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Studying this MA in Philosophy will hone your ability to think clearly and logically, and develop your writing, research and analytical skills. You'll study texts from different periods and philosophical perspectives, including works by Plato, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Hannah Arendt; and you'll investigate contemporary debates on environmental aesthetics, consciousness, global justice, emotion, and morality in politics. Finally, you'll undertake a substantial piece of independent research, writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You'll study one compulsory 60-credit module and one compulsory 120-credit module. You must pass part 1 before progressing to part 2.

Modules	Credits	Next start
You'll study the following:
MA Philosophy part 1 (A853) This module introduces you to graduate-level philosophy through studying the beauty of nature; a classic text – Plato's Meno; the nature of consciousness; and issues around global justice. Next start date: 02 Oct 2027 See full description	60	02 Oct 2027
MA Philosophy part 2 (A854) In this module, you'll study the emotions, Nietzsche, Foucault and Arendt on power, and political morality. Next start date: 02 Oct 2027 See full description	120	02 Oct 2027

Please note that MA Philosophy part 2 (A854) is worth 120 credits. Fees for postgraduate modules are based on the number of credits you study. Therefore, the fee for this module will be double that of the 60-credit postgraduate module, MA Philosophy part 1 (A853).

By studying this MA in Philosophy, you’ll:

You’ll be supported by expert tutors and high-quality online resources.

You’ll be awarded a Master of Arts in Philosophy upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MA (Phil) (Open) after your name.

Your masters degree may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.

You’ll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

If you leave the programme before you qualify for a degree you can qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities (C20) after successfully completing 60 credits.

If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.

You’ll study the MA in Philosophy part-time, completing one module per year over a two-year period. Typically, this translates to 16–20 hours of study per week for the 60-credit module and 20–25 hours of study per week for the 120-credit module.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.

You must complete the MA in Philosophy within 10 years.

At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.

As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.

Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:

Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.

Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.

For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.

See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.

Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:

The Open University provides advice and guidance to help students who have disabilities, long-term health conditions, specific learning difficulties or mental health difficulties.

For more information, visit our Disability support page.

Discover how the OU’s Disability Support Team helps students with advice, adjustments and resources.

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:

Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.

You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in philosophy or a related subject. If you've got a degree conferred without honours, or have relevant experience in this field, you may still be eligible to study this qualification, subject to adjudication by the qualification team.

Although the foundation module, MA Philosophy part 1, will bring you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches, it assumes you'll have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at undergraduate level. If you are in any doubt about whether you possess these skills or knowledge, you could study one of our undergraduate philosophy modules first, Investigating philosophy (DA223) or Key questions in philosophy (A333), which are designed to introduce you to standard techniques of analysis and argument. You could also refer to the Preparatory reading indicated for MA Philosophy part 1.

To study successfully for this MA, you need to be able to:

If you’re in any doubt about the suitability of your qualifications or previous experience, please contact us before you enrol.

If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.

You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

The fees and the funding information shown below relate to the 2026/27 academic year and are for guidance only.

Modules starting in the 2027/28 academic year are open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed.

We’ll publish updated 2027/28 fees and funding information in March 2027.

You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£8,400*

Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.

There are some additional costs that aren’t included.

Further information is available in the module descriptions.

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.

Learn more about postgraduate loans and our other funding options below.

Repay in monthly instalments while you study.

Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.

More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.

We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.

You may be eligible for:

This qualification will provide you with a respected qualification and valuable transferable skills such as critical thinking, research skills, time management, and problem-solving that are in demand in many areas of business, government and the media. If you are considering an academic career, the MA in Philosophy is ideal preparation for further study or research at doctoral level.

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice, including: online forums, a website, interview simulation and vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

This qualification is open for prebooking. Select the module you will study first, read its full description, and follow the instructions to reserve your place. We’ll contact you when you can complete your registration.

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This qualification is open for prebooking. Select the module you will study first, read its full description, and follow the instructions to reserve your place. We’ll contact you when you can complete your registration.

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