Study philosophy abroad

Philosophy is the study of fundamental questions relating to the nature of knowledge, morality, values, reality, reason and god. While studying philosophy, you’ll navigate your way through some of life’s trickiest concepts by using research, critical thinking and reasoned arguments.

Philosophy is one of the oldest academic disciplines, having been founded by the ancient Greeks in the 6th Century BC. As a philosophy student today, you’ll be tasked with examining ideas that have perplexed academics for thousands of years, as well as debating more recent critical thought.

We are creatures of habit and products of our environment, that’s why studying philosophy abroad is such a great idea. By immersing yourself in a new culture with differing perspectives, you’ll be challenged to reassess your own worldview so that you become a more experienced, creative and critical philosopher.

As an international student, you can study philosophy at bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels. At undergraduate level, philosophy can be offered as either a BA or BSc, so it’s important to make sure you choose the course that most interests you.

Philosophy is a far-reaching academic field, so it’s no surprise that elements of it can be found in other programs like English, politics, sociology and history. As such, you can often choose to study philosophy alongside another related subject at undergraduate level.

If you choose to study in the US, you’ll probably follow the liberal arts model and select philosophy as your four-year undergraduate major. This means that you’ll work on your general studies and a few philosophy classes in your first two years, before focusing completely on philosophy in your final two years.

The structure of teaching and assessment will depend on your program and university, but it will usually involve attending lectures, seminars and tutorials, working on group projects, preparing and delivering presentations, writing essays and sitting exams.

The content and structure of every philosophy degree will be different, but most degrees will share core areas of study, including:

• Ethics
• Political philosophy
• Epistemology
• Metaphysics
• Theory of knowledge
• Feminism
• Ancient philosophy

A degree in philosophy will equip you with transferable tools that you can use to pursue almost any career. With skills in critical thinking, research, persuasion, problem-solving, analysis and creativity, you’ll be well placed to excel in the following roles:

• Teacher
• Lawyer
• Barrister
• Diplomat
• Politician
• Civil servant
• Journalist
• Humanitarian aid worker

Using your free time and university holidays to complete placements and internships will help you to get a head start in your chosen field. Most universities will have a career advice service to support you with preparing CVs and applying for roles.