What are the pathways for studying philosophy at University?
If you are looking to study philosophy for the first time, the most common degree in which you can do philosophy courses is the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree (a 3 year course) with a focus on humanities and social sciences. Philosophy can also be studied as part of postgraduate study, masters or PhD. There are however other degrees and qualifications where philosophy can be taken as a component, either as a mixed degree or by taking a subject in critical thinking or ethics. Students in all disciplines, for example, medicine, law, politics, science, mathematics and the arts will all benefit from studying some philosophy. This is because philosophy raises questions about the basic assumptions of every form of human inquiry and teaches crucial skills of thinking critically, writing clearly and reading carefully. It is worth consulting the Student Services at the University you want to study at. See a list of Universities in Australasia below.
Furthermore, a brief guide on common, potential pathways in Australasian Universities can be seen here.
Why Study philosophy at University?
Enrolling in philosophy classes allows for an exciting, valuable pathway towards better understanding, and changing, the world. Students are exposed to different discussions and viewpoints on philosophical questions and are taught to explore and engage with these questions critically. As a method of critical inquiry, philosophy teaches you how to: question assumptions, distinguish between credible and false arguments, and examine evidence to find creative solutions to complex problems. Students develop a range of skills in the process, including but not limited to: critical thinking, communication, problem solving, interpretative and analytical, and a wide range of generic skills, including ethical understanding. Philosophy is also a satisfying subject in which you can express your views, supported by reasons and use your initiative. Moreover, philosophy programs in Australasian Universities have an excellent reputation – there is evidence that shows high student satisfaction, teaching quality and student support (as shown below). Australasian philosophy programs also have a great international reputation with many ranking in the top 100 in over 1400 institutions, for example QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022: Philosophy, and The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
Undergraduates who study Philosophy rank #4 out of over 50 subjects for student satisfaction
Philosophy ranks #2 out of over 50 subject areas for teaching quality
Philosophy ranks #2 out of over 50 subject areas for student support
What does studying philosophy at University involve?
Interested to know what studying philosophy is all about? Philosophy students can choose from a wide array of subjects in areas such as ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, logic and metaphysics including topics on philosophy of mind, moral, social and political philosophy, philosophy of science, language, mathematics and art. Some examples of specific subjects include: Philosophy, Technology and the Future of Humanity, Legal and Ethical Principles in Health, or Logic in Computer Science.
If you’re interested to learn more about what studying philosophy at University involves we encourage you to check out some of the attached videos compiled from lecturers and students at Australasian University philosophy programs. Or check out our Youtube channel for more videos here.
Where can you study philosophy in Australasia?
Most Universities in Australasia offer philosophy courses. Below is a list of each University in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and their respective departments.
Australia
| ACT | Australian National University – School of Philosophy |
| NSW | Macquarie University – Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts University of New England – Philosophy, School of Humanities University of New South Wales – Philosophy, School of History and Philosophy University of Notre Dame – School of Philosophy and Theology (Sydney Campus) University of Sydney – Department of Philosophy, School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry University of Sydney – School of History and Philosophy of Science University of Wollongong – School of Humanities and Social Inquiry University of Wollongong – School of Liberal Arts Western Sydney University – Philosophy |
| QLD | Bond University – Philosophy, Faculty of Society & Design University of Queensland – Philosophy, School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics |
| SA | University of Adelaide – Discipline of Philosophy, School of Humanities Flinders University – Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities |
| TAS | University of Tasmania – School of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts |
| VIC | Federation University – Arts, Humanities and Social Science Deakin University – Philosophy, School of International and Political Studies La Trobe University – Department of Media, Politics and Philosophy Monash University – Philosophy and Bioethics, School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies University of Melbourne – School of Historical and Philosophical Studies Swinburne University of Technology – Department of Social Sciences |
| WA | Murdoch University – Philosophy, School of Social Sciences and Humanities University of Notre Dame – School of Philosophy and Theology (Fremantle Campus) University of Western Australia – Discipline of Philosophy, School of Humanities |
| Multi-State | Australian Catholic University – School of Philosophy, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy Charles Sturt University – Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| New Zealand | University of Auckland University of Canterbury, Christchurch Lincoln University, Canterbury Massey University University of Otago, Dunedin University of Waikato, Hamilton Victoria University of Wellington |
| Singapore | YALE – National University of Singapore National University of Singapore Nanyang Technological University Singapore Management University |