Introduction
Join the long intellectual tradition of philosophical study at the University of Aberdeen, which has been ongoing since King’s College was founded in 1495.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Degree Qualification
- MLitt or PhD
Our close-knit and welcoming department hosts international experts offering supervision opportunities in a wide range of philosophical sub-disciplines, including:
- Chinese philosophy
- Epistemology
- Ethics
- History of philosophy
- Philosophy of AI and technology
- Philosophy of language
- Philosophy of science
- Political philosophy
Our faculty also have connections across other departments in the university – from computer science to medicine, biology to law – and are open to supporting interdisciplinary projects. Our postgraduate students come from a wide range of backgrounds and have diverse research interests and career ambitions.
Our friendly research community provides ample opportunities for active engagement, from attending our regular external speaker series, to presenting your own work at the annual postgraduate research student workshop.
September and January start dates available
Our Research
Our faculty’s areas of specialisation are summarised below. Further information is available on each individual’s research profile (linked).
The department is also affiliated with the Centre for Knowledge and Society, which hosts regular workshops, seminars, and reading groups.
- Chinese philosophy, especially Chinese epistemology, logic, and philosophy of language
- History of analytic philosophy, particularly Wittgenstein, Stebbing, and Austin
- Cross-cultural philosophy and historiography
- Creativity, especially philosophical and conceptual creativity
- Global justice, particularly the philosophy of migration and asylum
- Political philosophy broadly construed
- Ethics and social justice in healthcare, public health, and funeral provision
- Environmental ethics, particularly issues related to nature restoration and nature markets
- Epistemology, particularly social epistemology
- Philosophy of mind, particularly the metaphysics of mind and knowledge
- Philosophical methodology
- History of philosophy, particularly Spinoza, Kant, and 18th-21st century continental philosophy
- Epistemology, particularly knowledge from non-knowledge
- Epistemic injustice
- Gender and sports
- Philosophy and history of biology
- General philosophy of science, particularly causal selection, metaphors, and physical models
- Philosophy of AI and technology
- Metaphysics of time, tense, self-locating content, modality, and persistence through time .
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Research Masters' students starting in September 2025 will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore this Global Scholarship, including eligibility details, on our dedicated page.
Aberdeen Global ScholarshipEntry Requirements
The minimum entrance requirement for admission to the PhD is normally an undergraduate degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in an appropriate field, or equivalent. It is preferable that candidates also hold a Masters’ degree in the chosen area of study.
Alongside the application form, candidates should upload the following supporting documents online:
- Copies of your undergraduate and graduate degree certificates.
- Academic transcripts for your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- Two academic references; either the details of your referees provided on your application form or uploaded online with your application.
- Your research proposal
- If English is not your first language and you have not studied previously at an institution in the UK, you will need to demonstrate your proficiency in English by taking an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE academic test.
International Applicants
- Information about visa and immigration requirements
- Information regarding country or territory-specific entry requirements
International Applicants
Additional details for international applicants, including information specific to your country or territory, are available here.
Fees and Funding
Scholarships
Eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Research Masters' students starting in September 2025 will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore this Global Scholarship, including eligibility details, on our dedicated page.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
Careers
Aberdeen Philosophy graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers in a wide range of fields. Some of our PhD graduates now hold full-time academic positions; some MLitt by Research graduates have successfully taken up PhD study at Aberdeen or elsewhere. Both within and outwith the academy, our Philosophy postgraduates flourish in careers that demand and reward analytical abilities and the capacity for clear expression of ideas.
What our Alumni Say
Balint Kekedi
Marta Pawlowicz-Weychan
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History
University of Aberdeen
50-52 College Bounds
Aberdeen
AB24 3DS