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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Best uni for philosophy?

26 replies

Hullygully · 13/10/2015 12:28

Thoughts? Please?

OP posts:
TranquilityofSolitude · 13/10/2015 12:42

It depends what you mean by 'best'! My DD is interested in studying Philosophy. She is in Yr13 so we looked at a few universities in June. We looked online at some league tables (from The Guardian, I think) and narrowed down her choices from there. At the time we looked at the top 20 or so and she ruled out any London universities because she isn't prepared to live there. In the end we visited Durham, York, Lancaster, Warwick and Nottingham.

What I would say is that the courses were very different. If your DC has an idea of what they want to be included you definitely need to check that it is going to be covered. Of the ones we visited Nottingham seemed to be the closest to DD's subject interests. Durham did not seem to offer the topics that interest her, which was sad for me as that's where I studied. Her teacher was keen for her to apply to Oxford but we are not sure that she would thrive in that environment and I think if she did so she would need to take a gap year as she had an AS disaster (72%=U) which we have yet to rectify.

Original poster
Hullygully · 13/10/2015 12:57

Thanks for replying. What are her subject interests?

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TranquilityofSolitude · 13/10/2015 13:50

I think DD prefers the courses that have a theological focus. At Durham the research interests of the staff seemed to be more concerned with the philosophy of science - the admissions tutors who gave the talk had first degrees in maths and physics - and this was of less interest to DD. We have also looked at Sociology and Theology in various places as well. Lancaster was good for the undecided because you can study any three subjects in the first year (A levels permitting) and choose the one which interests you most at the end of the year.

BertrandRussell · 13/10/2015 13:54

My did is doing philosophy and theology at Edinburgh. Happy to answer any questions- or ask her to answer the knees I can't!

BrucieTheShark · 13/10/2015 14:00

I absolutely loved Manchester but it was a long time ago

GRW · 13/10/2015 15:48

My DD is considering a joint honours course at Leeds, with Biology and the History and Philosophy of Science. But she isn't sure, and I think is leaning towards a Theology, Ethics and Philosophy course. She needs to decide soon as she is in year 13 now.

Original poster
Hullygully · 13/10/2015 17:35

dd likes theories she says...

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Original poster
Hullygully · 13/10/2015 17:37

eg she is very interested in the freewill and determinism debate.

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Original poster
Hullygully · 13/10/2015 17:38

so "pure" philosophy? Is that a thing?

OP posts:
WandaFuca · 13/10/2015 19:18

I think it would be better to look at the specific details of each university to get an idea of what would be involved. For example, here's Southampton University's modules for their 3-year single honours:

www.southampton.ac.uk/humanities/undergraduate/courses/philosophy/v500_ba_philosophy.page#modules

eatyourveg · 13/10/2015 19:24

ds's friend is in his 3rd year at LSE doing BSc Philosophy Logic and Scientific Method and loves it

Original poster
Hullygully · 14/10/2015 09:22

Thanks all

OP posts:
Original poster
Hullygully · 14/10/2015 09:22

They're all very similar though, aren't they?

Have had a quick look at some

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 14/10/2015 09:37

Hully- look at Edinburgh. A lot of people do philosophy and psychology, which sounds as if it would suit your dd. My dd's doing it with theology because she's a more airy fairy touchy-feely type..............

Original poster
Hullygully · 14/10/2015 09:42

Thanks Bertrand, I think she's interested in Edinburgh, I'll get her to look. She's so stressed at the mo I think she's going to explode...

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 14/10/2015 09:53

Happy to pass on questions to dd on her behalf.

It's a horrible time for them, isn't it? It all seems so scary-real and grown up!

Original poster
Hullygully · 14/10/2015 09:55

What about me? That's what I say. What about me?

Will no one think of the mothers?

OP posts:
TranquilityofSolitude · 14/10/2015 10:01

I'm with you, Hully. We have 1 Yr13 and 2 Yr12s in this house and the what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life angst is palpable! At least, it is from 2 of them. I am stressed by the ones who care and also by the one who doesn't...

BertrandRussell · 14/10/2015 10:04

Edinburgh was good for me because it's a 6 hour drive, and I could wail all the way home after dropping her off and get it out of my system. Almost.

weebarra · 14/10/2015 10:04

I did philosophy and psychology at Edinburgh - a while ago now though. Lots of stuff of free will and determinism. Bit of a focus on dead white males though!

cogitosum · 14/10/2015 10:05

I studied philosophy at Liverpool and LOVED it. Happy to answer questions too.

hellsbells99 · 14/10/2015 10:07

They don't have to apply to all 5 choices at once. They can submit their ucas application with 2 or 3 choices and then add the others later (before 15th January) when they have had more time to think/research.

Original poster
Hullygully · 14/10/2015 10:22

Bloody everything is dead white males...

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BertrandRussell · 14/10/2015 11:21

Oh, I don't know-as Dd pointed out they actually have to talk about women in the "Women and Witchcraft" module..............Grin

WandaFuca · 14/10/2015 13:27

Yes, large numbers of dead white males. But some of them are quirky - I found Wittgenstein quite fascinating.

Have a look at what's on the websites about the teaching staff, and what their interests are.

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