Philosophy and Modern Languages

Number of places at Balliol

Balliol admits about 6 students a year to read either Modern languages or a Joint School with Modern Languages (including Philosophy and Modern Languages).

Subject information

Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages

Faculty of Philosophy

Course requirements

For information on what subjects you need to study, please see the modern languages faculty website.

College requirements

Students applying to read Philosophy and Modern Languages must choose French as their language.

There is no expectation that you will have studied Philosophy before applying.

Admissions/Selection criteria 

For information on how applicants are assessed, please see the modern languages faculty website.

Philosophy and Modern Languages at Balliol

The study of philosophy develops analytical rigour and the ability to criticise and reason logically. It allows you to apply these skills to many contemporary and historical schools of thought and individual thinkers, and to questions on such subjects as the fundamental nature of reality, the nature, possibility and limits of knowledge, the nature and grounds of moral judgements, the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, and the fundamental principles of language, science, religion, art and literature.

The work in Modern Languages covers language and literature. In the first year work is on a set selection of texts from a variety of periods. After that, students choose their own papers from a wide set of options ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Students are encouraged to build on their existing skills in speaking, reading and writing French. A high final standard is expected and, to help students reach it, we offer progressive language teaching throughout the course. Our students spend a year abroad between the second and third years of the course, and we offer help in finding placements either as language assistants or on university courses in their country of choice.

In recent years our graduates have chosen careers in commerce and banking, law (after a conversion course), the civil service, journalism, the media, development and teaching. In most years one or more students opt for further study, either at home or abroad; of these, several now hold university teaching posts in this country and others are teaching abroad in France, Italy, Japan, and the United States.

Tutors

Sophie Marnette's research offers a linguistic and philological approach to literary issues in Medieval French such as the origins and evolution of literary genres, the expression of narrative voice and point of view, the relationship between history and fiction, etc.
David Wallace, Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy.
Bob Hargrave, Lecturer in Philosophy. Bob teaches Logic, and the core papers in the History of Philosophy and Knowledge and Reality.
Ofra Magidor, Fellow in Philosophy. Ofra teaches the General Philosophy course for the Prelim and the Philosophy of Logic and Language and Knowledge and Reality core papers.
Rowland Stout, Lecturer in Philosophy. Rowland teaches the Ethics core paper in Philosophy.