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Student Profiles

Undergraduate

Robyn-Ann Forsyth, BA Philosophy (International Exchange) student

Robyn Forsyth is the first-ever Essex student to be awarded a full scholarship from the Chinese government to study for two years at a leading university in China.  Robyn travelled out of Beijing at the end of August 2010 to start her studies at Peking University after officially receiving her award at a special reception at the Chinese Embassy in London in July.  She has spent her first year learning Chinese and her second year will be devoted to studying Philosophy, follow her blog here.  Robyn will return to Essex to complete her final year in 2012/13.  Robyn says of her time at Essex: 

“The University of Essex is an extremely cosmopolitan university and has students and staff from all over the world. When I came to visit the Philosophy department on an open day, I was given a very warm and friendly welcome and felt very comfortable with my surroundings straight away.  I made friends quickly when I arrived, and I didn’t feel out of my depths with the work, like I thought I might. I particularly enjoyed the module God, Death, and the Meaning of Life as it has been particularly interesting. The Department has been brilliant and I am glad to be a part of it. I will definitely miss it when I leave.”

Gina Aland, second-year BA Philosophy and Literature student

“When I came to visit the University at an open day it felt like it had a great atmosphere. Essex also has an excellent academic reputation, so I was convinced to come here. It’s been a fantastic experience that has helped me to mature as a person. I have made some brilliant friends and it has taught me how to live independently.  My course is really enjoyable as the lecturers are engaging and passionate about what they are teaching. They have helped me to broaden my mind. The course has been an interesting challenge. The Department has a great community feel and the staff have always been very helpful.”

Rosalind Worsdale, 2012 graduate, BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

I began studying a degree in a Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Essex. Soon into my first year of studies, I realised that my interests lay in political philosophy, and so in my second year, I changed my degree to Philosophy and Politics to enable me to focus my studies on what I really enjoyed. Taking modules in both the Philosophy and Government departments enabled more to explore the discipline of Political Philosophy from a number of different perspectives - from the abstract philosophical ideas and tools which it utilises, to the the empirical political problems which it endeavours to solve. I was able to make use of the academic grounding which this broad spectrum of modules afforded me in the writing of my undergraduate dissertation, which sought to demonstrate that modern female beauty practices constitute a normative harm, and should therefore be the subject to the scrutiny of political theory.

After graduating, I am about to commence studying an MA in Ethics, Politics and Public Policy at Essex. I chose to stay at Essex to do my masters because I have found the quality of teaching in the department, and the level of support from the staff, to be excellent. Additionally, the EPPP course is quite uniquely interdisciplinary, and so is well suited to enable to pursue my interests.

Christina Brown, 2012 graduate, BA in Philosophy and Politics

I knew even before I attended an Open Day, that I would love it at Essex. I was aware that the Philosophy Department was world-class, because of their brilliant research programmes and the fact that they are one of very few UK institutions in which Continental Philosophy is so strong. Coming from a South African background, I have always been interested in the theoretical debates surrounding politics and class-based identity, and as my degree progressed I was able to cultivate a more sophisticated understanding of these issues, especially through modules on Political Theory, 19th and 20th Century Continental Philosophy and Contemporary Political Philosophy.
 
I loved the flexibility – you can somewhat tailor your degree to your own interests (although this is not to say you get an easy ride doing things you enjoy; the high standard of teaching means that you learn to be a well-rounded and rigorous fledgling philosopher), and you are encouraged to develop independent interests in relation to the core material in each course.  The teaching and administrative staff are very welcoming and so helpful when you arrive,
and do everything they can to support your development throughout your time with them (and beyond).
 
Making friends is easy when you first get here, as you get so many opportunities to mingle
with fellow students during the wide range of departmental events, and the cosmopolitan and
friendly atmosphere makes discussion easy and interesting. I loved it so much at Essex for my Undergrad that I’m staying on for my Masters! I’ll be doing the MA in Ethics, Politics and Public Policy, which straddles the divide between Philosophy and Politics – much like
my BA – and I look forward to engaging in my own research. I hope to go on to do a PhD and then find an academic post somewhere in Europe, and I know that the foundations Essex has helped me build will be valuable to me for the rest of my career.

