(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Philosophy and Politics
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Philosophy
Politics and International Relations
BA LV25
08/05/2024
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
- A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
- BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
- Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
- IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554.
- IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
- QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
- T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. For October 2024 entry, if you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer.
Factors we consider:
- Applicants from underrepresented groups
- Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
- Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
- Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus
Our contextual offers policy outlines additional circumstances and eligibility criteria.
For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
.
Requirements for second and final year entry
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Josiah Saunders
Associate Professor
Durham University
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To provide a sound academic grounding in the disciplines of philosophy and politics.
To encourage students to identify the relevance of philosophy to other forms of enquiry and to other disciplines, especially politics, and its applicability to issues in public and political life.
To develop students'capacities for independent thought and critical reflection.
To equip students with a range of intellectual skills fostered by the study of philosophy and politics, preparing them for subsequent research, further study and a wide variety of careers.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Knowledge and understanding of philosophical texts from a variety of traditions, analytic and continental, and of major philosophical issues.
A2: Knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and empirical aspects of politics.
A3: Knowledge and understanding of the methods appropriate to the discipline in question.
Learning methods
Outcomes A1-3 are achieved through teaching in the form of lectures and classes.
In the former module content is conveyed formally while the latter involve student discussion of that content.
Books and journal articles are recommended to deepen understanding of module content, and to assist in the writing of essays and exams.
Assessment methods
Outcomes A1-3 are assessed through continuous coursework and unseen written examinations.
Coursework includes essays, essay plans, essay drafts, abstracts, peer reviews of draft student essays, reading summaries, reading analyses, in-class reading quizzes, logic exercises, take-home exams, individual and group oral presentations, and a final-year 5,000-word dissertation. Coursework is prepared during the academic year for a specified module, returned with a grade and written or oral feedback for the student.
Coursework tests the ability to research a topic using, for example, library and internet resources, expound specified texts and enter into detailed argumentation with them.
Unseen exams test the ability to rehearse and assess arguments in relation to specific questions posed within a limited time frame.
Philosophy modules include examinations in the first year only.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Capacity to follow complex arguments, and to present one's own evaluation of them.
B2: Ability to gather and evaluate large amounts of information and data.
B3: Capacity to summarise complex and demanding texts, and to assess critically their strengths and weaknesses.
B4: Capacity to argue coherently and persuasively.
Learning methods
Skills B1-4 are obtained and developed through the teaching and learning methods described above.
Students are expected to read background material for lectures and classes, and to participate fully in class discussion.
Assessment methods
Outcomes B1-4 are assessed through continuous coursework and unseen written examinations.
Coursework (as described above under A: Knowledge and Understanding) is prepared during the academic year for a specified module, returned with a grade and oral or written feedback for the student.
C: Practical skills
C1: Ability to prepare written work or oral presentations, assimilating complex arguments and significant amounts of data, expressing oneself clearly and with argumentative cogency.
C2: Ability to abstract and synthesise relevant information from a range of sources, using books, journal articles, library and internet resources.
C3: Ability to use accepted conventions for presentation of footnotes, references and bibliographies in written work.
C4: Ability to use a range of methods (library and internet resources) to perform bibliographical searches.
Learning methods
Skills C1-4 are gained by the preparation for and writing of coursework, and/or the preparation for and delivery of presentations, in conjunction with guidance given in teaching, in feedback on coursework and in departmental handbooks for both disciplines.
Assessment methods
Outcomes C1-4 are assessed through continuous coursework and unseen written examinations.
Coursework (as described above under A: Knowledge and Understanding) is prepared during the academic year for a specified module, returned with a grade and written or oral feedback for the student.
D: Key skills
D1: Ability to communicate effectively.
D2: Use of relevant information technology to research and present written work.
D4: Ability to identify the problem to be solved, to analyse it carefully, and to compare and assess different solutions to it.
D6: Ability to organize one's reading and thinking in relation to specific topics, to work to a deadline, and to learn from comments on coursework and oral communication from teachers.
Learning methods
Skills D1,2,4,and 6 are acquired and developed through the teaching and learning methods described above.
Students are encouraged to use the university key skills on-line package, word processing packages, library searches and internet resources.
Assessment methods
Outcomes D1,2,4, and 6 are assessed through continuous coursework and unseen written examinations.
Coursework (as described above under A: Knowledge and Understanding) is prepared during the academic year for a specified module, returned with a grade and written or oral comments for the student.