Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy (Including Placement Year) (V503)

The University of Essex BA Philosophy 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. 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.

Essex covers a wide range of topics from the meaning of life to capitalism and its critics, from ancient philosophy to current trends in European thought; and they are strong in areas of: ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and European philosophy. Essex is involved in many exciting and interdisciplinary research projects, and has active links with other areas including Political Science, Law, Sociology, Psychoanalysis, and Art History.

Students can spend their third year on a placement year with an external organization, where they learn about a particular sector, company or job role, apply their academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receive inspiration for future career pathways. Students will be responsible for finding their placement, but with support and guidance provided by both the department and the Student Development Team.

The Essex School of Philosophy and Art History has been ranked in the top 20 in the UK for research excellence.

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 students 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.