Philip Engelholm

Philip, from Copenhagen, Denmark studied Philosophy and International Relations. He graduated with an MA in 2009.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee University?

I wanted to study in Scotland and Dundee offered my preferred degree.

What was the best thing about your course and why?

The philosophy department is fairly small and that means that it is possible to have a very close relationship with the academic staff. I felt very much at home in the department and that the students were always listened to. Due to the flexibility in the degree structure of the School of Humanities I was able to focus my studies just the way I wanted; I always felt encouraged to pursue interdisciplinarity in my studies and that made it possible for me to make my degree much more relevant for my particular interests.

What information do applicants need to know before starting this course?

Philosophy is an outstandingly important subject to study; it teaches you to think independently and out of the box. Philosophy is a very versatile degree that could potentially take you into many different walks of life. This is a good thing but there is a downside: it won't take you anywhere automatically as the vocational degrees do.

What was your best learning experience and why?

The first was studying the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. I studied Kant in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year. In 2nd year I took a module on Kantian morality, which was superbly and engagingly taught. I really felt that I got a grasp on Kant's philosophical system and that was why I chose to do my 4th year dissertation on the importance of community in Kant's metaphysics. I had a fantastic learning experience that taught me a lot about how I think about the world and how I want to think about the world.

My second great experience was a single module that cut through everything in a new way. In 3rd year I took a module on Sophocles' play Antigone. Antigone got into trouble with her uncle, the king, because she wanted to bury her dead brother against his wish. Her brother had joined the enemy and attacked his hometown. Among a lot of other things the play is about power and spheres of influence. Which decisions can be made on the political level and which decisions are to be made in the family? In the module we looked at how different philosophers at different times have interpreted the play differently. It opened my eyes to some of the dilemmas that were raised by the ancient Greeks that we still are not able to provide a clear and coherent answer to.

What was your best university experience?

My best university experience was without a doubt all the great friends that I made during my time in Dundee. I know that many of them will be parts of my life as long as I live - even though some of them don't even live on the same continent anymore!

What sports activities or clubs/societies were you involved with?

I was very active in the DARE Society that does overseas development work. Every summer holiday the society sends students to a number of different countries all over the world to do volunteer work. Many of the students change their world view completely after having experienced living and working with those less fortunate. And quite a few of them have subsequently taken up careers in international development.

I also played rugby for the medical schools (!) rugby team. During first year I lived with a couple of medical students and they took me along for practice. I absolutely loved it, and because the team consisted of a good bunch of lads I stayed with the medics, never considering changing to the main University rugby club.

What are you doing now?

Before going to university I was already a commissioned officer in the Danish Army. I resigned from the Army to go to university in Scotland and I am glad that I did that. I am glad that I took the time out to study philosophy.

During 3rd and 4th year I did, however, realize that I missed the Army life. I missed the combination of office work and field life that the Army offers. So I rejoined the Army straight after university and I was immediately deployed to the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Sudan, where I served for a year. In the job that I held in Sudan my degree proved very valuable - it had given me an intellectual depth and a completely new approach to what it means to be a soldier and what it means to be an officer.

At present I am back in Denmark again waiting to go to the Royal Danish Military Academy to study for a degree in Military Studies, which includes Military History, Theory and Science. I know that my philosophy degree will stand me in good stead during this course, because it has taught me to think critically and independently.