Our BA in Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability at Essex University is a course for anyone who wants to understand the environmental crises of today and play an active role in addressing them.

Philosophy provides you with the skills to analyse the environmental challenges we face and to creatively re-think our relationship to the non-human world. It ensures that you understand and respond appropriately to the ethical dimensions of environmental challenges, such as climate justice or animal ethics.

On this course, interdisciplinary modules such as ''Addressing Global Sustainability Challenges'' from Life Sciences enable you to make sense of the science behind these environmental challenges and to effectively cooperate with scientists in addressing these issues.

Our BA also includes Interdisciplinary Studies modules such as ''Social Entrepreneurs, Sustainability and Community Action'' and ''Community Engagement: Group Projects or Global Challenges'' that prepare you to get actively involved in tackling environmental challenges.

This course offers a Philosophy-led, interdisciplinary approach to sustainability and focuses on the existential questions of human life, providing a critical perspective on the social, political and economic challenges we are facing today.

We are involved in many exciting and interdisciplinary research projects, and have active links with other areas including Political Science, Law, Sociology and Psychoanalysis.We are 7th in the UK for research impact in philosophy (Grade Point Average, REF2021) and 9th for philosophy for overall positivity score (National Student Survey 2023, English Broad Discipline Institutions).

Our courses can also be taken as a four-year option including a year of study abroad.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

Placement year

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

If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.