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UCL offers two taught Master's degrees in Philosophy: MA Philosophy, and MA Philosophy, Public Policy and Social Change.
Both the MA in Philosophy and the MA Philosophy, Public Policy and Social Change are full-time for one year, or part-time for two years, and allow students to develop a set of core philosophical skills in argumentation, critical reading, and clear and precise philosophical writing.
Philosophy graduates who wish to develop an academic career in Philosophy, and meet the entry requirements, are advised to apply directly for the two-year MPhil Stud.
MA Philosophy
MA Philosophy provides students with an understanding of a representative range of central philosophical debates. A diverse range of options are available, which allow students to explore their own interests.
MA Philosophy, Public Policy and Social Change
MA Philosophy, Public Policy and Social Change (new for 2025-26) focuses on the philosophy, design, and ethical implications of public policies. It provides students with a detailed understanding of a range of central philosophical debates related to ethical tradeoffs in the design of policies, and how to measure and effect change. The course is taught jointly with UCL's Department of Political Science, and a diverse range of options are available across Philosophy and Political theory, which allow students to explore their own interests.
More information below. Apply for MA Philosophy, Public Policy and Social Change full-time, or part-time. Use the course code TMAPHISING24.
- Degree Benefits
The programme provides students with the ability to analyse the design, and ethical orientations of a range of public policies using core philosophical skills in argumentation, critical reading, and clear and precise writing. Students who successfully complete the course will have developed a detailed understanding of a range of central philosophical debates related to ethical tradeoffs in the design of policies, and how to measure and effect change. A diverse range of options are available, which allow students to explore their own interests.
The course is taught jointly by UCL’s globally renowned departments of Philosophy and Political Science. This dual perspective creates a uniquely stimulating environment for studying the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of policymaking, and why some strategies for achieving social change are more successful than others. You will learn through interactive seminars in a supportive environment with some of the leading figures in the field.
Students further benefit from the central London location. London is a global philosophical hub, in addition to its central place within UK policymaking. London is home to a number of renowned journals (Philosophy; MIND; Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society), and leading institutions (Institute of Philosophy, Royal Institute of Philosophy and the Aristotelian Society), which host visiting speakers from across the world every week of term.- Outline Programme Structure (Full-time)
In this programme, you will take eight taught modules and the research dissertation. There are three compulsory modules. Public Ethics provides an in-depth understanding of the philosophical foundations of policy-relevant topics that affect people’s everyday lives, while The Dynamics of Social Change focuses on core philosophical questions about how change occurs within societies, and how government policy is made and enacted. Research Preparation in Philosophy provides an introduction to graduate study in philosophy and to undertaking independent research in philosophy. Together the core modules aim to equip students to critically debate a range of ethical questions that arise in public policy, and a range of philosophical questions about the nature of social change, and how these insights should inform the design of policy interventions.
The remaining 75 credits are taken from a curated list of modules in Philosophy (List A) and Political Theory (List B), with students taking at least one module from each list. The concepts and skills from these modules will prepare you to go forward to do your dissertation in term three, for which you will receive supervision from a member of staff with expertise relevant to your chosen project.
List A and List B are updated on a year-to-year basis as available modules change.List A (Philosophy)
PHIL0059 Philosophy, Justice and Health
PHIL0066 Philosophical Foundations of Effective Altruism
PHIL0067 Free Speech and Theories of Autonomy
PHIL0077 Equality
PHIL0052 The Regulation of Intimacy
PHIL0073 Feminism and Philosophy
PHIL0165 The Philosophy and Ethics of Climate Change
PHIL0189 Culture, Heritage and Critique
List B (Political Science)
PUBL0084 Social Justice, Social Mobility, Education, and the Family
PUBL0094 The Ethics of Social Media
PUBL0045 Global Ethics
PUBL0071 Contemporary Political Philosophy 1: political authority and democracy
PUBL0072 Contemporary Political Philosophy 2: Social Justice and Equality
PUBL0018 The Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights
PUBL0016 Energy and Climate Policy
PUBL0013 The Ethics of Poverty
PUBL0023 Equality Justice and Difference
- Outline Programme Structure (Part-time)
First year
First and second terms: students must take the three compulsory modules, Public Ethics, The Dynamics of Social Change, and Research Preparation, plus one optional module.
Third term: Submit assessments (if applicable) and start to plan independent study for the Dissertation.Second year
First and second terms: students take 60 credits of optional modules.
Third term: Supervisions and independent work on the Dissertation.For further details, see the Full-Time programme structure.
- Typical contact hours and hours of self-directed study
Each module typically has a two-hour seminar each week. A full-time MA student would take four modules in term one and four in term two (each of these terms is 10 weeks long). As a general rule, students should plan to put aside about eight hours per week excluding the class time for each module being studied.
- Employability and Graduate Attributes
Graduates from this course can think rigorously and creatively about the principles that underpin attempts to make positive improvements, whether through government action, business or the non-profit sector. These skills are sought after by employers both in the public and private sectors.
The programme equips graduates with the skills to analyse complex ideas, develop independence of judgement and originality of thought, present views lucidly both orally and in writing, and question orthodox views. Most students will choose this course as a precursor to a career in NGOs, local, regional or central government, businesses or the charity sector, but these skills are important across all workplaces. In addition, this degree provides a basis for graduates to boost their profile in engaged philosophy, should they wish to apply for a research degree.