Robert Wayman is a graduate of the University of Essex with a degree in Philosophy.

"I decided to study at Essex after visiting the Philosophy Department on an Open Day. I instantly fell in love with Essex, and I still feel this connection now as a member of the alumni community.

Whilst at University my experience as a Student Ambassador within the Philosophy Department on visit days helped me to develop my management, presentation, and communication skills which are critical in gaining employment. Actively involved in the Students' Union during my degree and holding many positions including Philosophy rep and a trustee, the roles gave me the opportunity to gain vital exposure to the workings of a large charity organisation as well as making a difference to fellow students. The department also gave me plenty of career opportunities through my three years with targeted career events and talks which helped guide me in seeking employment when graduating.

 

I had secured employment before leaving and am now on a graduate scheme in Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Southampton through a national organisation called CASE and the Higher Education funding council for England. I work in development as it allows me to give something back to sector in which I gained so much from and wouldn't be in the scheme without. Universities do help create the leaders of the future and hopefully the Department of Philosophy at the University of Essex has created a future leader in me! I think it has.”

 

 

 

 

Bruce Horne, 2006 BA Philosophy

Since he graduated, Bruce has been working in the information technology sector, employing the many skills he was able to gain studying a philosophy degree.   “When I visited the campus for an open day, the University instantly appealed to me. It felt like I was visiting a welcoming community. I feel very pleased to have spent three years of my life as part of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the philosophy modules that allowed me to think about morality. My favourites were Ethics, and Philosophy and Law. We were discussing ideas that were relevant in day-to-day life and as a result made it more compelling for me to engage in.

Studying philosophy has helped me in my current career and will also be of benefit in any subsequent path I take. The course showed me how to analyse with greater depth. Learning how to think in this way has provided me with valuable skills that I can use in the workplace and my life more generally. I now work in IT as a consultant. On paper you would think that I could not get further from a philosophy degree. However, some of the analytical and communication skills that I developed during my studies at Essex have helped me in a huge way in my career thus far.”

 

Graduate Profiles

Paula Krieg, MA Philosophy, Politics and Environmental Issues Student

“I decided to come to Essex after I, quite coincidentally, discovered the master’s programme “Philosophy, Politics and Environmental Issues” which is offered as a joint degree by the Departments of Philosophy and Government. The outline of the programme matched my interests perfectly as it brings together practice and theory by combining modules to an interdisciplinary programme that ranges from “Environmental Politics” to “Environmental Ethics” and “Philosophies of Nature”. We had the possibility not only to choose some of the modules, but also to go and audit other classes which one was interested in – which is really worthwhile if one can somehow spend the time!

I am doing my masters in Essex while taking one year off my studies in Political Science and Arabic Studies in Germany. Before coming to Essex, my background in Philosophy was thus rather restricted to Political Theory, and I was concerned that I might be lacking basic knowledge and have difficulties in catching up. I found, however, that it is not only possible to do a Philosophy degree while having a “non-Philosophy” background, it is also a great chance and very rewarding as it broadens the views on topics one has previously learnt.

Next to my studies I had been working in organisations engaged in development cooperation, mainly in the environmental sector, and I felt that in daily work one was constantly confronted with deeper-going questions, and I was curious to learn more about the ethical foundations of policy decisions or the theoretical background of many of the contemporary political discussions. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this master’s course; all of the modules were very interesting, the teaching was very engaged and the discussion groups were small which created a very personal and motivated atmosphere. In the first term, a workshop was offered to help improve academic writing, and I experienced great support in writing essays and my master’s dissertation throughout the whole year. Staff in the departments were generally very supportive and the friendly climate made one feel at ease from the beginning. After having completed my degree, I will go on to do an internship with the United Nations in Geneva – in my application for this I was also strongly supported by the Philosophy department. All in all, this last year was a great experience and I spent a wonderful time studying in Essex.”

