Explore Philosophy at the University of Essex! Gain critical skills, study abroad opportunities, and prepare for diverse career paths. Apply now!
University of Essex takes philosophy back to its roots in everyday existential, social, and political problems. They embrace the relevance of philosophy to other forms of inquiry - political, cultural, legal, medical, aesthetic – and bring this to bear on urgent issues in public life, such as the controversial issues raised by mental health legislation or public policy regarding end of life care. This degree will feed students' intellectual curiosity and challenge their thinking. Students will acquire the skills required to dig deeper into ideas and question received wisdom. They’ll rigorously examine the most fundamental questions about human life. In the five-year MPhilos Version of this course, students will gain solid knowledge in the different areas of philosophy and develop the key skills of the discipline during their first three years at Essex. In their final year, students will take MA-level modules, which will allow them to investigate more advanced topics and write a draft journal article as their final project. They’ll cover a wide range of topics from the meaning of life to capitalism and its critics, from ancient philosophy to current trends in European thought. Education extends beyond the university campus. Essex supports students in expanding their education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of their partner universities. The five-year version of the degree allows students to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the four-year course. Studying abroad allows students to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden their degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that they are mature, adaptable, and organized. The MA-level modules include: Kant, The Frankfurt School, Phenomenology and Existentialism, Environmental Ethics, Critical Theory, Topics in Contemporary Philosophy, and more. The world of work is changing. Employers want graduates who can think laterally logically and creatively about practical problems and are effective communicators. At Essex, they are serious about providing students with a teaching environment in which they develop the skills they need to flourish in the discipline, and to be prepared for the jobs they aspire to in the future. Philosophy graduates are therefore well-suited to a wide range of occupations, including law, PR, journalism and the media, the Civil Service, charity work, banking, and the NHS.
