Philosophy PhD/MLitt (Research)/MPhil (Research)
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Tuesday 3 November 2026, 9am – 5pm
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Postgraduate Study Finance & Funding Event:
Wednesday 4 November 2026, 5pm - 7pm
Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow
Come along to information sessions about finance and funding, meet university service teams and get a tour of the campus
Philosophy at the University of Glasgow is thriving. Our vibrant research environment includes an active community of postgraduate students and engaged staff who are internationally recognised for their contributions to a wide range of philosophical debates.
- PhD: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time; Thesis of 70,000-100,000 words
- MLitt (Research): 2 years full-time; 3 years part-time; Thesis of 40,000-70,000 words
- MPhil (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 30,000-40,000 words
Overview
Our staff supervise a wide range of the core areas of philosophy, including:
- aesthetics
- ethics
- epistemology
- history of analytic and early modern philosophy
- logic and philosophy of logic
- metaphysics
- philosophy of language
- philosophy of mathematics
- philosophy of mind
- political philosophy.
Current areas of research, which may transcend and cut across these core areas, include:
- affect
- autonomy in moral and political philosophy
- causation and explanation
- cognitive penetration
- consent
- distributive justice
- epistemology of perception
- ethical intuitionism
- end of life ethics
- knowledge-how
- imagination
- mental qualities
- moral psychology
- pain and suffering
- philosophy of emotion
- philosophy of perception
- philosophy of virtual and augmented reality
- social choice theory
- social epistemology
- totality
- virtue ethics and epistemology.
We strongly encourage applications in any of the above areas.
Find out more
- research in philosophy
- events, centres, and projects in philosophy
- current postgraduate research students
Also see our Philosophy & Psychology PhD
Study options
PhD
Duration: 3 years full-time / 5 years part-time
A Doctor of Philosophy may be awarded to a student whose thesis is an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in, or understanding of, a field of study and normally containing material worthy of publication.
Thesis Length: 70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).
MLitt (Research)
Duration: 2 years full-time / 3 years part-time
Our Degree of Master of Letters (Research) requires you to undertake a postgraduate course of special study and research that represents a distinct contribution to knowledge.
Thesis length: 40,000-70,000 words (including references, bibliography and appendices).
MPhil (Research)
Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time
A Master of Philosophy (Research)requires you to undertake a postgraduate course of special study and research that represents a distinct contribution to knowledge.
Thesis length: 30,000-40,000 words (including references and bibliography).
Entry requirements
Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree, with a significant component in Philosophy. Candidates will also usually be expected to have completed or be undertaking a Master’s qualification.
Required documents
Applicants should submit:- Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificate
- CV
- Research Proposal Outline
- Two References
- Named Supervisor Information
- A sample of single-authored, written, philosophical worth (less than 7000 words)
- If you are applying for a Distance Learning programme, please complete the Distance Learning Form
Your research proposal outline
Your outline need not be a final thesis proposal. It should be about 1000 words and include:
- a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
- the question that your research will address
- an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
- an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
- a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
- a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
- an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
Accepted English language tests
We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- We do not accept General Training
TOEFL iBT (Including MyBest and Home Edition)
Tests taken up to 20 January 2026
- 96 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 98 overall with no subtest less than Writing and Listening at 5 and Reading and Speaking at 4.5
Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)
- 70 overall with no subtest less than Reading 62; Listening 62; Speaking 75; Writing 68
- We do not accept the online PTE Academic
Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- 185 overall, no subtest less than 176
Oxford ELLT
- 8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8
LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online
- 75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70
Password Skills Plus
- 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English III
- 105 overall with no subtest less than 105
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 510 or higher, and any two subtests at 480 or higher
PSI Skills for English
- C1 Pass
Duolingo English Test
- 130 overall with Writing at 130 and no subtest less than 120
Oxford Test of English Advanced
- 146 overall with no subtest less than 136
Alternatives to English language qualification
Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.
- Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
Fees and funding
Fees
2027/28
- UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
- International & EU: £28,275
Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.
Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.
Alumni discount
We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.
This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.
Possible additional fees
- Re-submission by a research student £540
- Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
- Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790
Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.
- College of Arts & Humanities Graduate School funding opportunities
- further funding opportunities
- MRes Scholarship: Creativity, Inclusion and the Virtual
We have a strong track record of securing AHRC and Glasgow University College of Arts & Humanities funding for our PhD students.
Potential students with 1st class results (or equivalent) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Support
Teaching and research in the Arts and Humanities is supported by the outstanding resources of our University Library with its special collections and our on-campus Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.
Our close links and partnerships with Glasgow Life, and the city’s many museums, art galleries, performing arts and music venues, international festivals and creative industry organisations make the University of Glasgow the ideal place for postgraduate study of the arts.
Graduate School
Our Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all of our research students. We offer a range of services, courses and skills development opportunities for research students.
The College of Arts & Humanities is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students enrolled on taught masters and research programmes within a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment. Across every school and subject area the college is home to world-leading and agenda-setting research.
Find out more about what is happening in the community by following us on social media.
You will also be part of the wider Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities, the world's first national graduate school in the Arts & Humanities. Membership includes 16 Scottish universities, four art schools & the national conservatoire, with support from the arts, culture, creative & heritage sectors.
Philosophical community
- a dedicated weekly postgraduate philosophy seminar to present research to other postgraduate students and receive feedback from staff
- a dedicated weekly philosophy senior seminar series
- frequent domestic and international focused speaker series, workshops, and conferences
- mentored teaching development opportunities
- an annual postgraduate reading party in the remote highlands of Scotland
- triannual postgraduate and staff social gatherings
How to apply
Identify potential supervisors
All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.
You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search.
Required documents
- Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificate
- CV
- Research Proposal Outline
- Two References
- Named Supervisor Information
- A sample of single-authored, written, philosophical worth (less than 7000 words)
- If you are applying for a Distance Learning programme, please complete the Distance Learning Form
Contact us
- If you have any questions about your application before you apply: contact The School of Humanities at humanities-pgresearchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk
- If you have any questions after you have submitted your application: contact our Admissions team
- Any references may be submitted by email to: pg-research-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk
International Students
Induction
- Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community