David Batho, 2009 BA Philosophy, 2010 MA Continental Philosophy

“I made the decision to come to Essex to study philosophy because of the fantastic reputation of the Department for its teaching and research qualities. Thanks to the Department’s several welcoming events at the start of the first year I was able to settle in quickly; university life became easy and comfortable because of the friendliness and helpfulness of the members of staff. I particularly enjoyed the Wittgenstein module because the quality of the teaching, and the richness and challenging nature of the content which made it very interesting.  

Having completed my master's degree I am now studying for my PhD. Coming to Essex convinced me to continue studying because of the quality and encouragement I received from the Department. My time at Essex has been highly enjoyable, and I am happy to continue studying here to boost my employability prospects when I leave.”

Paul Henderson, 2008 BA Philosophy and Sociology, 2009 MA Continental Philosophy & Health Care Ethics

"I discovered philosophy while working full-time in a call-centre whilst earning the minimum wage in my mid-twenties.  I remember stumbling across a night class at my local college and falling in love with the subject from my first exposure to Descartes, Nietzsche and Plato.  I have a distinct recollection of having finally discovered a sense of meaning within my own life which promptly caused me to set about studying philosophy throughout my spare time.  My goal was very clear, I wanted to attend University with the aim of becoming a teacher in philosophy, where I could hopefully help awaken that same love of wisdom that I encountered long ago in that first AS level evening class.  I came to Essex after having looked at several other Universities, which left me feeling somewhat uncertain about my decision to abandon full-time work and pursue my studies in higher education.  That first open-day in the February of 2005 assuaged all my worries, having met and spoken to the staff of the philosophy department I firmly believed that I had made the right choice in pursuing my studies.  Now, four years, a BA (Hons) and a Master’s degree later, I firmly believe that coming to study philosophy at Essex was one of the most rewarding and exhilarating times in my life.  It was hard work, something which more and more students encounter each year, especially when trying to balance your studies, a part-time job and a social life, but I wouldn’t have given it up for anything.  I am currently employed as the administrator for the Intercalated BSc in Medical Ethics and Law at Kings College, London, where I am taking a break between the conclusion of my Master’s degree and eventual doctoral study."

James Hudson, 2008 BA Philosophy, 2009 MA Continental Philosophy

My time at university was amazing. I made some great friends that I will most likely stay in contact with indefinitely. Studying philosophy has been one the most worthwhile and fulfilling things I’ve done. The lecturers and staff within the department are always willing to help and encourage students. From my experience, they invest a good deal of time and energy into creating a positive atmosphere for students to study and settle into.

My time studying at Essex (three years undergraduate and one year postgraduate) has helped in many ways to open up any number of different career paths. After completing a CELTA teaching course I am currently teaching English in Taiwan for one year. So far it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience! I teach quite a wide age range of students, from three year olds to 18!

While at Essex I made the effort to get involved in various clubs and societies which enriched my university experience considerably. I made lots of new friends this way and try new things that I hadn’t had the opportunity to do before.

Overall I had a wonderful time, with memories that will always be cherished and skills that will never be forgotten.

Rose Sinclair, 2008 BA Philosophy, 2009 MA Continental Philosophy

I attended a University of Essex Open Day and really liked the atmosphere on campus. I lived in the Towers in my first year which made it really easy to meet people as there was a great sense of community which continued right across the campus. The Department of Philosophy has been incredibly friendly and supportive. I have taken some thoroughly enjoyable modules such as ancient philosophy, The Enlightenment and nineteenth-century continental philosophy. In all cases, the reading was fascinating and being taught by people that are genuinely excited by their subject really makes a difference. Since coming to Essex I have been inspired by a truly fascinating subject. I now hope to become a lecturer of philosophy. The modules I have taken so far have certainly helped me to narrow down a focus for both an MA and a PhD.   

