Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Philosophy

at Manchester Metropolitan University United Kingdom

The Combined Honours program offers you an opportunity to study two subjects at degree level.

English:
English is a well-established humanities discipline, which explores the role of the written word in defining and transforming human experience. The modern discipline of English is rooted in the study of literature and the language in which it is written. Students of English can expect to study all major periods and forms of literature and to learn how to analyse literary texts by drawing on disciplines such as history, sociology and politics. The study of English develops strong critical thinking and communication skills, attributes that are highly valued in humanities graduates by employers. At the Manchester campus, the English department has access to a community of internationally renowned writers and critics through the Manchester Writing School, one of the most successful of its kind in the UK. Its Creative Director is Carol Ann Duffy DBE (Poet Laureate 2009-2019). You will develop the necessary skills in critical thinking and communication that are of value to graduates entering a wide array of career paths.

Linguistics:
If you are interested in the way in which we communicate and how it can influence people, studying linguistics will help you unravel how language is inextricably linked to who we are. You will also experience the theoretical and applied use of linguistics in social, educational, and practical environments and contexts. We have been providing professional language courses for more than 30 years and our staff are nationally, and in many cases internationally, recognized experts in their field. Our strong local, national and global links will help to enhance your study and future employment opportunities.

Philosophy is about making sense of ourselves and the world around us. It’s about asking and trying to answer the most fundamental theoretical and practical questions - from trying to understand the nature of consciousness, to whether current political institutions enable political freedom.

On BA (Hons) Philosophy you’ll consider ground-breaking philosophical theories from figures like Socrates, Kant and Nietzsche, to more contemporary thinkers such as Frantz Fanon, Hannah Arendt and Judith Butler. You’ll explore theories about the meaning of life, the nature of reality, who we are as individuals and society, and how these theories have shaped our ideas about humankind. And along the way, you’ll find your philosophical voice and develop a rich set of analytical and critical skills invaluable for your future – with the power to influence others and drive change.

As a philosophy student you will be joining a hub of research-active philosophers with local, national and international impact, with many of them being invited to present at major international conferences and workshops. Our staff work across key areas including History of Philosophy, critical social theories, Philosophy of Art, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Education, History and Philosophy of Science and much more – with this expertise behind us, we can give you a rounded, balanced understanding of the subject.

Placement options

You may have the chance to spend a year getting a taste of professional life. It is an opportunity to develop core skills and explore how this course can relate to the graduate world, and it shows employers that you’re ready to get to work.

You are free to choose placement opportunities from a wide range of roles both in the UK and abroad. Students choosing this option are supported by a dedicated placement team who provide links to employers through presentations, events, and fairs, and provide a specialist program of guidance on recruitment procedures including CV and interview preparation, as well as work readiness and working overseas.

Take on new and emerging markets in an international context. On this course, we'll help you to develop vital skills in international business management.

As well as ethical and global management, you’ll also refine your expertise by exploring the political economy and how it can affect global trade.

You can tailor the course to concentrate on areas that you find most interesting by selecting an option unit from a range of business specialisms.

We’ll also help you understand working practices from different territories and build the skills you need to effectively manage people from different cultures and backgrounds.

The financial sector is one of the world's largest, offering career paths that can span continents. There's a vast variety of specialisms to pursue, from financial planning and investment management to corporate finance and risk management. Whatever your direction, it’s a field with clear avenues for progression and excellent rewards for those with the expertise.

Industry-led
Designed around the industry's demands, this course is built to get you to work. So, whilst it's rooted in academic understanding from the latest research, it provides the skills that employers want. We put the principles and techniques you'll learn in a practical context, give you the chance to work on real client projects and even offer optional short-term internships so that you have the opportunity to put your skills to the test in a real-world environment.

Career focused
It's not only a big step forward for finance graduates, but a chance to move into the area from other business-related fields. For those already working in the field, it's a vehicle for professional progression, allowing you to focus assignments on your employer's goals or strategies. And, for those looking ahead to your first role in the financial sector, it offers the flexibility to set the pace and direction of your career path from the start.

The global trend in the manipulation of nutrient intake to enhance performance and the health of exercising individuals has grown exponentially. Matching the physiological demands with relevant dietary needs is a fast-growing area of sport nutrition. All of these factors are creating a demand for dynamic, innovative nutrition graduates.

We’ve designed our sport and exercise nutrition course to address the increasing awareness of the impact of nutrition on sport and exercise performance and the growing need for employment in the area.

You’ll examine the complex relationships between diet, health, physical wellbeing and performance whilst also gaining experience in the skills required to work in the field of sport and exercise, such as providing specialist advice on healthy eating, conducting dietary surveys and being an advocate of change.

Our sport and exercise nutrition degree also provides the option of spending an extra year working in a partner organisation on placement.

Placement options

If you choose the sandwich year degree route, you will spend year 3 of your studies on a placement in industry.  Placement learning is a key element of the course as it allows you to apply university-based knowledge, skills and understanding to the real world of work.

Our LLM in Legal Practice with LPC brings together the essential skills and knowledge to train as a solicitor, and masters-level legal research skills that can help you stand out in a competitive jobs market.

Ready for work
The LPC element is designed to prepare you for life as a solicitor. It's practical, interactive and delivered by experienced legal professionals who understand what it takes to succeed in the workplace. As you study, you'll learn to think and behave like a solicitor.

The LPC elements of the course meet the academic requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Specialist knowledge
Meanwhile, the LLM advanced study element offers the chance for you to specialise in an area of the law that interests you, developing valuable legal research skills along the way.

Our staff have varied specialisms, you'll learn from researchers in fields such as human rights, discrimination law and equality law amongst others.

The BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion course offers an exploratory and dynamic approach to studying promotion in the fashion industry. This distinctive course covers fashion promotion skills, visual and creative processes, underpinned with business content and cultural and contextual theory.

The flexible design of this course will allow you to explore creative areas such as fashion photography and film, digital communication, fashion styling, social media, website design, journalism and brand communication. You will be expected to explore your field of study through research, investigation and independent practice. The business elements of the course will encourage you to engage with entrepreneurial processes and practical activity, allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills to live professional and industry briefs.

You will have the opportunity to benefit from real-world learning experiences during study trips both in the UK and internationally. Previously, students have travelled to London, New York, Copenhagen and Shanghai as part of the course and have visited industry head offices, educational partners, studios, galleries and trade shows.   

We also offer a four-year sandwich route option that gives you the opportunity to spend your third year on an industry placement to enhance your employability.

You will complete the course with a strong, industry-ready portfolio of work relevant to your career preferences. Graduates will be able to apply for positions in areas such as online marketing, public relations, brand management, styling, and events. 

Placement options

At Manchester Fashion Institute, employability is at the heart of our teaching. All of our undergraduate courses offer an optional sandwich year route that gives you the opportunity to apply for an industry placement between your second and final year. If you choose this route and are successful in the application process, you will commit to working full-time in the fashion industry for the entirety of your third year, before returning to complete your degree in your fourth year.

A placement year is an incredibly valuable element of your course as it allows you to apply your university-based knowledge, skills and understanding to your job role. Should you undertake a placement, you will make your own industry contacts and enhance your CV by gaining industry experience.

We have a dedicated placement team with over three decades of experience sourcing and securing outstanding placement opportunities. They will provide you with extensive support and advice prior to and during your industry placement.

Placement opportunities are available both in the UK and internationally, with students previously working in countries such as Austria, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong SAR, Sri Lanka and the USA.

In both the private and public sectors, there is demand for professionals with strong language skills who can work in culturally diverse environments. We have created our own multicultural community, including British, exchange and international students, along with foreign language assistants, allowing you to be absorbed into the everyday use of foreign languages.

We have been providing professional language courses for more than 30 years. Our strong local, national and global links will help to enhance your study and future employment opportunities. If you study Spanish as a major or equal subject, you will be required to spend a year abroad. The experience of being immersed in another culture for several months is one our students find both beneficial and rewarding. They return having made new friends, experienced new places and having grown in confidence.

This course places language learning within the wider context of Spanish studies including culture, society, literature, film and history. The language units emphasise communicating effectively and developing transferable skills such as translating, interpreting and interview techniques, with practical language classes embracing speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will also have the option to study Spanish from beginners level.

TESOL is a practical branch of applied linguistics and it will help you understand language learning and teaching approaches, as well as the English language itself. You will develop a new understanding of different types of communication and other cultures.

This course will help you improve your own fluency and accuracy in other languages. You will gain experience of how to help learners of all abilities to become fluent English speakers and you will be taught by highly qualified and experienced practitioners who have taught across the world. All of these skills will give you a head start if you decide to take a further qualification such as CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or Trinity Certificate TESOL.

Placement options

• You will have the opportunity to spend your third year in Spain or Latin America and we will assist you in choosing from a choice of partner universities where you can study.

In today’s digital world there are more ways than ever to reach out to consumers.

Finding creative solutions to advertising challenges is a sought-after skill. It’s not only about crafting attention-grabbing images and slogans. Your campaigns need to be grounded in advertising theory.

This course will ensure you have the strategic knowledge to support your creative thinking. And, with a range of options for placements and internships, you’ll be well on your way to an exciting career.

A perfect mix
You’ll explore every element of the advertising spectrum, from traditional print-based materials to digital media.

This course blends commercial, theoretical and creative units to give you the edge when you start work. Although it’s academically challenging, the practical nature of the course means you’ll be ready to create effective campaigns in various formats and media.

Learn about today’s advertising challenges and discover how to build brands. Specialise further with one of our option units to develop the skills you need for a career you’re passionate about.

Real-world skills
Your lecturers have experienced advertising experts, sharing real examples to bring the theory to life. With our enviable network, we bring in some of the industry’s leading figures as guest lecturers.

Test your new knowledge on units like the live client brief. Or, spend a year in industry to gain vital experience with real-life projects. Blend your creative skills with strategic awareness to create campaigns that get results.

Optional internship year

If you choose to take the optional internship year, you will do this once you successfully complete your taught units. Internships take place over 36-48 weeks – you will be supported by our Placement Office, who have extensive contacts with local employers and over 25 years of experience of helping students to find placements.

The Placement Office advertise a variety of opportunities, support and advise on the application and recruitment process and continue to support you whilst you are away from the University.

The School of Digital Art's (SODA) MA Photography course provides a dynamic opportunity for you to test, push and extend the current boundaries of the photographic medium. You will explore photography through the medium’s rich critical and technological contexts, and develop your creative practice in line with your individual interests and professional ambitions.  

As an MA Photography student you will be part of SODA, where you will study in an environment that is purpose-built for today’s fast-moving creative and digital sectors. It will offer boundary-breaking and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities that reflects modern project-based working practices. It offers the opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic creative community of sound designers, filmmakers, games developers and more. SODA is also home to staff from a wide range of disciplines, who are research active and experts in their chosen area and who enjoy well-established links to the wider creative media, arts and digital tech industries.

In addition to established photographic technologies, you will also have access to a wide range of new digital equipment and facilities, including photographic studios, sound studios, green screen spaces, moving image studios and immersive spaces and technologies.

During the program, you will develop professional links with the creative community and industries both locally, nationally and internationally. For students and creative media professionals alike, SODA is well-positioned within Manchester as a great place for building a network and developing your research and practice in the media, games and digital tech industries.