Philosophy and Computing

The BA Philosophy and Computing program at the University of Kent offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum designed to explore the fundamental questions of human existence alongside the rapidly evolving field of computing technology. This unique programme integrates rigorous philosophical inquiry with practical and theoretical training in computing, enabling students to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and technical proficiency. Throughout the course, students examine core areas such as ethics, logic, metaphysics, and epistemology, while gaining hands-on experience with programming, software development, and data analysis. The programme encourages students to consider the ethical implications of technological advancements, the nature of artificial intelligence, and the impact of digital technologies on society and individual behavior. Combining academic excellence with innovation, the course prepares graduates for diverse career paths, including roles in software development, data science, ethical consultancy, research, and academia. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their interests and career aspirations, with opportunities for placements, projects, and collaborations with industry partners. With expert faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and a vibrant student community, the Philosophy and Computing programme aims to equip students with a well-rounded education that fosters critical, creative, and ethical thinking essential for the digital age. Graduates of this programme will be equipped not only with technical skills but also with a philosophical perspective necessary to navigate and shape a future where technology and human values intersect.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 12450 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Credits Total Kent credits: 360
Duration full-time 36 months Partnership Joint Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Part-time, Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, you may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

Stage 1

Possible modules may include:

EN333 - Romanticism

PL302 - Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Metaphysics

PL303 - Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics

PL310 - Introduction to Philosopy: Logic and Reasoning

PL315 - Philosophical Reading and Writing (core)

EN302 - Early Drama

EN331 - Readings in the Twentieth Century

EN332 - Writing America

Stage 2

Possible modules may include:

EN681 - Novelty, Enlightenment and Emancipation: 18th Century Literature

EN692 - Early Modern Literature 1500-1700

EN694 - Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama

EN697 - Chaucer and Late Medieval English Literature

EN695 - Empire, New Nations and Migration

EN677 - The Contemporary

EN689 - Modernism

EN672 - Reading Victorian Literature

EN675 - Declaring Independence: 19th Century US Literature

PL620 - Justice, Violence and the State

PL625 - Continental Philosophy: Kant's Critique of Pure Reason

PL628 - Continental Philosophy: Subject, Identity and the Political

PL640 - Normative Ethics

PL638 - Schopenhauer and Nietzsche

PL584 - Knowledge and Metaphysics: Descartes to Kant

PL588 - Metaphysics, Truth and Relativism

PL595 - Metaethics

PL596 - Philosophy of Medicine

PL598 - Greek Philosophy: Plato and Aristotle

PL599 - Wittgenstein

PL601 - Philosophy of Religion

PL602 - Philosophy of Language

PL604 - Advanced Topics in Mind and Langauge

PL605 - Logic

PL606 - Philosophy of Science

PL608 - Paradoxes

PL609 - Philosophy of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence

PL610 - Aesthetics

PL618 - Political Philosophy

You have the opportunity to select wild modules in this stage

Stage 3

Possible modules may include:

EN676 - Cross-Cultural Coming-of-Age Narratives

EN684 - Clouds, Waves & Crows: Writing the Natural, 1800 to the Present

EN687 - Poetry and Crisis, from the First World War to Occupy

EN580 - Charles Dickens and Victorian England

EN583 - Postcolonial Writing

EN586 - Language and Place in Colonial and Postcolonial Poetry

EN588 - Innovation and Experiment in New York, 1945- 1995

EN604 - The Unknown: Reading and Writing

EN623 - Native American Literature

EN633 - Bodies of Evidence: Reading The Body In Eighteenth Century Literature

EN637 - Unruly Women and Other Insubordinates: the dramatic repertoire of the Q

EN646 - Image, Vision and Dream: Medieval Texts and Visual Culture

EN655 - Places and Journeys

EN656 - Heroes and Exiles: An Introduction to Old English Poetry

EN657 - The Brontes in Context

EN658 - American Crime Fiction

EN659 - Contemporary Irish Writing

EN660 - Writing Lives in Early Modern England: Diaries, Letters and Secret Selv

EN661 - The Stranger

EN666 - From Book to Blog: Geoffrey Chaucer and his Afterlives

EN667 - Harlem to Hogan's Alley: Black Writing in North America

EN668 - Discovery Space: New Theatres in Early Modern England

EN669 - Marriage, Desire and Divorce in Early Modern Literature

EN670 - Lyric, Ballad and Popular Song

EN701 - The Global Eighteenth Century

EN702 - Thomas Hardy

EN703 - The 'Real' America: Class and Culture in the American Gilded Age

EN704 - Discord and Devotion: Society & Spirituality in Middle English Literatu

EN705 - The Contemporary Memoir

EN707 - The British Novel in the 1860s: Sensing Modern Life

EN708 - Virginia Woolf

EN709 - Animals, Humans, Writing

EN710 - Victorian Aestheticism and Decadence

PL619 - Political Philosophy

PL514 - Knowledge and Metaphysics: Descartes to Kant

PL526 - Aesthetics

PL552 - Metaphysics, Truth and Relativism

PL569 - Metaethics

PL570 - Philosophy of Medicine

PL572 - Greek Philosophy:Plato and Aristotle

PL573 - Wittgenstein

PL575 - Philosophy of Religion

PL576 - Philosophy of Language

PL578 - Advanced Topics in Mind and Language

PL579 - Logic

PL580 - Philosophy of Science

PL582 - Paradoxes

PL583 - Philosophy of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence

PL639 - Schopenhauer and Nietzsche

PL641 - Normative Ethics

PL629 - Continental Philosophy: Subject , Identity and the Political

PL621 - Justice, Violence and the State

PL624 - Continental Philosophy: Kant's Critique of Pure Reason

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement

• A level: ABB including B in English Literature or English Language and Literature

• Access to HE Diploma:The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma): The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.

• International Baccalaureate: 34 points overall or 16 at HL, including HL English A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 OR English Literature A/English Language and Literature A (or Literature A/Language and Literature A of another country) at 5 HL or 6 SL

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

The Philosophy and Computing program at the University of Kent offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines the rigorous analytical methods of philosophy with the practical and technical skills of computing. This innovative course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of fundamental philosophical questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and artificial intelligence, while also equipping them with essential computing competencies such as programming, algorithms, and data analysis. The program aims to develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and ethical awareness, preparing graduates for careers in technology, academia, or interdisciplinary research fields.

Students enrolled in this program will explore topics including logic, mind and consciousness, ethics in technology, the philosophy of computer science, and the societal impacts of digital innovation. The curriculum typically includes lectures, seminars, and practical workshops, with opportunities for independent research and project work. The program encourages engagement with contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, privacy, and the moral responsibilities of technologists.

The course duration is usually three years for full-time students, though flexible study options may be available. Teaching methods emphasize a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application, ensuring that students gain both conceptual understanding and hands-on skills. Assessment methods are diverse, including essays, exams, presentations, and project work.

Graduates of the Philosophy and Computing program can pursue careers in software development, data analysis, information technology consultancy, ethics advisory roles, academia, or research in fields related to AI and technology policy. The program also prepares students for postgraduate study in philosophy, computing, or interdisciplinary fields. Located at the University of Kent, the program benefits from excellent teaching facilities, access to research resources, and opportunities for collaboration with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research. Overall, this interdisciplinary course aims to produce well-rounded graduates capable of addressing complex technological and philosophical challenges in modern society.