Philosophy, Ph.D. / Ph.D. Distance Learning / M.Phil.

About the project

• Home
• Postgraduate
• Postgraduate Research Programmes
• School of Social Sciences Postgraduate Research Courses
• Politics, Philosophy and International Relations Postgraduate Research Courses
• Philosophy, Ph.D. / Ph.D. Distance Learning / M.Phil.

Choose which start date.

• January 2027 Apply Now

January 2027

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2027 Apply Now

January 2027

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• January 2027 Apply Now

January 2027

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• January 2027 Apply Now

January 2027

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

Choose which start date.

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

July 2028

• April 2027 Apply Now

April 2027

• July 2027 Apply Now

July 2027

• October 2027 Apply Now

October 2027

• January 2028 Apply Now

January 2028

• April 2028 Apply Now

April 2028

• July 2028 Apply Now

Key Course Details

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 5,238

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 5,450

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 5,238

Oct 2027 | £ 5,450

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 5,238

Oct 2027 | £ 5,450

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 2,619

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 2,725

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 2,619

Oct 2027 | £ 2,725

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 2,619

Oct 2027 | £ 2,725

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 5,238

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 5,450

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 2,619

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 2,725

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 20,050

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 21,050

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 20,050

Oct 2027 | £ 21,050

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 20,050

Oct 2027 | £ 21,050

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 10,050

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 10,550

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 10,050

Oct 2027 | £ 10,550

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 | £ 10,050

Oct 2027 | £ 10,550

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 20,050

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 21,050

Start Date | Tuition Fees - Year 1

Oct 2026 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2027 | £ 10,050

Oct 2027 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2028 | £ 10,550

• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus
• Location: Singleton Park Campus

Course Overview

A PhD or MPhil in Philosophy at Swansea enables you to pursue a substantial project led by your own passions and interests.

It represents a highly respected qualification which can present a pathway to a career in academia, or widen your scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector.

The PhD takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.

You submit a thesis of up to 100,000 words for PhD assessment and 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating original research with a significant contribution to the subject area. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva).

Our dynamic research environment is driven by committed staff who are all active researchers with a diverse range of interests and expertise.

We have a wide spread of relevant research expertise, including: contemporary political theory; applied ethics; phenomenology; the philosophy of emotion; feminism and gender politics; and economic justice. As a research student, you will be required to attend skills and training courses. You deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the School of Social Sciences Postgraduate conference.

You may also have the chance to teach undergraduate tutorials and seminars from the second year, for which you will receive training and payment. Financial support is also provided (subject to approval) for attending conferences or conducting research away from Swansea.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Entry Requirements

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.

MPhil: Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

PhD: Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis.

English Language IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

Reference Requirement

As standard, one reference is required before we can progress applications to the Faculty research programme, academic Admissions Tutor for consideration.

Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

You may wish to consider contacting your referee to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference or alternatively, hold submission of application until a reference is sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee, requesting a reference on your behalf.

The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form .

Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

References can be submitted to pgradmissions@swansea.ac.uk .

How you are Supervised

We take care to ensure that each MPhil/PhD student has the expert supervision required to complete their project within the candidature period. You will have a minimum of two supervisors based in the Department. Upon receipt of your application, we will identify supervisors whose research expertise matches your chosen topic.

You will usually meet your supervisors once a month, and possibly more often at critical stages of your candidature, including preparing for final submission. When you start the degree, you will work out a research plan with your supervisors. Nine months into your candidature, you will present a first piece of substantial writing (e.g. draft thesis chapter) and a detailed thesis plan. Thereafter, the University will assess your progress every 6 months. M.Phil students are eligible to apply for an upgrade to a Ph.D if they demonstrate the ability to perform at doctoral level.

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email us to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages .

