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Philosophy  (PLI1)

Academic Year 2025/2026
School
School of Philosophy
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
Award
Bachelor of Arts
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Overall Programme Credits:
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 2: 20
Stage 3: 20
Stage 4: 20

Curricular information is subject to change.

UCD is Ireland’s Global University and its largest university with a track record in empowering students to enter a diverse range of careers that reflects the most diverse curriculum on the Island of Ireland. Consistently, over 90% of graduates are employed or in further study or training 9 months following course completion. The QS World Ranking on Graduate Employability has placed UCD at number 1 in Ireland for Graduate Employability since 2018. On the global stage UCD leads the Irish higher education sector and is the only Irish university to be ranked inside the world’s top 80 for Graduate Employability.

At University College Dublin we are aware that for many students, programme outcomes in terms of graduate jobs and career options is important. The purpose of this statement is to help you understand and appreciate the range of skills you may develop during your time at UCD and how you may develop your employability. Visit the UCD Careers Networks website and MyCareer, the UCD Career management Platform, to access career information, internships and graduate roles as well as information about the range of initiatives, supports and events available to you.

This programme provides opportunities for students to develop in areas such as:
  • Writing
  • Researching
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication
  • Presentations
  • Teamwork
  • Global awareness
  • Social responsibility
  • Critical thinking
  • Self-awareness


This programme supports students’ career development and employability through:
  • Cultural awareness, resilience and self-confidence e.g. Study Abroad/ERASMUS
  • Development of critical thinking, problem solving skills and decision-making e.g. through individual and group projects and assignments
  • Development of self-reflection skills


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20240 Applied Ethics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20440 Feminism & Gender Justice Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20490 Knowledge & Scepticism Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20500 Phenomenology & Existentialism Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20580 Plato's Republic Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20620 Philosophy of Social Science Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20630 Art and Society Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20750 What was Philosophy? From Ancient Greece to Judaism, Islam and Christianity Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20010 Rationalism and Empiricism Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20020 Logic Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20570 Philosophy & Literature Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20640 Philosophy of Mind and AI Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20710 Body, Mind, World Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - PhilosophyA)4 of:
Level 2 option modules: Students should select 4 Level 2 options.
PHIL20760 Buddhist Philosophy in a Changing World Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31030 Philosophy of Perception and the Senses Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31040 Philosophy of Interpretation Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31070 Aristotle: Ethics & Politics Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31090 Hume and Kant Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31100 Philosophy of Fiction Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31160 Medieval Metaphysics: John Scotus Eriugena Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31180 Topics in Early Modern Philosophy Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31200 Philosophy of Law Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31010 The Philosophy of Nietzsche Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31050 Critical Theory Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31080 Hist & Phil: Nazi Germany Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31110 Applied Epistemology Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31120 Wittgenstein Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31150 Phenomenology and History Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31170 Philosophy of Language Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - - PhilosophyA) Min 2 of:
Level 3 Options Modules: Students should select 2 Level 3 option modules.
PHIL31190 Irish Enlightenment Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31030 Philosophy of Perception and the Senses Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31040 Philosophy of Interpretation Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31070 Aristotle: Ethics & Politics Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31090 Hume and Kant Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31100 Philosophy of Fiction Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31160 Medieval Metaphysics: John Scotus Eriugena Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31180 Topics in Early Modern Philosophy Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31200 Philosophy of Law Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31010 The Philosophy of Nietzsche Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31050 Critical Theory Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31080 Hist & Phil: Nazi Germany Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31110 Applied Epistemology Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31120 Wittgenstein Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31170 Philosophy of Language Spring  10
Stage 4 Options - - PhilosophyA)2 of:
Select 2 of
 PHIL31190 Irish Enlightenment Spring  10

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