1st Class, Ba Economics and Philosophy, University College London (UCL)
CASE STUDY:
PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY APPLICANT
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​This is an outline of a bespoke 1:1 tuition programme, suitable for philosophy or combined honours philosophy applicants who enjoy the analytical and intellectual aspects of the subject and desire to push their skills towards academic study.
It is based on academic content taught at Oxford, Cambridge and UCL.
​A different student may want a different programme; other subject choices may include a deeper study into one particular period of history, a particular group of historical thinkers or the history of a political or intellectual movement in greater detail.
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Introduction to Philosophy &
its methods
(3 hours)
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This module will serve as a spring-board for further modules, assessing your passions and strengths, and therefore prepare a cohesive and coherent application profile.
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You'll get an overview of the topics and skills you'll encounter in the 3 years of their degree study, including the main debates & texts, and the skillset required to engage with them.
Together with your tutor, you'll choose three main areas of philosophy to study that appeal to your own particular interests and skills. For example: the study of knowledge from Plato to the Gettier cases; is knowledge justified true belief? The nature of reality from Descartes to brains-in-vats; can we know we exist? Utilitarianism and Kant; what is the ‘right’ thing to do?
A Degree in Philosophy
(5 hours)
A closer look into what universities look for in prospective applicants and current students.
Using two of the areas outlined above (or a different area that interests the student), we will look closely at one or two of the main debates. Using political philosophy as an example, we would look at extracts from Rawl’s ‘Theory of Justice’ and Nozick’s ‘Anarchy, State and Utopia’, as well as extracts from Kymlicka’s ‘Introduction to Political Philosophy’. We would highlight the central arguments of the texts, and examine the ways they interact with each other.
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Focus on two areas of interest for the application, and further enrich the student’s critical skill sets.
Philosophy and other disciplines
(1.5 hours)
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An exploration of the impact of philosophical methods and texts in other related disciplines.
The student will explore the premise that philosophy and its methods serve as the foundation for other academic disciplines. If the student is interested in mathematics, we would explore the importance of foundational logic on the study of mathematics. Then, we would look at two of the major schools in the philosophy of mathematics; Platonic realism and anti-realism, with reference to key texts in the discipline. Lastly, we would examine the importance of the philosophy of mathematics to the study of mathematics and physics, such as for example the implications of scientific realism and anti-realism to scientific inquiry.
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This will be particularly useful if the student is applying for joint honours, but also to create an impressive element in the applicant’s profile: showcasing that they can link the study of philosophy to one of the subjects they studied at sixth form.
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Philosophy and the world
(1.5 hours)
​This is an exploration of the impact of philosophical thought to the real world. Using a real government policy, such as for example the abortion law in the UK, examine the arguments for and against it in reference to different ethical theories. By the end of the session, the student will be able to critically assess policy, science or literature through the lenses of philosophy.
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Similar to the ‘Philosophy and other disciplines’ module, showing an understanding of the place of philosophy in a wider context is a very useful tool for an applicant and a prospective student of philosophy.
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Personal Statement &
Interviews
(3 hours)
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Personal statements provide students with an important opportunity to demonstrate their achievements, academic potential and interest in the course. Every sentence in the personal statement needs to pull its weight. This course guides students through the process of writing personal statements, from its initial drafting to its final proof-reading, with the opportunity for considered and constructive feedback at every stage. Tutors will seek to focus the student’s reading and channel their enthusiasm into a personal statement that reflects their talents.
If the student is applying for a university that holds interviews, a series of mock interviews will be held with feedback on the student’s personal statement and application from someone who has successfully completed two Oxbridge interviews. Lastly, we will ensure that the application and choices reflect the newly-found skill-set and knowledge of the student.
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All of our programmes​ are entirely bespoke: what you saw above was just an example.
Our tutors will speak to you to understand your precise needs, and build a programme that feels right and is exciting.
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Please enquire to find out more.
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Scheduling
the hours you need
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Built around
your degree choice​
Studying topics
you love​
HAVE YOUR OWN PROGRAMME CREATED FOR YOU