Overview
This Masters course is part of the St Andrews and Stirling Philosophy (SASP) Graduate Programme - which is Scotland's leading centre for graduate study in Philosophy, and one of the highest-ranked and largest philosophy schools in the United Kingdom. It also has an outstanding placement record for its graduates.
The course is primarily designed for recent philosophy graduates, and serves as a preparatory year for entry to postgraduate research by giving you a firm foundation of general understanding and skills in philosophy. Those skills will give you a sound basis for philosophical research.
The MLitt Philosophy is a one-year taught course delivered mainly in St Andrews by staff from both universities. After gaining the MLitt Philosophy, you may progress to a PhD at either Stirling or at St Andrews. Previous graduates have also gone on to leading institutions in the UK and abroad.
On this course, you’ll benefit from excellent teaching from authoritative and knowledgeable researchers in a wide range of areas, including the history of philosophy.
Top reasons to study with us
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
University of Stirling was ranked joint top in Scotland for research impact in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021). Meanwhile, 82% of the University of St Andrew's research was classed as either 'world leading' or ‘internationally excellent'. We also have a very strong record of success in gaining research funding.
The University of Stirling has an active philosophy research environment (ranked 3rd in Scotland in the most recent REF), with regular events open to all. These include:
- weekly visiting speaker seminars;
- frequent conferences and seminar series (including the recent Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association, as well as Frege@Stirling, the Stirling Political Philosophy group);
- on-going research projects, and a lively student Philosophy Society with a regular programme of talks and an annual staff-student reading weekend in the Highlands.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
Applicants for the MLitt should normally have a good first degree in philosophy, such as a UK upper Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent (or the equivalent level of pass in the SASP Conversion Diploma).
Applicants with other qualifications may be admitted on the recommendation of the Programme Director.
International entry requirements
Application procedure
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 185 overall with a minimum of 169 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 185 overall with a minimum of 169 in each sub-skill
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 67 overall with a minimum of 60 in each sub-skill
- IBT TOEFL 94 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking
- IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 94 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking
- Trinity ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
- Aptis (4 skills) CEFR C1 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
- LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
Last updated: 23 August 2022
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The course is a one-year taught MLitt degree, delivered largely in St Andrews by staff from both universities, after which you may progress to an MPhil or PhD within the SASP programme. The MLitt course involves taking six modules over two semesters and a dissertation written over the summer. The postgraduate diploma involves a nine-month, taught course and requires satisfactory completion of all taught modules. In addition to a Research Methods module, which is a core module, the course offers a range of options in many areas of philosophy.
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
The course is taught by seminars and/or lectures (normally one two-hour seminar per week for each module), along with individual supervision.
Assessment
To gain the postgraduate diploma, you must satisfactorily complete all the taught modules. To gain the MLitt degree you must complete the taught modules, and write a dissertation of 8,000 to 10,000 words.
Course director
University of St Andrews Course Director: Dr Alex Douglas
University of Stirling Co-ordinator: Dr Sonia Roca-Royes
Contact details
Postgraduate Secretary, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AL
sasp@st-andrews.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1334 462487
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Tuition fees for this course can be found on the University of St Andrews website.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Many MLitt Philosophy graduates have gone on to do further study of philosophy at PhD level, some have remained within the SASP Graduate Programme, while others have moved to leading institutions in the UK and abroad.
A large number of former SASP students have secured permanent university teaching positions. Please see our placement record on the SASP website.
The general training in research and analytical thinking as part of this course also prepares you for a wide range of careers in various areas of public policy, public administration and governance.
According to the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021, 88% of the Law and Philosophy students felt their course has enhanced their employability.
