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Postgraduate Studies - Research Degrees

Research degrees are offered in all areas of philosophy in which staff members are actively working:

Philosophy - research interests

• Applied ethics
• Continental philosophy
• Ethics and practical reasoning
• Frankfurt School and critical theory
• History of philosophy
• Philosophy and psychoanalysis
• Philosophy and religion, emphasising Kierkegaard
• Philosophy, art and literature
• Philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge and cognitive science
• Social and political philosophy

See also individual members of staff research profiles for further areas of research.

MA in Philosophy by Dissertation, MPhil and PhD

The MA (30,000 words maximum), MPhil (50,000 words maximum) and the PhD (80,000 words maximum) are assessed on the basis of a thesis. Their minimum duration is normally one, two and three years respectively. Normally applicants will not be admitted to these degrees unless they have obtained a good BA in philosophy (or in a joint honours degree including philosophy) and, in the case of the PhD, an MA. Candidates must also demonstrate their capacity to conduct independent research and will be required to submit a detailed research proposal. (Note: Admission to the MA by Dissertation is normally restricted to those whose circumstances make the taught MA unsuitable and whose background is sufficient to indicate an ability to undertake a first research-only degree.)

Research Degree with a taught component:  Integrated PhD

This 4-year doctoral programme is intended to provide a rigorous training in philosophy, through taught modules and the writing of an MA dissertation, and thereby prepare students to research and write a doctoral thesis. The first year consists of an MA in Philosophy. Programme Specifications can be found at Programme Specifications Catalogue. Module Map to be updated. 

In the first year students will normally take six 15 credit modules (or equivalent) from the range of Philosophy graduate modules (indicated by '7' in the code). Other graduate modules available on MA Courses within the Department may be taken at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.

The results will be considered by the June Exam Board and students who pass the coursework then proceed to write an MA dissertation and, if successful, will be awarded the MA by the December Exam Board.

Students will be able to register for the second year subject to late qualifications.

The Progress Committee will meet in mid October to consider the provisional marks and recommend whether students should proceed to the second year.

Students must pass the taught coursework and achieve a pass mark of 60 or above on the dissertation (i.e. at least mid-way between pass and distinction) to proceed to the second year. Any borderline (59) or disputed marks will be considered by the External Examiner before the Progress Committee meeting.

In the second year students spend the first term writing a Project Outline (2,000 words) and Critical Literature Review (5,000 words), in consultation with their supervisor. They also take a further 15 credit MA module from the range available in the Department and in collaborating departments. In the second term of the second year they attend the second year Doctoral Research Seminar and also take one further 15 credit MA module.

The Project Outline and Critical Literature Review are assessed by the members of the supervisory board in week 21 and satisfactory completion is a condition of proceeding to the third year. Students whose Critical Literature Review and Project Outline are deemed unsatisfactory have an opportunity to resubmit for the May/June supervisory boards.

Students must pass the second year coursework. Second year coursework marks are confirmed by the relevant MA Exam Board in June.

The results of the second year are considered by the Progress Committee in June who can recommend proceed/withdraw.

Throughout the first and second years students will attend appropriate research training and research skills seminars, both centrally provided and from within the Department.

In the third and fourth years students conduct research under the guidance of their supervisor leading to the writing of the doctoral thesis. By the end of the third year, students will be expected to have completed at least two draft chapters of their thesis or equivalent (15,000 - 20,000 words) and an updated Project Outline as a condition of proceeding to the final year. There is a strong expectation that students will complete their thesis by the end of the fourth year. However, students who do need to go into completion will be required to fulfil the standard criteria.

Visiting Research Students

Visiting research students are welcome here at Essex.  Application to become a visiting research student should go through the normal application process.  Please see here for how to apply.  Please also see link here to fees for visiting research students.

Languages for All

As a University of Essex student, you can also study a language alongside your course for free as part of the Languages for All scheme. You can find full details of the available options on the Languages for All webpages.