Global Religions and Philosophy (Placement Year)

Why Lancaster?
- Discover a new take on studying religion that includes world, political and social perspectives

- Join a pioneering department - the first Religious Studies department in the UK and the first to include world religions, we continue to innovate with fresh new takes on the study of religion

- What is the relationship between faith and reason? Does morality require free will? Explore eternal questions of human existence in this stimulating programme

- Study in a department that emphasises the practical applications of philosophy, working with our experts who regularly contribute to public policy debates

- Examine age-old and emerging intellectual discussions in a global context – our decolonised curriculum is led by specialists in non-Western religions and philosophies

- Gain real-world research experience on an internship with the Richardson Institute for Peace Studies

- Graduate with critical thinking skills that will open up a range of exciting careers, from politics and diplomacy to consultancy and education

What is the nature of human existence? How do different cultures and faiths grapple with issues of ethics, meaning and knowledge? Our exciting programme will equip you with a global perspective on the fundamental questions that have gripped thinkers from ancient to modern times.

You’ll become familiar with the thought of key historical and modern-day thinkers in philosophy and religion, from well-known authors like John Stuart Mill and Friedrich Nietzsche, to contemporary authors like Elizabeth Anderson and Iris Marion Young.

You’ll build upon this by constructing a degree from module choices that span the global intellectual landscape. From Islamic ethics, to Indian philosophical and religious thought, to Chinese philosophy. Our experts cover a vast and varied terrain, and will support you to specialise in whichever areas of religion and philosophy you choose.

You’ll benefit from the opportunity to apply for an internship with our department’s Richardson Institute. Here, you’ll have the chance to apply the knowledge and skills you develop on your studies to a real-world research project with external bodies such as think tanks and faith-based organisations, working in a research centre known for its innovative output.

You’ll be able to bolster the global outlook you build on this programme by joining one of the short, overseas trips run by the University. Past visits have seen students travel to India, Ghana and the USA.

Your Placement Year
Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

You'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. As a full-time employee, you’ll have a detailed job description with specific responsibilities and opportunities to access training and development, the same as other employees.

Our Careers and Placements Team will help you to secure a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews. You will still be a Lancaster University student during your placement and we’ll keep in touch to check how you are getting on.

The university will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.