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support through the medium of Welsh to improve your academic skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers, namely the WJEC and Coleg Cymraeg's Welsh Language Certificate.
• Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Ph.D. 3 Year Full Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

January 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

April 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

July 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

October 2027 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

January 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

April 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

July 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

Ph.D. Distance Learning 3 Year Full Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

October 2027 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

Ph.D. Distance Learning 3 Year Full Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

October 2027 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

Ph.D. 6 Year Part Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

January 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

April 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

July 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

October 2027 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

January 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

April 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

July 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

Ph.D. Distance Learning 6 Year Part Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

October 2027 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

Ph.D. Distance Learning 6 Year Part Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

October 2027 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

M.Phil. 2 Year Full Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

January 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

April 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

July 2027 | £ 5,238 | £ 20,050

October 2027 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

January 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

April 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

July 2028 | £ 5,450 | £ 21,050

M.Phil. 4 Year Part Time

Start Date | UK | International

October 2026 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

January 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

April 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

July 2027 | £ 2,619 | £ 10,050

October 2027 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

January 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

April 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

July 2028 | £ 2,725 | £ 10,550

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page .

Note: The 2027/2028 UK fee is indicative pending confirmation from UKRI.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page .

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page .

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

Government funding is now available for Welsh, English and EU students starting eligible postgraduate research programmes at Swansea University. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up .

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

How to Apply

Application Deadlines can be found on our Application Deadlines webpage.

• Overview
• Related Pages
• Back
• Postgraduate Research Programmes
• Scholarships and Bursaries
• Research projects
• Postgraduate Research Programmes coming soon
• How to apply for your Postgraduate Research programme
• Postgraduate Taught Courses
• School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Research Courses
• School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Culture and Communication Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Health and Social Care Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Law Postgrad Research Courses
• School of Management Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Mathematics and Computer Science Postgraduate Research Courses
• Medical School Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Psychology Postgraduate Research Courses
• School of Social Sciences Postgraduate Research Courses Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy Postgraduate Research Courses Economics Postgraduate Research Courses Education and Childhood Studies Postgraduate Research Courses Politics, Philosophy and International Relations Postgraduate Research Courses PhD/MPhil Development Studies MA by Research in International Development MA by Research in International Relations MPhil International Relations MA by Research in Philosophy PhD/MPhil Philosophy MA by Research in Politics PhD/MPhil Politics and International Relations
• Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy Postgraduate Research Courses
• Economics Postgraduate Research Courses
• Education and Childhood Studies Postgraduate Research Courses
• Politics, Philosophy and International Relations Postgraduate Research Courses PhD/MPhil Development Studies MA by Research in International Development MA by Research in International Relations MPhil International Relations MA by Research in Philosophy PhD/MPhil Philosophy MA by Research in Politics PhD/MPhil Politics and International Relations
• PhD/MPhil Development Studies
• MA by Research in International Development
• MA by Research in International Relations
• MPhil International Relations
• MA by Research in Philosophy
• PhD/MPhil Philosophy
• MA by Research in Politics
• PhD/MPhil Politics and International Relations
• Open Days
• Fees and Funding

Discover your University

• Discover your University: Take a Virtual Tour

Programme Disclaimer

The University will seek to deliver each course in accordance with the descriptions set out in the relevant course web pages at the time of application. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after enrolment.

The information below is for students starting their courses in 2016 or later.

The University will not normally make very substantial changes to courses (for example, a change to the course title, significant restructuring, substantial change in course content, or the introduction of a progression hurdle) which would impact on students who have already begun their course. In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary for the University to make such a change after acceptance of a place by an offer-holder. This will not happen less than 5 months before enrolment. The offer-holder will be notified of the change and will have the opportunity to withdraw their application and apply elsewhere.

Other changes could be made to course content, study location, delivery and teaching provision because of developments in the relevant subject, enhancements in teaching or assessment practice, requirements of external accreditation processes, changes in staffing, resource constraints or changes in the availability of facilities. Such changes will take account of the reasonable expectations of prospective and current students.

Research areas