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Continental Philosophy at University of Essex - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

Our BA Continental Philosophy is for you, if you want to take philosophy back to its roots in lived experience and everyday existential, social and political problems; it is for you if you want to rigorously examine the fundamental questions of human life and embark with others on a journey that will transform how you understand yourself and the world you live in. The BA Continental Philosophy is for you, if you are not content with understanding the challenges that we are facing as individuals and societies, but want to be part of a community that creatively explores ways of thinking and living differently in response to these challenges. We offer the only BA in Continental Philosophy in the entire UK. Philosophy at Essex has an international reputation for being an outstanding centre for Continental Philosophy because we have leading expertise in:

  • Existentialism (e.g., Kierkegaard, Nietzsche)
  • Phenomenology (e.g., Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty)
  • Critical Theory (e.g., Marx or Frankfurt School theorists like Adorno, Habermas, Honneth)
  • German Idealism (e.g., Kant and Hegel)
  • Contemporary French Thought (e.g., Foucault, Derrida, Rancière)
In addition to the areas mentioned above, students on our BA Continental Philosophy can study a wide range of topics (from the meaning of life to capitalism and its critics, from ancient philosophy to current debates about gender and sustainability) and modules (from ethics to political philosophy, from philosophy of religion to philosophy of mind). In short, at Essex we give you the flexibility to design a curriculum the suits your interests and passions. At Essex, we are involved in many exciting and interdisciplinary research projects, and have active links with other areas including Political Science, Law, Sociology, Psychoanalysis, and Art History. We are 7th in the UK for research impact in philosophy (Grade Point Average, REF2021).

Modules

Many of our courses offer a choice of optional modules to tailor your learning experience. More information about these can be found on the University of Essex website.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
V530
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

At Essex we consider your whole application – not just grades. If you don’t meet the exact grade requirements, you may still be considered. We’re dedicated to helping students from underrepresented groups to access an Essex education. We may give you a Contextual Offer up to two A-Level grades below our standard conditional offer based on where you live, your school, and other details from your application. Involvement in our on-campus events may also support eligibility for a Contextual Offer.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.essex.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying-to-essex


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £20475 Year 1
International £20475 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for the 2025-26 academic year. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.
Continental Philosophy at University of Essex - UCAS