Philosophy and English Literature

Philosophy and English literature is a degree that places two of the most searching human inquiries in productive dialogue. Philosophy examines the foundations of knowledge, the nature of reality, the principles of ethical reasoning, and the limits of language itself, pursuing clarity and rigour in areas where intuition and common sense often mislead. English literature asks how texts create meaning, why particular works endure across centuries, and what reading attentively can reveal about the full range of human experience.

Combining them opens a distinctive set of questions: what is the relationship between a philosophical claim and a literary expression of the same idea? How do imaginative works illuminate the problems that philosophy struggles to articulate? What does literature know that argument alone cannot reach?

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year, full-time degree is taught at one of the world's leading research universities, where both disciplines have strong research traditions. You will develop rigorous analytical skills in argumentation and logic alongside deep skills in close reading, literary history, and critical writing. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international institution and to experience both disciplines from a different academic and cultural vantage point.

A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the strong academic preparation expected of students entering this programme.

Graduates of philosophy and English literature go on to work in publishing, journalism, law, education, civil service, the arts, communications, and a wide range of other fields where the combination of conceptual rigour and interpretive sensitivity is genuinely valuable. Postgraduate study in philosophy, English, creative writing, law, or a related area is a common next step for those seeking to specialise or pursue academic careers.