"thoughts at peace - that is the goal someone who philosophises longs for" Wittgenstein

Study Abroad Opportunities

Study Abroad Opportunities for Undergraduate Students:

The School of Philosophy & Art History now offers all of its undergraduate courses as a 4yr international exchange course where the 3rd year is spent at an approved institution abroad.

Students can either enrol onto the international exchange course from the beginning of their study or transfer to it from a 3yr course (ideally, students who want to make this switch do so after the Easter Vacation in the 1st year, though there remains the opportunity to switch at the start of the Autumn term in the 2nd year). 

Students on  3yr BA courses also have the opportunity of spending one term abroad, but only for one term, typically in the Autumn Term of their third year.

Details of partner universities can be found on the Study Abroad Office website.  Details of course structures can be found at:

·         University of Essex Course Finder website

·         The School of Philosophy & Art History Undergraduate BA Courses

Outgoing undergraduate students should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dan Watts..

News: Robyn Forsyth, student on BA Philosophy (International Exchange) 4yr degree course. Awarded first ever student scholarship in China.

Study Abroad Opportunities for Postgraduate Students:

Philosophy at Essex offers a variety of study abroad opportunities: (a) Erasmus Exchange Programme with Tübingen and Paris and (b) a two-week Intensive Programme, taught in collaboration with a number of other European institutions.

  • Erasmus Exchange Programme

  • Tübingen and Paris

  • Intensive Programme in Philosophy & Religion

All out-going postgraduate students should contact the Study Abroad Officer (currently Dr Timo Jütten).

The School of Philosophy & Art History welcomes incoming study abroad students.  All enquiries and applications should be to the Study Abroad Office.

Erasmus Programme: Tübingen and Paris

Erasmus Exchange Programme: details

The Department offers you the opportunity of a visiting studentship at Tübingen (which has a very good philosophy department and is a lovely German town with a very active student life) or Paris (which needs no introduction). Thanks to the EU, there is even some financial assistance for the time you spend there.

Where is the catch? There is none. It is true that you will have to spend at least three months at Tübingen or Paris, but that is hardly a bad thing. (In fact, you can stay for a whole year.) There are no formal requirements that you have to attend any of the courses/modules on offer or submit coursework, although as visiting students you will be (with the course lecturer’s permission) allowed to sit and even to submit coursework (probably this would have to be in German), if you choose to do so. The best time to go would be October - January or April - July, since this is when most people are around at the two institutions.

If you want to take up this excellent opportunity to brush up on your German/French, to take advantage of the German/French philosophical scene, and to have access to a good library with books which you are unlikely to get hold off here (not to mention to enjoy Tübingen/Paris), then you need to do two things: (a) talk to your supervisor as soon as possible and ask for his or her permission to go; and (b) contact the Study Abroad Officer (currently Dr Timo Jütten) by the end of December 2011. You will then have to make a decision by March 2012 for the next academic year (i.e. 2012/13). See below for further information.

For more information about both Tübingen and Paris, and student testimonials, please follow this link.

Please also visit the University of Essex Course Finder website and the Study Abroad Office website itself.

Below are some facts and requirements about the Erasmus Programme:

·         Study abroad for periods of 3-12 months.

·         Limited places (up to 2 per institution).

·         Suitable for PhD students and students on the MA by     dissertation.

·         No requirement to complete modules or coursework at the host institution, though you are free to sit in or even take classes for credit.

·         Language classes (normally provided free of charge by host organisation).

·         Access to student housing services at the host institution.

·         Mobility grants of up to €3,000 for EU citizens via the ERASMUS programme.

·         Non-EU citizens can participate in the exchange, but are not eligible to receive this grant.

Requirements:

·         Complete application BEFORE March 2012 for the academic year 2012/13

·         Approval by PhD Supervisor and approach Study Abroad Office (by the end of December 2011)

·         Approval by Study Abroad Officer, Dr Timo Jütten (by the end of January 2012)

·         Approval by Graduate Dean (by mid-February 2012)

·         Approval by funder (such as AHRC), if applicable (by the end of February 2012).

Mathijs Peters spent the Academic Year 2010/11 at the Institute.

Study Abroad Opportunities:

Intensive Programme in Democracy and Religion

Two-week Intensive Programme in Philosophy & Religion, 1 July - 14 July 2012 at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara (to be confirmed) 

The Department is also currently involved in organising a two-week Intensive Programme in Philosophy and Religion. Up to four students (Masters and Research) and one member of staff from each of the participating universities attend this Intensive Programme. The other universities involved are: Tilburg University (Netherlands), Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj, Romania), Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland), Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey) and Antwerp University (Belgium).  In past years stipends have been made available to Essex students in order to defray travel and accommodation costs and it is hoped that this will continue in 2011-2. Once details have been finalised further information will be circulated and students will have the opportunity to apply for a place. 

For more information, please contact the Study Abroad Officer (currently Dr Timo Jütten).