Is the BA Philosophy analytic or continental?

Both. The core curriculum sits in the analytic tradition for logic, philosophy of mind and meta-ethics, but the history of philosophy and political philosophy strands engage continental traditions seriously. Students often specialise toward one in their final-year options and dissertation.

Does the BA Philosophy include formal logic?

Yes. Propositional and predicate logic are core in the first year, with options to pursue further mathematical logic in later years. Prior maths beyond GCSE level is not required — the logic teaching is built to start from first principles.

What is the dissertation on the BA Philosophy?

An independent 8,000–10,000 word piece of philosophical research. Recent topics have included AI moral status, the limits of utilitarianism in healthcare rationing, contemporary debates in free speech and the metaphysics of personal identity.

Will the BA Philosophy help me get into law?

Yes — philosophy is a recognised feeder degree for law conversion (PGDL / SQE preparation) and the BA Philosophy specifically builds the structured reasoning and argument-construction skills law schools select for. Several graduates each year move into law conversion programmes.

Can I study the BA Philosophy online?

Yes. The BA Philosophy translates particularly well to online study — primary-text reading, structured argument and dissertation work are all amenable to remote delivery with synchronous seminars and named tutor support.

BA Philosophy in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Philosophy at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree in the rigorous reading and writing of philosophical argument. You will work through the core problems of logic, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology and political philosophy, read primary texts from the ancient to the contemporary, and graduate with a dissertation in a focused area of philosophical interest.

The BA Philosophy is taught in dialogue with the Royal Institute of Philosophy and the Society for Applied Philosophy. By the end, you can read a difficult philosophical argument, identify what work the premises are doing, and write a defensible response — the kind of structured thinking that ethics advisers, civil-service policy analysts, lawyers and journalists routinely need.

Key Features

UK honours degree in philosophy — three years full-time, with online and distance routes.
Core curriculum spanning logic, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind and political philosophy.
History of philosophy strand from Plato through the medieval scholastics to Kant, Mill, Wittgenstein and contemporary analytic and continental scholarship.
Applied ethics module covering medical, environmental, business and AI ethics with current case studies.
Logic and argumentation laboratory — formal logic, informal logic, common fallacies, the structure of philosophical writing.
Dissertation — an independent 8,000–10,000 word piece of philosophical research.

What You Will Learn

The BA Philosophy is structured around the working competences of an educated philosophical reader and writer — close textual engagement, formal and informal logic, argument construction and the disciplined application of philosophical method to contemporary questions. You graduate able to read primary philosophical texts, identify and respond to live arguments, and write structured analysis that holds up under expert scrutiny.

Formal logic — propositional and predicate logic at undergraduate level.
Informal logic and reasoning — argument structure, common fallacies, the use of evidence.
History of philosophy — ancient, medieval, early modern, modern, contemporary.
Ethics — meta-ethics, normative ethics, applied ethics with current cases.
Metaphysics and epistemology — what there is, what we can know, what we mean by either.
Political philosophy — justice, rights, democracy, freedom across the major traditions.
Philosophy of mind — consciousness, intentionality, the contemporary state of debate.
Communication of philosophical argument — academic writing, public-facing writing, oral defence.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with strong A-Levels who enjoy careful reading and structured argument across a wide range of subjects.
International students seeking a UK honours degree in philosophy taught with both analytic and continental traditions.
Career-changers from law, medicine, the civil service or business seeking the disciplined reasoning a philosophy degree builds.
Mature applicants with significant life experience preparing for ethics, policy or postgraduate academic careers.

Career Pathways

Philosophy graduates work across a wide range of careers — ethics-related roles, policy analysis, law, education, journalism, technology, the civil service and academic research. Typical post-BA Philosophy destinations include:

Ethics Adviser (NHS trust, research body, corporate ethics committee)
Policy Analyst (think tank, government department, charity)
Researcher (university, learned society, research institute)
Compliance Officer (financial services, regulated industry)
Lecturer in Philosophy (post-PhD; further education or university)
Civil Service Generalist (Fast Stream or open competition)

Graduates progress to a Master's in Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Ethics or Law, or to PhD-track research at LSJHML or a partner university.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement and a written sample (approx. 500 words) on a philosophical question of your choice.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.