University admissions
Do you work with students worldwide?
Yes. All of our services are delivered online and we regularly work across time zones. We frequently work with churches and clients in Hong Kong, where Joshua is based outside of term, as well as have a large audience in the UK and US through our YouTube platforms.
Can you guarantee admissions outcomes?
No. While we have a team of expert tutors, we cannot guarantee any admissions outcomes. We focus on preparing you thoroughly for the admissions process, working on strategy, writing, and interview preparation if needed such that your portfolio is as strong as it can be. However, final decisions rest with the universities.
How do you prepare for interviews?
Interviews are often either about your personal statement or about general themes in your subject. For this reason, tutors ask you questions both about the content found within your personal statement as well as broad questions on different themes in philosophy. The goal of such questions aren’t for testing your knowledge, as those are not what Oxbridge undergraduate interviews look for. Rather, they help you work through your ideas with clarity and precision.
Do you provide post-graduate admissions advice?
The team at Philosophy Circle is made up of both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the world’s top Philosophy and Theology programs. We also have connections with professors at some of these universities. We use these knowledge and connections to ensure that any one applying, both prospective undergraduates and postgraduates, can get good advice in their admissions.
Philosophy formation
What happens in a reading group?
Each group runs for 4-6 weeks with 6-10 participants. Prior to the reading group, Philosophy Circle arranges a PhD student or scholar to choose a seminal text or texts which fall under a theme of their expertise. Participants then sign up to the reading group, discuss key passages, and share insights. These give the general public a small-group seminar format which would be found at most universities.
Do I need prior knowledge to join?
While prior knowledge is always helpful for engaging with philosophy, no knowledge on the topic is required for reading groups or tutorial sessions. The most important thing is one’s interest and desire to engage with the material and the session to get the most out of it.
Can I request a lecture or seminar on a specific theme?
Because our lectures, reading groups, and seminars are usually planned as part of a series, we can’t accommodate every individual request. However, if you have a specific theme in mind, our tutorials are more flexible, we’ll do our best to connect you with a PhD student or expert who can guide you through it one-to-one. If we notice strong interest from several learners in the same topic, we’ll explore arranging it on a larger scale as a lecture or seminar.
Institutions
Do you run programmes for churches outside the UK?
Yes. Most of our church training and lectures can be delivered online. In fact, most of our lecture series have been hosted at churches in Hong Kong. However, wherever you are, we will try our best to put you in touch with a local expert if you would prefer in-person advice.
What does church staff training involve?
Typically a series of 2-3 sessions equipping youth ministers, volunteers, or adult education leaders with tools for engaging philosophical and theological questions. However, these are flexible depending on the needs of the church.
How do you approach denominational differences?
We recognise that each denomination has different doctrinal teachings and beliefs. For this reason, if one is concerned about a topic or presentation beyond ‘mere Christianity’, do let us know and we will try to arrange a speaker from your denomination.
How do proposals work for institutions?
We first start with a short call to discuss goals, vision, and objectives. This allows us to have a better understanding of what you are looking for and how we can best suit your goals. From then, we can discuss session outlines, objectives, and pricing.
Still have more questions?
We’re happy to help. If your question isn’t listed here, get in touch and we’ll respond within 3 business days.