Philosophy

Philosophy degrees at Stirling are defined by a unique mix of traditional and contemporary problems alongside practical, real-world application.

Embarking on an undergraduate programme, you will study Aristotle, Descartes, free will, and the mind-body problem – but also be challenged on the climate crisis, on political protest, and on video game design. In your final year you can choose either to write a conventional dissertation or to work with an external employer on a real-life philosophical project, gaining experience and confidence for your future career.

In the last Research Excellence Framework exercise, Philosophy at Stirling came first equal in Scotland for the impact of our work on life and society beyond academia, and 100% of our research environment was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent. This expertise feeds directly into our teaching, with the result that in 2025 our students voted us the university’s Outstanding Programme of the year.

If you want to continue studying philosophy after your undergraduate degree, you can join the St Andrews-Stirling joint graduate philosophy programme (SASP). This high-prestige programme is consistently ranked in the top four in the UK and offers graduate teaching at a level that matches the best philosophy programmes in the world. Many recent SASP students now hold permanent academic positions in the US, the UK and elsewhere.