Philosophy and Theology

Philosophy and theology at Oxford is one of the most intellectually demanding and rewarding combinations in any university in the world. Philosophy addresses the fundamental questions of human existence: what can we know, what is real, what is good, what is the nature of mind, how should we reason and what does it mean to act rightly. Theology examines the claims, practices and institutions of religious traditions, the arguments for and against the existence of God, the history of religious thought, the meaning of sacred texts and the philosophical dimensions of belief, doubt and religious experience.

Together they constitute a discipline that confronts the deepest questions that human beings have asked about themselves and the world.

At Oxford, this three-year programme is taught through the tutorial system, in which you will regularly discuss and defend your ideas with specialists in close, intellectually demanding conversation. You will engage with major figures in the history of philosophy from Plato and Aristotle through Kant and Wittgenstein to contemporary analytic and continental thought, and you will study the major theological traditions, including Christian, Jewish and Islamic theology, alongside the philosophy of religion. The programme requires and develops the ability to construct and evaluate rigorous arguments, to engage with primary texts in their intellectual context, and to write with exceptional precision and clarity.

The typical entry tariff is 184 UCAS points.

Graduates pursue careers in law, journalism, public policy, education, religious ministry, social work, the civil service, international organisations, academic research and many other fields where the ability to reason carefully, argue precisely and engage with complex questions of value and meaning is valuable. Many continue to postgraduate study in philosophy, theology, ethics or related disciplines, some going on to doctoral research and academic careers.