Philosophy

Course Outline
The one-year Higher Diploma in Philosophy gives you a rare chance to study western as well as eastern philosophy. You will study different philosophical concepts and theories, from issues of mind and consciousness, action and politics, ethics and aesthetics, to society and culture, globalism, and power and territory.

The course begins in September and gives students from all disciplines an opportunity for intensive study in both eastern and western philosophy. Students select 12 modules (60 credits) from year 2 and 3 undergraduate options.

Course Practicalities
This is a one-year, full-time or two-year, part-time taught programme. During the two teaching periods (September to March) you will take twelve taught modules (5 credits, 2 hours each of weekly lectures).

The modules are designed to introduce philosophical questions, theories, and texts in a particular area. They typically involve set readings and writing assignments. It is generally expected that you will have an interest in reading and writing philosophical texts, but specialised knowledge of philosophical concepts or approaches is not presupposed.

In your modules you will study and discuss philosophy and become familiar with relevant concepts and authors. The course will develop your knowledge of the history of philosophy and ideas, improve your writing and critical reading skills, and hone your ability to understand and summarise arguments effectively.

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4 year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences and who wish to study the subject Philosophy intensively over one academic year. The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.

2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please submit a copy of a short analytical/critical/report writing sample or essay (1,000 words approx.)

Assessment

For each seminar class, you must prepare the set readings and complete the required coursework. Modules are typically assessed by written essays and end-of-year or in-class exams. The assessment of many modules also includes attendance and/or participation segments.

Higher Diploma 60 ECTS credits

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Throughout the course, we emphasise that philosophy is not just something that you learn about, rather, it is also something that you do. To this end, we offer a number of courses that enable students to develop philosophical skills of their own, and we aim to foster the skills of analysis, creativity and discovery, as well as developing an in-depth understanding of non-European thought and culture. On this course you will develop the following skills:

critical thinking
inter-cultural competence
professional writing
construction and evaluation of arguments
communication
information management
design and planning
research and investigation.

Employers in diverse fields value the skills of analysis, creativity and discovery that we aim to foster, and so, a degree in philosophy can be the starting point for many different career paths.