How much reading is there in a philosophy degree?
A philosophy degree involves a substantial amount of reading. You may study original philosophical texts, scholarly articles, lecture material and books, then analyse and discuss them in essays, seminars or tutorials. The amount varies by module, year, university and your study habits, so check the course handbook for indicative weekly reading and workload.
Key points
- Reading may include both historical texts and contemporary academic commentary.
- Understanding arguments critically is generally more important than reading quickly or memorising content.
- Assessment can require additional research beyond the set reading list.
Things to check
- Reading lists and expected workloads differ between institutions, modules and countries.
- Some texts are read in extracts or selections rather than in full.