Philosophy and Politics Cardiff University

Overview

How should you live your life and relate to others? What is the theoretical basis of different political and governance systems? How do they work in practice, and how should they work? What are today’s big ethical, social, and political challenges and how should we approach them? How should characteristics like gender and race be taken into account in theoretical inquiry and social decision-making? 

With the Philosophy and Politics programme from Cardiff University , you’ll investigate important questions at the intersection of philosophy and politics, along with other topics from each of these disciplines.

Key facts

Our priority lies in developing your skills as a global citizen and a thinker in your own right. 

During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a broad range of philosophical and political topics and traditions. You’ll develop a solid grounding in moral philosophy, will also study epistemology, philosophy of mind, and political philosophy, and will have the opportunity to study areas such as aesthetics, feminist philosophy, and phenomenology. 

In Politics, you can explore how parliaments and governments function, investigate how politics works in Wales, the UK, Europe, and across the globe, and evaluate key political ideas such as power, freedom, rights, conflict, accountability, democracy, and legitimacy.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme possess a range of transferable skills and areas of knowledge that are sought after by many employers.

These include the ability to independently analyse complex problems and identify workable and innovative solutions, to work effectively with others on large projects, to communicate effectively with different audiences, and to use reflection and feedback to further develop your skills. You’ll also acquire a broad knowledge base enabling you to understand and respond to a range of contemporary ethical, social, and political problems. During your degree, you’ll gain experience of professional research, strategy, and policy roles by working on a large collaborative project. This project showcases to employers how not only your philosophical skills but also your philosophical knowledge can be of enormous value in the workplace.

University services and schemes are also available to you, providing additional ways to increase your professional skills and confidence. The Cardiff Award provides a framework through which to develop your employability further, and Student Futures is on hand to provide career advice and support in gaining placements specific to your degree. You can also take advantage of programmes like Languages for All and Welsh for All to improve your language skills, while support from the Enterprise and Start Up team can help to bring your ideas to life.

Due to the depth and breadth of their skills and knowledge, our graduates can be found in a variety of sectors, including the civil service, local government, charitable organisations, small businesses, consultancy firms, and schools and colleges. They work in journalism, law, teaching, finance, marketing, human resources, public relations, and many other professions.