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Overview
What is philosophy? Why is it important? Is it relevant? What do we mean by ‘culture’ and why are its many forms so hotly contested? Why is it so important to our sense of identity and belonging? These are among the many questions you will ask while studying Philosophy and Cultural Studies.
Taking Cultural Studies with Philosophy enables you to benefit from the Philosophy modules offered by the School of European Culture and Languages alongside Cultural Studies modules offered by the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research.
As a student of Philosophy at Kent, you do not so much learn about philosophy as learn to do it yourself. This includes not only studying major philosophies and philosophers, but also contributing your own ideas to an ongoing dialogue. You develop the ability to connect the most abstract ideas to the most concrete things in our experience.
There is an active research culture in the Department of Philosophy at Kent, with internationally recognised experts whose interests range from philosophers such as Hegel, Kant and Wittgenstein to topics such as the philosophy of the mind, ethics, aesthetics, logic, political philosophy, metaphysics and artificial intelligence.
Cultural Studies at Kent is an innovative subject with distinctive perspectives on all forms of present-day culture. We explore connections between popular culture, the arts and everyday life by crossing social sciences/humanities boundaries.
Philosophy and Cultural Studies is ideal for those wanting to engage with an understanding of our thought and culture from a variety of disciplines and perspectives.
Independent rankings
Philosophy at Kent was ranked 14th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, 90% of our Philosophy students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
Sociology* at Kent was ranked 7th in The Times Good University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, it was ranked 14th for overall satisfaction.
For graduate prospects, Sociology at Kent was ranked 8th in The Times Good University Guide 2017 and 11th in The Complete University Guide 2017.
*Cultural Studies is included in Sociology for the purposes of the National Student Survey.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
Philosophy
Teaching is by lectures, seminars, class discussions, and individual and group research, which is discussed in class.
All modules are assessed by 100% coursework (essays, in-class assignments, seminar participation) throughout the year.
Cultural Studies
Most modules are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars; you can always consult the lecturers for individual advice outside of formal teaching. Additionally, a wide range of study skills sessions are available to all students throughout each year of study.
Coursework is continuously assessed at Stage 1, and this is combined with the results of exams, in most modules. At Stage 2/3, modules are assessed by a combination of essays (50%) and exams (50%). You may also have the opportunity to do a final-year dissertation on a chosen subject, which counts as one module (and does not involve an exam).
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- promote the study of philosophy within a strongly multidisciplinary context
- produce graduates with knowledge in the main themes and texts of the Western tradition in philosophy
- produce graduates equipped with the skills and abilities characteristic of philosophers
- produce graduates equipped with generic skills for study in the humanities
- enable students to develop more general skills and competences so that they can respond positively to the challenges of the workplace or of postgraduate education.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding in:
- the ideas of the major philosophers as encountered in their own writings, from the ancient Greek philosophers to the present day
- central theories and arguments in the fields of logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind, including such topics as existence, truth, certainty, meaning, causality, free will, and the relation of mind and body
- central theories and arguments in the fields of moral, political and social philosophy, including such topics as the nature of judgements about right and wrong, human rights, duties and obligations, the relation between the individual and society, freedom, and justice
- the relevance of philosophical ideas to other disciplines and areas of enquiry such as literature, the arts, religion, law, politics and social studies.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in:
- following complex presentations
- reading a variety of technical and non-technical material
- using libraries effectively
- reflecting clearly and critically on oral and written sources, using powers of analysis and imagination
- marshalling a complex body of information
- remembering relevant material and bringing it to mind when needed
- constructing cogent arguments in the evaluation of this material
- formulating independent ideas and defending them with cogent arguments.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- articulacy in identifying underlying issues in philosophical debates
- precision of thought and expression in the analysis and formulation of complex and controversial philosophical problems
- sensitivity in the interpretation of philosophical texts drawn from a variety of historical periods
- clarity and rigour in the critical assessment of arguments presented in such texts
- ability to use and criticise specialised philosophical terminology
- ability to abstract, analyse and construct sound arguments and to identify logical fallacies
- ability to recognise methodological errors, rhetorical devices, unexamined conventional wisdom, unnoticed assumptions, vagueness and superficiality
- ability to move between generalisation and appropriately detailed discussion, inventing or discovering examples to support or challenge a position, and distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant considerations
- ability to consider unfamiliar ideas and ways of thinking, and to examine critically presuppositions and methods.
Transferable skills
You develop the following transferable skills:
- Communication: producing focused and cogent written presentations summarising information and assessing arguments; giving oral presentations, using visual aids where appropriate.
- Problem-solving: identifying problems; assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions; defending your own solutions with cogent arguments.
- Improving your learning: identifying your strengths and weaknesses; assessing the quality of your own work; managing your time and meeting deadlines; learning to work independently.
- Working with others: participating in seminar discussions, responding to the views of others and to criticisms of your own views without giving or taking offence; engaging in independent group work, including the preparation of group presentations.
- Using information technology: wordprocessing essays; using online information sources; using email for receiving and responding to communications.
Careers
On this joint honours programme you develop a critical perspective on many aspects of the world today. You leave the University with a broad knowledge of culture and of the contemporary critical debates surrounding culture in the many senses of the term. You also develop the ability to evaluate ideas, think through problems and clearly communicate even complex material. We offer opportunities to discuss and defend your ideas, give oral presentations, and work both individually and as part of a group, all of which will equip you with useful tools for your future career.
Our graduates do well in a wide range of positions and have gone on to work in areas including advertising and design, journalism, publishing, broadcasting, arts and arts management, public relations, marketing, the leisure industry, local government, teaching, the civil service and the legal profession.
Others opt for postgraduate training in a related area – for instance, in the social services where the cultural dimensions of service provision in a multicultural society are valued.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.