Philosophy/Central & East European Studies

Philosophy and Central and East European studies is a combination that brings together the most fundamental of intellectual disciplines with a rich and complex area of the world whose history, cultures, and societies raise some of the most profound questions philosophy can address. Philosophy is the systematic attempt to arrive at clear answers to profound questions about knowledge, life, morality, science, and human nature using reason and argument. Central and Eastern Europe, encompassing countries from Poland and the Czech Republic to Hungary, Romania, and the post-Soviet states, has a history defined by empires, war, ideological struggle, and the painful transformations that followed the collapse of communism in 1989.

Engaging with this history through philosophical frameworks adds depth to both disciplines.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time degree develops your philosophical knowledge and analytical skills alongside deep engagement with the history, cultures, and politics of Central and Eastern Europe. A year abroad is built into the programme, providing the opportunity to study at an institution in the region and to encounter the cultures and intellectual traditions you are studying from the inside rather than purely at a distance. Glasgow has excellent provision in both philosophy and Central and East European studies, and the combination produces graduates with a distinctive set of analytical, cultural, and historical skills.

Graduates from this combination are well placed for careers in the diplomatic and foreign affairs communities, in international organisations, in journalism and media, and in policy research focused on Central and Eastern Europe. The philosophical training is also valued in law, the civil service, education, and the broad range of careers that reward the ability to think precisely, write clearly, and engage rigorously with complex ideas. Postgraduate study in philosophy, European studies, history, or international relations is a natural next step.

The typical entry tariff is 200 points.