Introduction to the Department

You are now a member of the Department of Philosophy. The department is made up of academic staff involved in teaching and research, support staff and students.

Academic staff may have the title Professor, Reader or Lecturer. They are leaders in their fields and engaged in teaching and research. Most will supervise research students and some also hold certain key administrative roles within the Department.

Research staff are members of staff employed to conduct research projects within their field of expertise. They may not be involved in teaching or supervision, instead concentrating on their research projects. Our research staff are included in the full list of academic staff, above, and in the list of postdoctoral research staff.

Support staff make the department run smoothly. They communicate important information, provide technical assistance and help signpost you to other services and support you might need within the University.

Our student body consists of undergraduates, taught postgraduates and postgraduate researchers. More than 800 students representing more than 15 countries study with us on a full-time or part-time basis. Many of these students are taking combined degrees with the departments of English, History, Language and Linguistics, Mathematics, Physics, or Sociology. The department also contributes to the teaching of students in the Schools of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), Natural Sciences, and Social and Political Science (SPS).

The Department has more than 20 members of academic staff, offering a wide range of areas of research interests, including Aesthetics, art and literature; History of philosophy (with particular interests in early modern philosophy and German idealism); Metaphysics (including philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of time); Phenomenology and continental philosophy; Philosophy of medicine and health; Philosophy of mind and perception; Philosophy of religion; Political and legal philosophy; and Theoretical and applied ethics (including ethics of AI). The Department's research strengths are grouped into three Sections: History of Philosophy, Theoretical Philosophy and Practical Philosophy. Within the Sections are these Clusters: History of Philosophy; Political and Legal Philosophy; Ethics; Aesthetics, Art and Literature; and Mind and Metaphysics. Each cluster has access to a small budget to facilitate collaborative research activities. The Department has research links with a number of other Departments in the university, in particular with the Politics Department, the English Department, the Psychology Department, and the Department of Health Sciences. It is one of the constituent Departments of the Humanities Research Centre and of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

The Department of Philosophy aims to bring together stimulating teaching and original research in an informal, friendly setting. We have a large, varied, and lively graduate community who play an active part in the University's Humanities Research Centre and regularly run conferences and workshops.

Teaching experience is a useful addition to any PG researcher’s CV, but it should not interfere with completing a good thesis. We try to ensure that teaching duties do not impinge on the PG researcher’s own research, and the opportunity to teach will be offered only in consultation with their academic supervisor.

Public engagement is also a good way to develop communication skills and share your love of philosophy. Like teaching, public engagement activities can:

● improve your confidence,

● enhance your ability to explain and engage people with your research,

● allow you to reflect on the impact of your research and why it is important, and

● assimilate you into the faculty as a recognised expert in your field.

For more detail see below under “Public engagement”.

Prerequisites

As a distance learner you must have access to:

• a stable internet connection, sufficient for video-conferencing with your Supervisor(s) and interaction with York systems;

• appropriate study space which includes a PC and all relevant hardware and software to facilitate your research;

• a telephone, as an alternative to video-conferencing if/when needed;

• relevant library and/or archives for your research topic;

• sufficient time to engage in formal and informal supervision, at mutually convenient times for you and your supervisory team;

• sufficient personal resources to cover cost of visas (if necessary), travel and accommodation for York visits.

Attendance Requirements

As a distance learner you are required to periodically visit the University in person. Visits are important opportunities for you to meet your supervisor, interact directly with the Department’s research community and prepare for key progression points. Of course you are welcome to visit York as often as you wish, but the minimum attendance requirements are as follows:

Induction

Five (5) working days at the start of your programme. Features include networking/social meetings and library/technology sessions, meetings with your supervisor(s), Director of PGRs, and Research Administrator (all in Philosophy), and the administrator of the HRC. Attendance at one PGR WiP seminar.

Post-induction

In addition to the five-day induction period, full-time DL PGRs will be expected to be physically present in York for at least five (5) working days per calendar year (biennially for part-time DL PGRs). This will involve on-campus teaching, workshops, and networking activities. This is expected to take place so as to coincide with progression talks given by all PGRs, campus-based and DL, on the annual Progression Day (Week 10 in Summer term – date to shift when semesterisation is complete). In exceptional circumstances there will be some flexibility allowing for attendance of three or four days, given evidence of satisfactory progress from supervisors.

Supervision

All full-time and most part-time DL PGRs must have one in-person supervision per year, but this does not necessarily have to be held in York.

Training and development

PGR work-in-progress (WiP) seminars, staff work-in-progress seminars, colloquia, etc. will either be entirely online or hybrid. Therefore all DL PGRs can attend, with allowances for their work schedules (if they are in employment) and time zone differences. DL PGRs are expected to participate remotely in the weekly Work-in-Progress (WiP) sessions which are attended by all PGRs, each of whom present at those sessions at least once a year.

If you are unable to meet these attendance points you must let us know immediately so that we can help you to apply for an exemption from the University’s Special Cases Committee. If you miss visit requirements without such approval, you will be placed on a formal warning that your enrolment is at risk (after the first missed visit), and ultimately your enrolment would be terminated (after the second missed visit). Before you travel to campus, please regularly check the University of York's general coronavirus information and the special page for postgraduate researchers so you can keep up to date with what you need to do to protect yourself and others from Covid-19.