Research degrees

We have a strong research record in many branches of philosophy. Research degrees in the Department of Philosophy are supervised by a member of staff who specialises in the topic. If you are interested in applying for the MA by Thesis or PhD, please request a prospectus from the Postgraduate Secretary.  Our departmental staff list and list of current students will give you an idea of topics and potential supervisors.

The department provides its research students with comprehensive training, designed to support their research and professional development, which is integrated into its broader research environment. Students are assigned to a research cluster and co-supervised by at least two staff members. They participate in bi-annual research group workshops, giving presentations on their ongoing research and receiving detailed feedback and advice from academic staff with relevant expertise. They also present their work at conferences in the UK and abroad, with financial support from the department. This environment ensures that our PhD graduates are well placed for academic employment, and our placement record is correspondingly strong, with many of our PhD students going on to lectureships and postdoctoral fellowships in the UK and abroad.

We have expertise across a broad range of philosophical areas, listed below, with a selection of staff who specialise in those areas:

• aesthetics: Dr. Elisabeth Schellekens, Dr. Andrew Hamilton & Prof. Nick Zangwill
• applied ethics: Dr. Simon James, Dr. Soran Reader, Prof. Nick Zangwill & Prof. Geoffrey Scarre
• eastern philosophy: Dr. Simon James & Dr. Jan Westerhoff
• ethics: Dr. Simon James, Dr. Soran Reader, Prof. Nick Zangwill & Prof. Geoffrey Scarre
• history and philosophy of science and medicine: Dr. Matthew Eddy, Dr Robin Hendry & Prof. Holger Maehle
• history of philosophy: Dr Matthew Eddy, Dr Andrew Hamilton & Prof. EJ Lowe
• metaphysics: Dr. Sophie Gibb, Dr. Jan Westerhoff & Prof. EJ Lowe 
• phenomenology and continental philosophy: Dr. Sylvie Gambaudo, Dr. Simon James, Prof. Matthew Ratcliffe
• philosophy of language: Prof. Wolfram Hinzen & Prof. EJ Lowe 
• philosophy of mind and action: Dr. Sophie Gibb, Prof. Nick Zangwill & Prof. EJ Lowe 
• philosophy of psychology and psychiatry: Prof. Matthew Ratcliffe & Dr Andrew Hamilton

Postgraduate research facilities

Durham University Library has excellent holdings of books and journals in philosophy, and the history of science and medicine, and access to a wide range of electronic resources. There are dedicated postgraduate rooms with IT facilities in the Department, a Common Room to foster informal interaction between staff and postgraduate students, and a substantial collection of books and journals in the Departmental Library. The Faculty Postgraduate Centre, located nearby, provides generous space for private study and IT facilities. Each full-time research student is a member of a College of the University, which provides pastoral support, and further IT facilities.

Entry requirements    

• MA: BA in Philosophy or suitably related discipline, upper second class or equivalent
• PhD: MA in Philosophy or suitably related discipline

We welcome applications from holders of international qualifications. For advice on the equivalency of international qualifications, please contact our International Office on international.office@durham.ac.uk or visit our website.  

English language requirements: because most of our supervision will be in English, you will need to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English:

• Achieve an overall band score of at least 7.0 in the IELTS test (with no element below 6.5) or at least 102 in the TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test) (with no element under 25). In all cases the relevant certificate should have been issued within two years of the programme start date.

Funding opportunities for postgraduate research students 

• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
• University Doctoral Fellowship scheme 
• Departmental studentships and bursaries
• Royal Institute of Philosophy studentships and bursaries 
• British Society for the Philosophy of Science studentships 
• Opportunities for paid part-time tutoring in the department.

Applications

We will be pleased to discuss your application. Please contact:

• The Postgraduate Secretary: philosophy.pgsec^at^durham.ac.uk
• The Director of Postgraduate Research: Prof. Wolfram Hinzen at wolfram.hinzen^at^durham.ac.uk (2011 - 12)