BA (Hons) Philosophy and Politics Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Philosophy and Politics at UHI combines philosophical inquiry with political analysis, covering such specialisations as core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, independent projects, and professional skills.
About this course
BA (Hons) Philosophy and Politics is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,Highland Theological College UHI,UHI Inverness,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Historical, philosophical and religious studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% 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.
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)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 55% (2021-23; 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 5 modules
- Ideas and ideologies in politicsCore
- Problems in philosophyCore
- Thinking and writing for study, work and lifeCore
- Conflict and the balance of power in Europe, 1789-1945Optional
- The evolving politics of the British IslesOptional
Year 2 5 modules
- Knowledge: a philosophical analysisCore
- Moral philosophyCore
- Comparative politicsOptional
- History of political ideasOptional
- Qualitative research methodsOptional
Year 3 9 modules
- Continental philosophy
- Philosophy of religion
- Philosophy of science
- Advanced social research methodsCore
- Challenging liberal democracy: political ideas in a changing worldOptional
- Devolution, federalism and territorial politicsOptional
- European politicsOptional
- Hot wars and cold wars: Britain and the military instrument, 1914-1989Optional
- Wars in the Promised LandOptional
Year 4 7 modules
- Existential philosophy and literatureOptional
- For freedom alone: Scotland and philosophyOptional
- Research in theology and philosophyOptional
- Democratising EuropeOptional
- Geopolitics: territory, security and strategyOptional
- Political theoryOptional
- Terrorism and unconventional warfareOptional
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
A course like this typically moves from foundational philosophical concepts in Year 1, including introduction to philosophy, ethics, and logic, through to historical and thematic study in Year 2, covering the history of philosophy and dedicated work in philosophy of mind and political philosophy. Year 3 emphasises specialist depth, usually through elective options such as ethics and applied ethics, philosophy of science, religion and theology, and logic, alongside advanced seminars and an independent dissertation. This progression develops your ability to analyse arguments, engage with major thinkers, and construct sustained philosophical positions on questions of justice, liberty, consciousness and value.
Who it's for
This course suits students seeking flexible, part-time study in philosophy and politics. Over recent years, 55% of accepted students held a previous degree, reflecting the course's appeal to those returning to education or combining study with other commitments. The part-time format and distributed delivery across Highland and Island locations make it accessible to those unable to attend a single campus full-time.
Careers & job market
Across Philosophy and Religion courses nationally, 85% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 60% were in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically ranged from £23,500 to £30,000, rising to £25,500–£36,000 after five years. Retention is strong: 90% of students continued past their first year. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is offered by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a recognised UK degree-awarding body, taught part-time and delivered in English across multiple UHI locations including Argyll, Inverness, Moray, Orkney, Perth, and Shetland. The university was founded in 2011. Course length is not specified.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 100%.
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| a previous degree | 55% |
| another higher-education qualification | 25% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 15% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
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.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
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 | £23,000 – £45,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £23,500 | £14,000 – £28,500 | 25 |
| 5 years after | £24,000 | £12,000 – £30,000 | 25 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. 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.
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.
- Welfare ProfessionalsSOC 2020 246 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £39,047
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Medical PractitionersSOC 2020 221 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £71,918
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: 25; response rate: 85%. 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.
How 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 UniversityIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
90% 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.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 97.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 55%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Philosophy & Religion right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
Related courses
More at UHI
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
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