There are no special pre-requisites for philosophy. Studies which encourage clarity of expression and of thought will be helpful. In first year students are introduced to philosophy and a range of more specialized units is available in second and third year. Even at first-year level students have a choice about their way into the subject, selecting the options which fit best with their other interests. Later units include the study of ethics, the history of philosophy, Eastern philosophy, philosophy of mind, aesthetics, logic and language and philosophy of science, philosophy and gender, literature and film.
Students usually enrol in a three year BA degree with a philosophy major.
Philosophy can be combined with related subjects in a way that makes the most of both. For example, literature combines well with units in aesthetics or ethics. Mathematics, computing and linguistics combine well with logic. Honours students follow a specialized fourth-year programme of study which equips them for advanced study. Many students take honours in philosophy simply because they enjoy it rather than because they want to go on to postgraduate work in the subject.