About

Within the study of philosophy, you do not so much learn about philosophy, as learn to do it yourself. This includes not only studying major philosophies and philosophers, but also contributing your own ideas to an ongoing dialogue. You develop the ability to connect the most abstract ideas to the most concrete things in our experience.

You learn about major philosophers from ancient Greece to the present day; wrestling with logic, metaphysics, epistemology and topics such as existence, truth certainty, meaning and freewill.

The history component of the programme raises its own questions; about the nature of the past and our interpretations of it, understanding how human actions, cultures and contexts have defined the past and indeed, the present day.

Both subjects follow a modular structure allowing students to tailor their studies to their own interests.

This programme gives you the option to spend a year abroad at one of our partner universities, between Stages 2 and 3. For more information, see the course structure tab and Go Abroad.

Independent rankings

In the National Student Survey 2017, 91% of our History students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course and over 94% of final-year Philosophy students who responded to the survey were satisfied with the overall quality of their course. Philosophy at Kent was ranked 12th for overall satisfaction. 

History at Kent was ranked 14th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

In The Guardian University Guide 2018, History at Kent was ranked 13th and Philosophy was ranked 8th in The Times Good University Guide 2018.

Of History students who graduated from Kent in 2016, 96% were in work or further study within six months (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey).

Philosophy students who graduated from Kent in 2016, over 97% of those who responded to a national survey were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).