Philosophical Theology

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Philosophical Theology is intended to provide you with detailed knowledge of philosophical theology, its history and a cognate area of philosophy, with the opportunity to hone your skills in research and in written and oral argument in these subjects.

Graduate destinations

All but three students who entered the MPhil in the last 12 years sought to go on to doctoral programmes in philosophy. Of those who aimed at this, all who did well in the program succeeded; most schools in the US top 20, alongside Oxford, have offered admission to at least one MPhil graduate.

Amongst the three students who did not aim at further study in philosophy, one was admitted to doctoral research in theology at Oxford, one embarked on a successful career in law, and one entered the Church of England and now works for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The course consists of a year of tutorials and a year writing a thesis. In the first year, you will work on philosophy of religion, history of philosophical theology and an area of either philosophy or theology. Topics available in philosophy of religion include such standards as arguments for and against the existence of God, but also subjects in the philosophical analysis of Christian doctrines. In the history of philosophical theology, you will select two periods from the options of patristic (Origen, Augustine), medieval (Anselm, Aquinas) and modern (Kant, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard) philosophy. In the third subject, again, you will write on core topics and authors. 

Depending on the subject and supervisor there will be six or eight tutorials, each 75 minutes and each requiring the writing of a ten- to twelve-page paper. Instructors provide ‘starter’ reading lists; you will choose your own paper topics, but are advised to bear in mind the range of issues that have come up on past examinations. Tutorials consist of close discussion of the paper, issues it raises and/or issues related to these.

You will not be part of a formal research group, but there is lively informal interchange among students, including reading and work-in-progress groups.  In the second year, you will write a 30,000-word thesis.  You are assessed on this and on each of your first-year units, the latter by three-hour sit-down examinations at the end of the second year.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in either philosophy, theology, religious studies or a closely related subject and should wish to do more advanced work in philosophical theology. Entrance is very competitive.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Other examination results may be submitted alongside degree qualifications. If offered, the minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score sought is 160 and the minimum GMAT score sought is 600.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose: One page
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme