PSYCHOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND LINGUISTICS

Why choose this program ?

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL) are closely interrelated disciplines, so studying a combination of them allows students to explore different aspects of each subject, resulting in a very varied and dynamic course.

Psychology addresses such questions as: how do we perceive and understand the world around us? How do children acquire language? What predisposes two people to get on with each other? What causes schizophrenia?

Philosophy is concerned with a wide range of questions including ethics, knowledge, and the nature of mind.

Linguistics is the study of language in all its aspects, including the structure of languages, meaning (semantics), pronunciation, and how people understand, mentally represent and generate language.

Psychology at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection. Data science and coding play an important role in how we train students.

The Oxford Experimental Psychology Department is widely regarded as one of the leading psychology departments in the UK. At present, there are particularly strong groups in the fields of human cognitive processes, neuroscience, language, developmental, social psychology and psychological disorders.

The Oxford Philosophy Faculty is one of the largest Philosophy departments in the world, and regularly tops international rankings. Philosophers at Oxford have active interests in the philosophy of language and of logic, philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of science, and maintain close links with those working in neuroscience and psychology.

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics graduates can enter a wide range of careers including:

- professional psychology
- education
- research
- medicine
- the health services
- finance
- commerce
- industry
- the media
- information technology.

If Psychology constitutes at least 50% of your course, and covers the BPS curriculum, and provided you achieve the minimum standard of second class honour as well as pass the experimental project element in the third or fourth year of study, your BA or MSci degree is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.