York University campus

Arts & Humanities

BA Philosophy of Law at York University

York University, Canada

Programme overview

Philosophy of Law builds a background in philosophy and applies it to debates about law, legal reasoning, constitutions, punishment, individual liberty and international law. Students examine the moral and political values behind legal institutions and how laws are created, interpreted and challenged. It offers a foundation for legal and government careers or further study in law.

Faculty: Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (Keele Campus)  |  Intake: Fall, Winter and Summer (first and upper year)  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time, co-op  |  Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Justice, rights, punishment and the role of law in political and social life, with training in critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation. Optional paid co-op and involvement in the Philosophia student association and The Oracle undergraduate journal.

Career pathways

Lawyer; judge; arbitrator; policy analyst; human rights advocate; government advisor; legal consultant.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Ontario high school applicants: Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) ENG4U And five additional 4U or M courses Applicants with averages in the low-to-mid 70s or higher may be considered for admission. Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70%. Requirements for other curricula are listed on the programme page.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Undergraduate classes begin in Winter (January), Summer (May) and Fall (September); Fall 2027 (September) is the main intake with the January 2027 and May 2027 starts also listed.

Application deadlines for most programmes: Winter 2027 (January) entry November 18, 2026; Summer 2027 (May) entry April 1, 2027; Fall 2027 (September) entry January 15, 2027 for Ontario high school students and March 24, 2027 for out-of-province high school, international and university/college transfer and mature applicants. Applications are accepted until each programme is full.

Exceptions: Direct Entry Nursing and Nursing Second Entry apply by February 1; Nursing Post-RN for Internationally Educated Nurses by June 1; Schulich BBA and Social Work (BSW) accept no applications after January 15. Supplementary application deadlines for Fall 2027: Schulich BBA February 1, 2027; Creative Writing February 5, 2027; AMPD BFA/BDes programmes February 5, 2027; Concurrent Education March 19, 2027; Glendon International Studies & Business Administration March 31, 2027; Social Work February 16, 2027.

Applications are made through OUAC, or through the York University application for mature, international and transfer applicants, visiting students and certificate applicants; the York University application fee is $140 (non-refundable, Visa, Visa Debit or MasterCard). AMPD BFA/BDes programmes require a $20 supplementary application fee within the OUAC application.

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