Kirstin Brown, 2008, BA Philosophy and Politics

Kirstin now works as a Cancer Information and Support Officer for Macmillan Cancer Support.   ‘I chose to study at Essex because when I visited the Colchester Campus I fell in love with the surroundings and the friendly atmosphere; I felt at home straight away. The Colchester Campus was really compact so I often bumped into people I knew and made friends very easily.   My favourite modules were Philosophy of Rights and Contemporary Theories of Justice as they were both interesting and challenging. They helped me to understand contemporary issues and the varying impact that policies can have on society. The Department of Philosophy was extremely welcoming and supportive, always making time to see me when needed. The degree has given me a greater understanding of the issues affecting people across the world, and helped me develop my empathising skills which are so crucial for my current role. I couldn’t possibly pick one favourite memory that stood out from my time at Essex. I enjoyed everything about it and I wouldn’t change a thing.’

Shriman Narayan Sai Raman, MA Ethics, Politics and Public Policy, 2007

After completing his degree, Shriman completed an internship with the United Nations on policy issues relating to climate change.   "I think meticulous care had been taken in allotting accommodation; sharing a flat with people from the same continent made us pretty much at home.  Essex has the ideal combination of academic excellence and relaxed social life.  The Seminar on Public Policy was superb, very interactive and the different nationalities in Philosophy and Rights brought out a very varied, cross-cultural philosophical conception of rights resulting in very interesting academic debates in the classroom.  Philosophy has an ever-supportive academic staff, with frequent papers, seminars and get-togethers leading to stronger ties with the members of the Department.  Essex has certainly helped me decide my future goals, by introducing me to a range of opportunities."

Karen Ng, MA Continental Philosophy 2006

"I decided to study at Essex because the Department of Philosophy was suited to my research interests and home to many of the professors that I wanted to work with. I wanted to do a Masters programme so that I could then go on to do PhD research.  During my time at Essex I most enjoyed my classes, particularly meeting and learning from professors."    (Karen is now pursuing a PhD at the New School for Social Research, New York)

Amelia Nowikow, 2006, BA Philosophy

Upon graduation Amelia secured a place on a graduate training scheme at Consolidated Communications. She then moved on to Frank PR where she stayed for eight months before becoming the Celebrity and PR Officer at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. "I chose to go to Essex because it had a great reputation for Social Sciences, offered a wide choice of courses in my subject area and seemed very friendly on the Open Day which I attended. I settled in really quickly; I met a lot of nice people early on through sports and social activities. I loved the Philosophy and Human Rights course as it allowed me to apply my philosophical knowledge and study a variety of current issues. I thought the Department was really great - all the staff were friendly and helpful. All of the courses have provided me with skills that I use in my day-to-day working life and have helped me to develop my analytical and creative thinking, in addition to communication and writing skills. They have also helped me to look at things from a different perspective and better understand many current issues. The social life at Essex was great and I made some of my closest friends during my time there."

Samir Patel, 2005, BA PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics)

After completing his degree, Samir obtained a Masters in Economics at Trinity College, Dublin and is now working as an analyst in The City. Settling into university life at Essex was very easy. The administrators and lecturers were really helpful. From a social perspective, whether on- or off-campus, it was brilliant! Fond memories include The Summer Ball and nights at the Students' Union. I enjoyed learning about philosophy from scratch, as well as getting into more focused modules. Coming to the University of Essex played an important role in helping me decide what I wanted to do in the future. More importantly, living on my own, making new friends and doing things for myself taught me essential practical skills. It was the best time of my life!

Andrew Rulli, MA Continental Philosophy 2005

"What I appreciate most, from an academic standpoint, about my time as an MA student in the Philosophy department, are the relationships built with the highly-regarded, yet also very inviting professors. These relationships granted me access to a wealth of informative and stimulating ideas; ideas which not only strengthened my academic work, but, perhaps more importantly, enhanced my abilities as a thinker, and engaged me as a person."

