BA Philosophy and Politics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Essex

Program Overview

If you enjoy questioning ideas like truth, justice, freedom, and also care about how governments work and decisions are made, this course is the perfect mix of both worlds. BA Philosophy and Politics at Essex teaches you how to think deeply like a philosopher and act critically like a political analyst — ideal for students who love debate, ethics, and world affairs.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year introduces you to the foundations of philosophy and political theory. You’ll explore topics like Introduction to Political Theory, where you study power, democracy, and the state, alongside Introduction to Philosophy or European Philosophy, which covers thinkers like Kant, Nietzsche, and Descartes.

Year 2
In the second year, you begin to combine both subjects more closely. You study modules like Contemporary Political Philosophy and Concepts in Political Science, where you analyse ideas such as justice, rights, morality, war, and political parties — and learn how philosophical thinking shapes real political systems.

Year 3
Your final year is about specialising in what interests you most. You’ll choose advanced topics like Ethics, Global Justice, Human Rights, or Political Philosophy and complete a dissertation or research project that connects philosophy with real political challenges.

Focus areas (string)

Ethics, political philosophy, democracy and power, human rights, global politics, critical theory, philosophy of law.

Learning outcomes (string)

Critical thinking, ethical reasoning, political analysis, argumentation and debate, research skills, persuasive writing, and communication.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This degree isn’t tied to a formal accreditation body, but Essex’s Department of Government is one of the most respected in the UK and internationally — ranked among the top for politics research and teaching, which adds strong credibility for employers.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Around 95% of Essex politics graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months.
Graduates earn an average of £27,000 within 15 months (Discover Uni).
Essex is ranked in the Top 50 worldwide for Politics and International Studies (QS World Rankings).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Essex, you don’t just study philosophy and politics from textbooks—you experience them by debating real issues, analysing data, joining experiments, and even simulating global diplomacy. The university encourages you to question, challenge, and test ideas through practical experiences, not just lectures.

To make learning feel real and relevant, Essex gives you access to unique facilities, research spaces, and student-led platforms. Here’s where theory turns into experience:

ESSEXLab – Live political and behavioural experiments: You can take part in or help run real experiments on political decision-making, ethics, voting behaviour, or social justice—just like researchers and policymakers do.
Model United Nations and Debate Society: These societies let you step into the shoes of diplomats and philosophers—negotiating resolutions, debating ethics, defending policies, and improving public speaking and argumentation.
Access to digital archives, journals, and political databases: Through the Albert Sloman Library and departmental resources, you can use parliamentary debates, philosophical texts, election datasets, and political research software for essays and dissertations.
Research seminars and philosophy–politics workshops: You’ll be invited to departmental talks from academics, MPs, human rights activists, journalists, and philosophers, helping you connect your learning to real-world issues.
Independent dissertation and group projects: In your final year, you carry out a major philosophical or political research project—choosing a topic like human rights, ethics of AI, democracy, or international justice, with academic supervision.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A degree in Philosophy and Politics from Essex gives you the power to think deeply, argue confidently, and understand how decisions are made in the real world — skills that employers in government, law, media, NGOs, and international organisations genuinely value. Graduates from this programme often go into roles such as Policy Analyst, Public Affairs Officer, Political Researcher, or Diplomatic Advisor, using their ability to question, reason, and influence change.

Now, here’s how Essex prepares you for life after graduation:

Career support that actually helps: The university's Careers & Enterprise team offers one-to-one coaching, CV feedback, mock interviews, internship placements, and networking sessions with alumni working in politics, law, journalism, and public service.
Strong employment outcomes: Around 80% of graduates are working or in further study within 15 months, earning an average salary of £25,000+. (Discover Uni)
Real-world exposure: Guest speakers from organisations like Parliament, Amnesty International, think tanks, policy institutes, and media houses regularly visit campus — giving you a direct link to employers and real career paths.
Respected degree, globally recognised: Even though it's not tied to a professional accreditation, Essex is one of the top-ranked universities in the world for Politics and Philosophy research, making your degree highly credible in both academic and professional circles.

Further Academic Progression:
You can continue your studies with a Master’s in Political Theory, Public Policy, International Relations, Human Rights, Philosophy, or Political Communication, or go on to pursue a Master’s by Research, MPhil, or PhD if you're interested in academia or research-based careers.