4-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Philosophy and Sociology (Year Abroad)

Program Description For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Philosophy and Sociology

Philosophy analyses broad ideas around human life and the nature of existence. It concerns theories of reality, knowledge, morality, ethics, rights, legality and aesthetics. Sociology examines the different kinds of social tensions, interactions and networks that make up everyday life. It asks why individuals, groups, cultures and peoples are the way they are and how they might be different. At the University of Essex students have the opportunity to study both disciplines and work with two of the UK’s leading departments – Essex's School of Philosophy and Art History, and the Department of Sociology.

Essex's School of Philosophy and Art History has been ranked in the Top 20 in the UK for research excellence. While the Department of Sociology was rated Top 10 in the UK for research quality, and ranked Essex among the top 50 departments in the QS World University Rankings (2019).

The open-minded and enthusiastic philosophy staff have an exceptionally broad range of research interests. The courses are taught by world-class academics and over three quarters of their research is rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”, which puts them fifth in the UK for research outputs. While the sociology academics have their fingers on the pulse of modern society; whether it’s the battle between Apple and Spotify or the exploitation of female bodybuilders, they embed their innovative and sometimes controversial research into this course.

Many employers want graduates with critical thinking skills who can think logically and creatively about practical problems. Many of Essex's students are in demand from a wide range of employers in a host of occupations, including law, PR, project management, journalism and the media, teaching, librarianship, the Civil Service, banking, the police and fashion design. Recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies.