English and Philosophy

English and philosophy is a pairing that brings together two disciplines that have always been in conversation. Literature asks what it means to be human through the specific, the particular and the imaginative, while philosophy asks the same question through argument, concept and the systematic examination of ideas. Reading great novels, poems and plays alongside the great works of philosophy sharpens your ability to do both things well, and the skills they share, close reading, careful thinking, precise expression - reinforce each other throughout the degree.

At the University of York you will explore an extensive range of modules across two departments, covering periods from the classical to the contemporary and spanning different cultures and traditions. In English your options include film, creative writing and literature from around the world, while in philosophy you can engage with interdisciplinary project-based learning alongside more conventional analytical philosophy. The programme runs over three years full time and includes a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad and work placement opportunities, giving you professional and international experience alongside your literary and philosophical development.

Graduates of English and philosophy are well equipped for careers that value both creative intelligence and analytical rigour. Law, the civil service, journalism, publishing, education, arts administration, policy research, communications, management consultancy and academia are among the many fields where this combination is valued. The ability to read difficult texts carefully, think precisely about complex ideas and communicate both in writing are skills that transfer to virtually any professional context.

Postgraduate study in English, philosophy, law, creative writing or cultural studies provides a natural further route.