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BA Art and Philosophy
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UCAS code
VW51 -
A level offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
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Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
Develop your independent practice and understand the theories and ideas behind contemporary art, with our BA Art and Philosophy degree.
This unique University of Reading four-year programme will help you become a skilful creator and scholar, bringing together creative practice in art with academic knowledge of philosophy. The University of Reading ranks in the top 100 for Arts and Humanities globally (=91 in QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024) and top 150 for Arts and Design globally (101-150 in QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).
Supported by staff from Reading School of Art and the Department of Philosophy, you’ll engage in sustained experimentation and creative enquiry in practical studio and art history modules alongside complementary philosophy studies.
During this four-year joint degree, you'll have the opportunity to:
- build on your practical skills
- explore the practice, theory and history of art
- benefit from our approach to the subject, and particular focus on contemporary art
- acquire the skills needed for philosophical enquiry
- engage with a diverse range of philosophical traditions
- acquire, develop and advance skills such as critical thinking, communication, presentation, and problem-solving.
Your learning environment
At Reading School of Art, you'll have access to a dedicated studio space, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, where you’ll work with a range of specialist tutors and technicians to develop your individual and professional practice, which you will share in regular exhibitions and events.
Our new School of Art building opened in September 2023 with bespoke workshops and studios near the centre of the university’s Whiteknights campus.
Our teaching staff are all artists, and curators highly connected with the creative world beyond the University, and strongly encourage regular exhibitions and open debate.
In philosophy, you will be taught by leading experts with a wide variety of research expertise, especially including moral philosophy and philosophy of mind and language. You will be exposed to a range of philosophical traditions, from the ancient through to the contemporary, and from Western analytic philosophy through to non-Western schools of thought (such as Buddhist, Confucian, and Native American philosophy). You will be taught using a combination of lectures and seminars, and will engage in a range of learning activities including debates, group discussion, and class presentations.
Your learning journey
Studying at the Reading School of Art allows you to explore a vast range of media and experiment with emerging art forms.
Over the course of your four years of study, you will:
- work with academics who include artists, curators and researchers
- be encouraged to participate in exhibitions, public art commissions and events
- receive dedicated studio space, accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, and a studio tutor to help develop your individual and professional practice.
You will complement your practical art with modules in contemporary art theory and the history of art. Through the lectures, seminars and studio teaching – as well as weekly visiting artist talks – you will be exposed to the language, vocabulary and debates that have emerged historically and evolved to forge contemporary art.
For your art modules, you will have access to our range of facilities. These include:
- studios for construction, printing and casting
- darkroom for photography
- digital tools for film and video editing, imaging, sound and web building.
Studying philosophy alongside art allows you to consider the medium from a range of perspectives.
During your first year, you’ll be introduced to a range of art making approaches and current discourses through a series of practical projects in different media. At the same time, you’ll explore the core topics and the basic concepts and methods of critical thinking, basic logic, and the psychology of reasoning.
As your course progresses, you’ll continue receiving further technical training and academic guidance while developing your own art project in studio. You’ll delve deeper into art historical issues, while honing your independent research, critical reflection, production and presentation skills.
In philosophy, you’ll investigate further the thought of current philosophers and the different conceptions of what counts as philosophy. You’ll be encouraged to develop independent learning, building on your skills of argument and presentation, personal effectiveness and self-awareness, culminating in a written dissertation.
Our Art and Philosophy course plays a vital role in connecting how people understand and shape the world. As such, sustainability, accessibility and social engagement are embedded throughout your studies.
Professional development
You may have the opportunity to undertake a placement forming all or part of an optional module.
Past students have:
- interned at Studio Voltaire and the Frieze Art Fair
- performed at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
- taken part in an Arts Council-supported film project at the Museum of Rural Life
- participated in an international exhibition at the Seoul Institute of Arts in South Korea.
Study abroad
You may have the chance to experience life in another country and apply to study abroad for a semester during your third year. To see which institutions participate in this scheme please use our “Find a University” tool. Please note our partners may change and the tool is updated each year.