A group of students talking around a table with laptops

Philosophy

Discover your research degree study options, including areas of expertise for our academic supervisors.

Why you should join us

Our research degrees will help you advance or change your career, deepen your expertise, and expand your research and practical skills.

Work with respected experts

Our expertise includes contemporary and historical European and global philosophy.

Choose from our study pathways

Study full or part-time, on campus or as a distance learner.

Join a lively research environment

Our Human Sciences Seminar Series provides a lively forum for philosophical discussion.

Take part in local projects

Contribute to public lectures, performances, film screenings, fairs and more.

Our research areas

Discover our areas of expertise and browse our experts. We encourage you to discuss your research ideas with us – even if your topic is not listed.

  • 19th- and 20th-century continental European philosophy
  • Critical social theories
  • Early modern thought
  • Feminist social epistemology
  • History and philosophy of science
  • Kant and German idealism
  • Metaphysics and ontology
  • Moral philosophy and metaethics
  • Phenomenology
  • Philosophy of education
  • Philosophy of medicine
  • Philosophy of psychiatry
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Pragmatism and American philosophy
  • Process philosophy

Research with real-world impact

Discover our five research missions.

Go to research missions
Researcher tightening bolts inside a test chamber

Qualifications you can study

You can do a research degree on campus or remotely through distance learning. Choose from one of these programmes:

  • PhD — three years full-time, six years part-time
  • MPhil — two years full-time, four years part-time
  • Masters by research — one year full-time, two years part-time

Find out about the research degrees we offer.

Start dates

Most of our postgraduate researchers enrol in October. You can also join us in January and April.

Application information

Entry Requirements

To apply, you’ll need a first or 2.1 honours degree, or an equivalent qualification.

International postgraduate researchers must have strong English language skills.

We welcome applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We’ll take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other relevant achievements into consideration.

Find out more about our standard entry requirements.

How to apply for a research degree

Discover the key steps in the application process.

Go to application guidance

Scholarships, fees and funding

A student on placement looking around the offices she works in

Scholarships

Discover the support available to help with study costs.

Go to scholarships

Postgraduate research fees

What will your research degree cost?

Go to fees

Postgraduate research funding

Find out how to fund your research degree.

Go to funding

Contacts

Contact us

About this subject

For an initial discussion, contact Dr Anna Bergqvist, the research degrees co-ordinator for history, at a.bergqvist@mmu.ac.uk.

General admissions

For further information on the application process, contact the admissions team at pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk