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Bachelor of Philosophy

The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Philosophy are as follows:

1. Candidates will be examined by submitting:

  • (A) Four essays of no more than 5,000 words each, in conformity with the following distribution requirement. Each essay will be assigned to a subject; the four essays must cover at least three subjects.

  • i. One essay must be on a subject from Group 1, Theoretical Philosophy; 

  • ii. One essay must be on a subject from Group 2, Practical Philosophy;

  • iii. One essay must be on a subject from Group 3, History of Philosophy;

  • iv. The remaining one essay may be assigned to subjects in any of the three Groups.

  • v. The list of approved subjects in each Group will be published at the beginning of each academic year in the Graduate Student Handbook.

  • vi. In exceptional circumstances, students may request to have one or more elements of the distribution requirement waived. Candidates wishing to do this must seek approval from the Graduate Studies Committee in Philosophy.

  • (B) A thesis of no more than 30,000 words, exclusive of bibliographical references.

2. Candidates may offer up to two essays on at most one subject not included in the list of approved subjects in the Graduate Student Handbook, provided that the distribution requirement above is met. Candidates wishing to offer an essay or essays on a subject not on the prescribed list must seek approval for the proposed subject from the Graduate Studies Committee in Philosophy. 

3. Assessments are to be submitted electronically on an online assessment submissions platform by 10 a.m. on the Wednesdays of the following weeks.

  • i. One essay is due in the week immediately preceding week 1 of Hilary term of the candidate's first year
  • ii. One essay is due in the week immediately preceding week 1 of Trinity term of the candidate's first year
  • iii. One essay is due in the week immediately preceding week 1 of Michaelmas term of the candidate's second year
  • iv. One essay is due in the week immediately preceding week 1 of Hilary term of the candidate's second year. 

4. The thesis must be submitted electronically on an online assessment platform by 10 a.m. on Wednesday of the eighth week of Trinity Term of the candidate's second year. The thesis must be accompanied by a brief abstract and a statement of the number of words it contains (exclusive of bibliographical references). 

5. Regulations on failed assessments

  • a. A failed essay may be resubmitted at one of two subsequent essay or thesis submission dates during the first or second year of a candidate's studies, as published in the examination conventions. A resubmitted essay may be on a new subject, and may be from a different Group, provided that the distribution requirement is met.

  • b. Candidates who fail the thesis will be permitted to resubmit an amended thesis by 10 a.m. on Wednesday immediately preceding week 1 of Hilary term of the year following the first submission of the thesis.

  • c. Candidates may only resubmit work for those elements of the Examination that they failed, and no resubmitted essay or thesis can receive a mark of more than 50. Candidates who fail to satisfy the examiners a second time in any part of the examination may not resubmit work for any part of the examination on any subsequent occasion.

  • d. Candidates must pass all elements of the examination in order to be awarded a degree.

6. Candidates for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics may apply to transfer to the second year of the BPhil in Philosophy. A formal application must be made by Friday of fourth week of the Trinity Term preceding the Michaelmas Term in which they wish to transfer to the BPhil. Admission of those whose application is approved by the Philosophy Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee shall always be conditional on a level of performance in the examination for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics, as specified in the Graduate Student Handbook.

7. Candidates for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics who have successfully transferred to the second year of the BPhil in Philosophy shall be deemed to have completed the first year of the BPhil in Philosophy and the four essays submitted for their MSt examination shall be deemed to replace the first three essays required of candidates for the BPhil. In the second year of study, such candidates will be required to submit one 5,000-word essay by 10 a.m. on Wednesday of the week immediately preceding Hilary Term and a 30,000-word thesis by 10 a.m. on Wednesday of eighth week of Trinity Term, in line with the BPhil assessments schedule specified under paragraphs 3. and 4. above. Candidates who have transferred in this manner will need to meet the BPhil distribution requirement as per 1.(A), above; full details will be given in the Graduate Student Handbook.

8. Candidates for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics who have successfully transferred to the second year of the BPhil in Philosophy, may apply for the award of MSt in Philosophy of Physics only if they fail the second year of the BPhil in Philosophy or if they wish to cease their studies without completing all the requirements of the second year of the BPhil. 

9. Candidates who have satisfied the requirements of the MSt in Philosophy and who have either failed to pass the BPhil thesis or wish to cease their studies without submitting a thesis will be awarded the MSt by the exainers.