Philosophy - PhD

Canterbury campus, Canterbury, United Kingdom

Shortlist

# 51-100QS Subject Rankings

36 monthsProgram duration

18,600 GBPTuition Fee/year

31 Jul, 2025Application Deadline

Program overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

As the study of fundamental questions connected to reality, existence, the mind, language and thought, Philosophy at Kent is designed to develop your ideas, independent thought and problem-solving skills.

Overview

A PhD in Philosophy enables you to undertake a substantial piece of supervised research in the subject that makes an original contribution to knowledge and is worthy of publication.

A PhD, also known as a doctorate, is a requirement for a career as an academic or researcher. In addition, it has become a qualification valued by many employers who recognise the skills and commitment a PhD requires. Employers also recognise that a PhD indicates excellent research capabilities, discipline and communication skills.
Over the duration of the PhD, you produce an original piece of research of up to 100,000 words. Recent research theses have included ‘Evolutionary Ethics Without the Error: How Care Ethics Can Vindicate Moral Realism’, ‘Morality as Ideology: Marx, Materialism and Ideology-Critique’, ‘Causality in Complex Systems: An Inferentialist Proposal’, ‘Moral Epistemology, Particularism and Generalism’, ‘Intelligence, Relevance, Action and Perception’, ‘The Story of My Life: Virtue, Character and Narrative’, ‘Reasoning, Objectivity and Interdisciplinarity: Making the Links’, and ‘Vulnerability in Bioethics: Humans and Animals’.

The Department of Philosophy offers supervision from world-class academics with expertise in a wide range of disciplines, able to support and guide you through your research. Your progress is carefully monitored to ensure that you are on track to produce a thesis valued by the academic community. Throughout your programme, you are able to attend and contribute to research seminars, workshops, and research and transferable skills training courses.

You may be eligible for a fully-funded PhD scholarship to support your studies with us. The PhD in Philosophy at Kent can be funded through the Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE) collaborative doctoral partnerships. Please indicate in your application if you want to be considered, and explain your eligibility. For the full list of scholarships available within the School, please see our postgraduate funding page.

Program overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview

A PhD in Philosophy enables you to undertake a substantial piece of supervised research in the subject that makes an original contribution to knowledge and is worthy of publication.

TOEFL

95+

Cambridge CAE Advanced

185+

PTE Academic

76+

IELTS

Bachelor GPA

3.7+

A first or upper-second class BA honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, and a distinction or merit in an MA programme or equivalent in a relevant subject.

Application Deadline

31 Jul 2025

Program Duration

3 Years

Starting Month(s)

Jan

Starting Month(s)

May

Tuition fee and scholarships

Tuition Fee
Scholarships

Domestic Students

Tuition Fee/year

Tuition Fee (Out of State)

International Students

Tuition Fee/year

18,600 GBP

Other Expenses

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

Download Scholarship Guide

More programs from the university

Becoming a University of Kent undergraduate is the exciting first step to making your mark and achieving your ambition. We know you’ll love your time here, making the most of our outstanding facilities and soaking up all the experiences on offer. Whatever your interests, whatever your goals, we’re sure you’ll find your place at Kent. We believe in the potential of everyone involved in the University of Kent to make a difference. With every human connection we make, we become stronger, building determination and a community spirit that lasts a lifetime.

A world of opportunities – your degree your way

Kent offers a wide range of courses which span the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. Whatever your subject and wherever you are located you can access a huge range of academic and personal support services to help you excel. There's so much more to Kent than lectures and seminars. Make the most of our flexible study options to create the best student experience and get the degree you want. It's your degree so make it your own at Kent. Customise your studies with elective modules, a year abroad, a year in industry and a whole host of extra-curricular courses.

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