PHIL30053 Philosophy of Language
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 2 class hours a week
Is PHIL30053 hard?
PHIL30053: Easier. Makes it easier: No final exam, Only 2 class hours a week. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How language represents the world and helps people coordinate, from classic theories of meaning to social uses of words.
After it you can
- Explain classic theories of meaning and reference
- Analyse how language works in social life
- Assess competing views in philosophy of language
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 100%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2019–2025)
- Reviewers from 2019 to 2025 rate it highly: weekly recorded videos plus a two-hour seminar, well-written handouts and engaging discussion.
- It is firmly analytic philosophy of language, which some found dry or more abstract than expected; marking was described as fair.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHIL30053
Quick answers
- When is PHIL30053 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking PHIL30053?
- No prerequisites.
- Does PHIL30053 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Reports and essays 100%.
- Is PHIL30053 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers from 2019 to 2025 rate it highly: weekly recorded videos plus a two-hour seminar, well-written handouts and engaging discussion.
- What do students say about PHIL30053?
- Reviewers from 2019 to 2025 rate it highly: weekly recorded videos plus a two-hour seminar, well-written handouts and engaging discussion. It is firmly analytic philosophy of language, which some found dry or more abstract than expected; marking was described as fair.
- How many class hours a week does PHIL30053 have?
- 2 h a week in class
- Can I take PHIL30053 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate PHIL30053?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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