BA (Hons) Philosophy at Anglia Ruskin University

Grapple with the big questions that have puzzled humans for centuries and discover how great minds have tried to answer them. Who are we? What can we know?

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences  |  Department: School of Humanities and Social Sciences  |  Duration: 3 years; 4 years with placement  |  Study mode: full-time (placement year available)  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

In Year 1 you’ll explore some of philosophy’s biggest issues including the existence of God and the nature of knowledge and ethical deliberation, discover classical thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle, and establish what your own ideal society would look like. In Year 2 you’ll tackle issues like consciousness, reality, and free will, while optional modules will allow you to explore your own interests. Year 1: Happiness and the Good Life, Introduction to Philosophy: The Big Questions, Ideas and Ideologies, The World Religions. Year 2: Ethics in Theory, Ethics in Practice: Healthcare, Law, and the Environment, Mind and Consciousness, Ruskin Module; options include Philosophical Texts: From Descartes to Kant, Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division, Anglia Language Programme, Spirituality, Religion and the Secular. Year 3: Philosophy Research Project, Knowledge and Doubt: From Antiquity to the Digital Age, Philosophy of Evil and Criminality; options include Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War, Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000, Philosophy of Education, Communication, Flesh, Philosophy.

Career pathways

I think employers need people who can solve complex and multi-layered problems, which philosophy students learn to do very well! Study Philosophy at ARU and develop skills for your chosen career.

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