Director of Studies
Dr Richard Jennings
(1 to 2 students each year)
The course
Philosophy is a study of problems of an abstract and ultimate nature, including questions about knowledge, truth, morality and human purpose among other things. Philosophy at Cambridge emphasises precise argument, and logic (the study of correct forms of argument) is a significant element of the course.
The central elements of the Philosophy Tripos are logic, metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, and ethics; there are also optional courses on aesthetics, political philosophy, philosophy of science, history of philosophy (including ancient philosophy), philosophy of mathematics and experimental psychology.
All Philosophy students attend lectures and seminars organised by the Faculty of Philosophy; in addition, each student has to write an essay every week for his or her supervision (that is, period of individual tuition). Supervisions are organised by the student's College Director of Studies. Most students, in Philosophy as in other subjects, will have supervisions from several different supervisors during their three years in Cambridge. At Homerton College these supervisions are almost all one to one.
About sixty applicants in Philosophy are admitted to Cambridge University each year. Homerton College usually admits two Philosophy undergraduates but the number, of course, depends on the quality of the candidates.Application and Interviews
There are no subject specific requirements for this course, although an arts/science mix can be useful. If you are following an A-level curriculum, the usual conditions of the offer will be that you obtain specified grades at A-level: typically A*AA (without specifying which should be A*). We are happy to consider applications from students taking equivalent qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate.
Those who are invited to attend for interview will have a general and a subject-specific interview as part of the admissions process: one interview will be with a Tutor or college officer who may well have an academic interest in one element of your subject, and your second with the Director of Studies in Philosophy. We suggest that applicants try to read some of the recommended reading for Philosophy in the Undergraduate Prospectus (see link below). Applicants will be asked to sit a written exercise on the morning of their interview.
