What can I be certain I know, why should I be moral and why should I be obliged to tolerate others? Exploring some of the biggest questions facing humankind, our home study A-level Philosophy course will introduce you to ideas from some of the greatest minds to have contributed towards Western thinking throughout history.
This wide-reaching distance learning qualification will encourage you to evaluate key philosophical concepts and themes and think about complex issues in new and challenging ways. You’ll develop a set of transferable intellectual skills that will promote independent thinking, improve your ability to produce rational arguments and become better at weighing up the evidence. A-Level Philosophy explores some of the big questions concerning reality and existence.
A-levels are the gold standard for education in the UK, recognised by universities and employers alike as a mark of significant achievement. Having an A-level demonstrates a thorough understanding of a subject, will boost your career prospects and will open up new opportunities for you.
You will benefit from:
- A brand new course, written to the latest specification with dynamic and engaging content
- Fast track is available on this course (for exams in 2022)
- Access to a network of partnership exam centres (guaranteed exam venue)
- Unlimited tutor support – we help you write a study plan and support you throughout
- Exam pass guarantee (If you don’t pass the first time, we’ll support you to the next exam)
Exploring some of the biggest questions facing humankind, our home study A-level Philosophy course will introduce you to ideas from some of the greatest minds to have contributed towards Western thinking throughout history.
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Exam Pass GuaranteeIf you don’t pass the first time, we’ll support you to the next exam for free
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Guaranteed exam centreAccess to our Country-wide network of exam centres (guaranteed exam venue)
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Unlimited Tutor SupportGet as much help and support as you want from your personal course tutor via email and phone.
- Awarding body: AQA
- Our course code: X917
- Qualification code: 7172
The AQA qualifications are internationally recognised and taught in 30 countries around the world, highly valued by employers and universities and enable young people to progress to the next stage of their lives. AQA qualifications suit a range of abilities and include GCSEs, IGCSEs and A-levels.
Study Hours
You should allow for between 250 and 300 hours’ study time, plus additional time for completing assignments.
Study Method
Our course is delivered via our online learning platform as this provides learners with a dynamic and engaging experience. Don’t worry, if you prefer, you can print the learning materials yourself. The learning resources are in a range of different media including videos, quizzes, and interactive activities.
Course Duration
You will benefit from our unlimited tutor support for a period of up to 24 months after you enrol. You will receive your logins to MyOxbridge, where you’ll find all your learning materials.
Assessment
You can enrol now for examinations from Summer 2022.
Official exams
- 3 hours, 50% of marks
- 3 hours, 50% of marks
We provide a guaranteed exam space in one of our exam centres around the Country, to take away the hassle of needing to find your own. Check where your closest exam centre is.
Assignments
During your course, you will also be required to complete tutor marked assignments (TMAs). These do not contribute towards your final grade but provide you with an opportunity to submit work to your tutor for marking and feedback. This will help you to gauge your progress as you work through the course. There is no coursework.
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this home learning course, you will receive an A-Level in Philosophy, issued by AQA. This syllabus has been chosen specifically because it is the best suited to distance learning. Your certificate is identical to that issued to students at any other school, college or university.
Additional Information
Difficulty - Level 3
Entry requirements - Its recommended that you're educated to GCSE standard or equivalent for the best chance at success.
UCAS Points - 56
Course Content
Epistemology is the study of knowledge itself, and is one of the key fields of philosophy. Through set texts by authors such as Descartes and Locke, in this unit, you’ll explore this concept in depth, focusing on perception as a source of knowledge and ‘truth’, direct and indirect realism, innatism, and more.
Through set texts such as ‘The Language of Morals’ by RM Hare and ‘Utilitarianism’ by JS Mill, in unit two, you’ll take a deep dive into moral philosophy. You’ll begin by studying normative ethical theories and utilitarianism, questioning whether there is indeed an objective way to determine right and wrong. Moving on, you’ll examine Kantian deontological ethics, a normative moral theory which bases its judgements on the notion of moral duty. Moving on, you’ll study applied ethics and meta-ethics, looking at various real-life situations such as lying, and eating meat from animals.
Moving on, you’ll take a look at the concept and nature of ‘God’, questing what is meant by the concept of an omniscient and omnipotent creator, and how compatible this is with the concept of free will. You’ll examine ontological and teleological arguments for the existence of God, considering the thoughts of philosophers such as Normal Malcolm and St Anselm. Next, you’ll investigate the problem of evil, and whether the characteristics attributed to God can reasonably be aligned with its existence. Finally, you’ll study religious language, including the distinction between cognitivism and non-cognitivism.
In the final unit, you’ll investigate what philosophers mean when they discuss the ‘mind’. You’ll study dualist theories proposed by philosophers such as Descartes, along with criticisms for these arguments such as the conceptual interaction problem. Moving on, you’ll take a look at physicalist theories, including ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ behaviourism concepts proposed by philosophers such as Carl Hempel. Finally, you’ll examine functionalism, the concept that all metal states can be characterised in terms of functional roles, and the criticisms of this theory from philosophers including Ned Block and the ‘China thought experiment’.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have some answers to common student questions, but if you can't find the answer you're looking for then please contact us and we will do everything we can to answer your questions.
Yes. there will be additional fees for your exams that are payable to the centre upon booking Your personal tutor can provide more details.
Yes, there are additional texts you should read to supplement your learning: (1) Philosophy for AS and A Level: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy, M Lacewing, Routledge 2017. (2) Philosophy for A Level: Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind, M Lacewing, Routledge 2017.
Yes! You study the same curriculum, take the same examinations and get the same qualification. The only difference is that the course is specially designed to be studied from home in your own time.
You will have access to your personal tutor, via email, who will mark your assignments and guide you through the course to help you get ready for your examinations. In addition, you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide that will help you through the study and assessment process. Your personal tutor will be highly experienced in their subject area and qualified to teach.
You will need to pay separately for your final examinations. Additional texts may also need to be purchased to supplement your learning on the course.
We are able to offer places at partnership exam centres across the UK for our students, therefore, guaranteeing an exam venue. If you choose to find your own exam centre, you can, you will need to register with them as an external or private candidate. Fees vary across the country so we recommend enquiring prior to enrolment.
This course is self-contained so no additional textbooks are required. Where there are required additional text books, we include this as free eBooks.
You can study this course from anywhere in the world, but the exams must be taken within the UK.
Please check our main FAQs section or Contact Us, we have experienced course advisers who will be delighted to help!