Philosophy

On the Integrated Masters in Philosophy, you will cover a range of topics, including the meaning of life, capitalism & its critics, ancient philosophy, and more At Essex, we take philosophy back to its roots in everyday existential, social, and political problems. We embrace the relevance of philosophy to other forms of enquiry - 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 your intellectual curiosity and challenge your thinking.

You'll acquire the skills required to dig deeper into ideas and question received wisdom. You'll rigorously examine the most fundamental questions about human life: Does God exist? Is material success all that counts in life?

What do I owe to others? How free am I to decide my own future? On the four-year Integrated Masters (five years if you want to do a year abroad or placement year in addition to the four years), you will gain solid knowledge in the different areas of philosophy and develop the key skills of the discipline during your first three years at Essex.

In your final year, you will take Masters-level modules, which will allow you to investigate more advanced topics and write a draft journal article as your final project. You'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.