Kerry Tyler, 2003, BA Philosophy

Upon graduation, Kerry began working for a bank; in 2005 he joined the Fire Service as a fire-fighter. The University of Essex had a strong academic reputation, a self-contained green campus, a diverse population and was relatively close to home; I knew it would meet all my expectations. When I arrived, my flatmates and I investigated the various university-organised events and bonded very quickly. The Department of Philosophy was approachable and friendly. Regular office hours allowed me to clarify what I had learnt in lectures and resolve any difficulties I had with my modules. I am now a fire-fighter and I often draw on the skills I acquired during my degree. The ability to think logically, analyse differing viewpoints and form my own reasoned opinion has proved a big advantage when speaking to members of the public in an emergency situation. I felt that I achieved so much at Essex, and my graduation day was the perfect opportunity to celebrate in front of my family and friends.

Josie Crimp, 2003, BA Philosophy & Literature

Josie followed her studies at Essex with an MA from UCL in Library and Information Studies, before beginning a career as a children's librarian in Croydon.  In 2007 she was recognised by the Love Libraries campaign as a "Top Ten New Librarian" within the field of public libraries, and she also attained chartered membership of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).  After spending a year volunteering in a Mexican Orphanage, in September 2009 Josie will be taking up a new postition as librarian at the prestigious Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nicholas Joll, MA Continental Philosophy 1997, PhD 2005

"I chose Essex for my PhD on the ground that its philosophy department was sympathetic to rigorous and non-partisan approaches to the Continental thinkers I meant to tackle."

Andrew Fagan, PhD 2003

"I chose to study in the Department of Philosophy at Essex for two reasons.  Firstly, the reputation of the Department was outstanding for both teaching and research.  Secondly, the Department has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that made studying and working there a pleasure. Over the course of my PhD I was very fortunate to be able to work with some of the leading philosophers in my particular field of study and have benefited immensely from their interest in my research."

Diarmuid Costello, PhD 2003

"Essex was a good place to study; there was a lively graduate community with lots of talks by visiting speakers to attend, some very good students and (for my purposes) an excellent cross-fertilisation, especially at graduate level, between the Departments of Philosophy and Art History and Theory...Essex is a very well-respected institution, particularly at graduate level, and graduates from the University's Department of Philosophy have a good record of securing interesting jobs, both inside and outside academia."

Mandy Wax, MA Philosophy and Psychoanalysis 2001

"Essex was the obvious choice for me as it gave me the opportunity to combine Philosophy with Psychoanalysis on an MA programme.  My time at Essex was inspiring and I felt privileged to be part of two such high calibre departments.  The experience was one which I can heartily recommend - my studies prepared me well for future undertakings and I met a lot of fantastic people, both students and staff."

Juan Cruz Olmeda, MA Ethics, Politics and Public Policy 2001

"as a Chevening scholar I spent one year at the University of Essex studying for an MA in Ethics, Politics and Public Policy during 2000-2001. When I think about my life retrospectively, I consider this as a turning point. Being involved in an international academic environment was an incredibly enriching experience both in professional and personal terms."

Pauline Ngan, MA Ethics, Politics and Public Policy 1999

"I enjoyed the EPPP module immensely. It was exactly the right mix of intellectual challenge, analytical rigour and healthy debate."

BBC Broadcaster and Writer, Dotun Adebayo, a former philosophy graduate (BA Philosophy, 1987)

Dotun Adebayo - Alumnus of the Year 2008, was awarded the MBE on the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2009.  He was born in Nigeria in 1960 and came to Britain five years later. After graduating from the Universities of Essex and Stockholm he became a music journalist for publications including NME, Melody Maker, Time Out and Echoes. Today, he combines presenting on Radio Five Live and BBC London with guest slots on BBC 2’s Culture Show and Newsnight Review. Dotun is also an accomplished writer and publisher and founded the publishing company X Press.

 

In summer 2007, Dotun launched Britain’s first general interest black internet television station, colourtelly.tv, which aims to represent under-served or neglected minority viewers.