University of Bristol
Department of Philosophy

See:  http://www.bris.ac.uk/philosophy/prospective/postgrad/progs/

We offer the following postgraduate opportunities

    * Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy
    * MA Programmes
    * Research Degrees: MLitt and PhD

Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy

This Diploma is intended primarily for graduates in subjects other than
philosophy who wish to study philosophy in depth, bringing them up to
postgraduate level. It is a one year (or two year part-time) programme.
Further Details are available.

MA Programmes

We offer the following five MA programmes, which may be taken full time or part time:

    * MA in Philosophy
    * MA in Philosophy and History of Science
    * MA in Philosophy and Law
    * MA in Philosophy of Biological and Cognitive Sciences*
    * MA in Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics*

* indicates a new MA programme for the academic year 2010-11, subject to approval

The M.A. programmes all have the same basic structure.

(i) Full-time students take taught units from October to June, amounting
to 120 credits (except in the case of Philosophy and Law, where they
amount to 130 credits). Each Philosophy unit is worth 20 credits.

(ii) Students who obtain a satisfactory mark on these units are allowed
to proceed to the Dissertation, worth 60 credits (for details on
proceeding to the dissertation stage, see the individual course detail
above). Students complete their dissertations by the middle of
September.

(iii) Part-time students spread their work over two years, instead of
one. For details, see the individual programme and unit descriptions.

Required units

(a) The unit “Philosophical Writing and Research Seminar” is compulsory
for all M.A. programmes and the Diploma.

(b) The unit “Value Theory” is compulsory for the M.A. in Philosophy,
M.A. in Philosophy and Law, and the Diploma.

(c) The unit “Epistemology and Metaphysics” is compulsory for the M.A.
in Philosophy, M.A. in Philosophy and Law, MA in Logic and Philosophy of
Mathematics, and the Diploma.

(c) The unit “Scientific Epistemology and Methodology” is compulsory for
the M.A. in Philosophy and History of Science and the MA in Philosophy
of Biological and Cognitive Sciences.

(d) The units "Philosophy of Biology" and "Philosophy of Psychology" are
compulsory for the MA in Philosophy of Biological and Cognitive
Sciences.

(e) The unit "Logic" (taught by the Maths department) is compulsory for
the MA in Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics.

Research Degrees: MLitt and PhD

The Department welcomes applications for the research degrees of MLitt
and PhD. Most students who register for a research degree are aiming for
a PhD. Some students, however, may simply wish to register for and
complete an MLitt. Further details are available on the Department's
Research interests, Programme of study, and upgrading to PhD status.

Research Strengths

The department research strength lies in analytic philosophy. Our main
current research interests are in aesthetics, epistemology and
metaphysics; ethics; history of philosophy; philosophy of mind and
language; philosophy and history of science and mathematics; and
political philosophy. Further details of individual research interests
can be obtained by referring to the list of teaching staff. Any
individual member of staff can be consulted by email to discuss possible
research projects.

Like most other UK universities, Bristol requires all new research
students to initially register for an MLitt, even if they intend to
complete a PhD. Students then apply to be upgraded to full PhD status
when they have demonstrated that a PhD is within their capacity.

Programme of Study

In their first year, students registered for the M.Litt. normally follow
the same course as students taking any Master’s degree. This involves
taking the core M.A. units: Epistemology and Metaphysics, Value Theory,
and the Philosophical Writing and Research Seminar. (Details of the
units are given in the course programme M.A. in Philosophy.) Since
research students will have been admitted on the basis of some definite
research topic, however, they are likely to focus their work in the
essays around their thesis topic and to have their thesis adviser as
their essay tutor.

Exemption from taking any or some of the core M.A. units can be granted
to an M.Litt. student by the Department’s Graduate Studies Committee,
but only if they have already undertaken a training programme or can
demonstrate substantial research experience. 

Upgrading to PhD

MLitt students in the Philosophy Department who wish to apply for
upgrading to PhD status will normally expect to be considered for
upgrading towards the end of their first year or during their second
year. The university deadline for upgrading for full time students is
the end of their second year and for part time students the end of their
fourth year. (Students on AHRB funding should check the deadline which
the AHRB lays down for upgrading.) Upgrading is not automatic. The
Department will wish to satisfy itself that the student has a viable
research topic and can complete a thesis within the prescribed time
limit. Arts Faculty guidelines require the submission of one or two
satisfactory draft chapters of a thesis, or their equivalent, amounting
to about 15,000 words, together with evidence that the necessary
bibliographical work is well in hand, evidence that the appropriate
training has been completed, and a convincing plan for the remainder of
the thesis. The student will have an interview with an independent
assessor who will have read the material submitted. Unless the student
requests otherwise, the adviser will normally be present at the upgrade
interview. The proceedings of the interview will be documented by the
assessor and the student will be informed in writing by the Head of Dept
or their delegate of the outcome of the interview.

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