton funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
electrical engineering students
Check eligibility →Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship£5,000 off tuition fees
international students studying eligible undergraduate or postgraduate master's in adult n
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Philosophy & Religion graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £24,000 – £32,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £26,000 | £21,000 – £30,500 | 65 |
| 5 years after | £32,000 | £27,000 – £42,500 | 70 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
85%
in work or further study 15 months on
60%
in highly skilled work or study
92%
continue past their first year
85%
find their work meaningful
65%
say work fits their future plans
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in philosophy & religion · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Philosophy & Religion nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£30,000
£23,500 – £30,000After 3 years LEO
£26,000
£20,825 – £29,400After 5 years LEO
£32,000
£25,500 – £36,000national rangethis course’s medianaxis £19,500 – £37,500
National figures for Philosophy & Religion graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
85 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
65% working15% working and studying10% in further study60% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Philosophy & Religion courses at the same study level.
This course £32,000Peer median £30,000Middle 50% £26,500–£33,000
64th percentile
Compared with 497 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 40; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Philosophy & Religion graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Philosophy & Religion courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Philosophy & Religion graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Schools & universities
- Think tanks
- Charities & NGOs
- Civil service
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Philosophy & Religion graduates.
Philosophy AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaTeaching Fellow in Ethics and Political Philosophy - DurhamDurham UniversityLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
📈
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 91.3% · in work or study 85% · continued 92%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Southampton
All students25,785
International35.1%
Aged 25+17%
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
Students76,495
Aged 25+26.6%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Southampton
941 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 308Anti Social Behaviour 121Shoplifting 106Public Order 79Criminal Damage Arson 75
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Philosophy & Religion right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Southampton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £24,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Southampton offers the Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship (£5,000 off tuition fees) for international students, see Scholarships above.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Southampton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Southampton
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 128 - 143 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Southampton. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Philosophy graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 60% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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