Integrated Master in Philosophy: Philosophy
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Overview
What is the Integrated Master in Philosophy?
The Integrated Master in Philosophy is a four-year degree that combines undergraduate study with advanced master's-level philosophy and research training.
You’ll explore some of the most fundamental questions about human existence, knowledge, morality, society and the world around us. Through rigorous discussion, analysis and independent research, you’ll develop the skills to challenge assumptions, examine ideas critically and construct well-reasoned arguments.
Why this course
The Integrated Master in Philosophy allows you to take your philosophical thinking further, combining a broad foundation in philosophy with advanced master's-level study in your final year.
Philosophy at Essex explores the questions that continue to shape human life and society. You’ll investigate issues such as the nature of knowledge, freedom, justice, ethics, politics, religion, identity and what it means to live a meaningful life.
You’ll explore how philosophy connects with contemporary challenges, including debates around healthcare, technology, public policy, capitalism, equality and social change. Rather than treating philosophy as purely abstract, you’ll examine how philosophical ideas influence the decisions and values that shape the world around us.
Learn from expert philosophers whose research strengths include ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, modern European philosophy, critical theory, phenomenology and existentialism. Their research-led teaching brings current debates and diverse philosophical traditions into the classroom.
From your first year, you’ll develop the core skills of philosophical enquiry: analysing arguments, questioning assumptions, interpreting complex texts and communicating ideas clearly. In your final year, you’ll study master's-level modules and undertake advanced independent research.
The Integrated Master structure is ideal if you are considering postgraduate study or want to graduate with a deeper understanding of philosophy and highly developed analytical skills.
By the end of your degree, you’ll have the confidence to approach complex problems from different perspectives and apply philosophical reasoning across a wide range of professional and academic contexts.
Who should apply
- Students who enjoy questioning ideas, exploring difficult questions and thinking deeply about the world around them
- Curious thinkers interested in ethics, politics, society, knowledge and human experience
- Learners considering postgraduate study or careers requiring advanced analytical and communication skills
- Students looking for a challenging degree that develops independent thinking and intellectual confidence
What you’ll learn
- Ethics and moral philosophy: Explore questions about right and wrong, responsibility, justice and human values
- Political philosophy: Examine ideas about power, freedom, equality, democracy and the organisation of society
- Knowledge and reality: Investigate questions about truth, perception, consciousness and the nature of existence
- History of philosophy: Study influential philosophical thinkers and traditions from ancient philosophy to contemporary thought
- European philosophy and critical theory: Explore modern philosophical approaches including phenomenology, existentialism and social critique
- Advanced research: Develop independent research skills and produce substantial philosophical work at master's level
Your learning experience
- Master’s-level study: Develop advanced philosophical knowledge through specialist modules in your final year
- Research-led teaching: Learn from academics whose research contributes to contemporary philosophical debates
- Small-group discussion: Develop your ideas through debate, discussion and close engagement with philosophical texts
- Independent research project: Complete an advanced final project exploring a philosophical question of your choice
- Interdisciplinary learning: Explore connections between philosophy and areas including politics, culture, law, medicine and society
- Optional study abroad year: Spend time studying at one of our partner universities and experience another culture with the Study Abroad programme
- Optional placement year: Gain professional experience in an organisation with university support from Placements at Essex
- Specialist facilities: Access extensive library collections, digital research resources and academic expertise within the School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Careers and outcomes
An Integrated Master in Philosophy degree can prepare you for careers in sectors and roles such as:
- Research and academia: Postgraduate study, doctoral research and academic careers
- Government and public policy: Policy research, civil service, public administration and advisory roles
- Law and professional services: Legal research, consultancy, compliance and analytical roles
- Media and communications: Journalism, publishing, communications and content development
- Education: Teaching, learning support and educational roles
- Business and organisations: Strategy, management, ethics, research and roles requiring critical thinking
Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates from this course develop highly transferable analytical, research and communication skills valued across a wide range of organisations, including:
- Universities and research institutions
- Government departments and public bodies
- Legal and professional services organisations
- Media and publishing organisations
- Charities and policy organisations
- Businesses and consultancy organisations
- Achieve a Masters-level qualification with this four-year course.
- Work alongside industry-active professionals.
- Focus on the existential questions of human life and receive a critical perspective on the social, political and economic challenges that we face today.
Course content
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY
Begin your study of philosophy with an exploration of epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and identity theory. What does it mean to say that we ‘know’ something? What if that something is ourselves? How do our modes of practical interaction with the world and each other shape our ability to know different kinds of objects? Are there vices of the mind that distort our reasoning and lead our practical deliberations astray? How important is trust in a functional knowledge community? What kind of creatures must we be in order to be capable of knowing things? What role does self-responsibility play in effective knowing? What is it to be a self? How does that differ from having an identity or identities? To what extent are our identities determined by others? Are they up to us? How can the study of philosophy help us with these questions?
COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY
This course introduces key academic, professional and personal skills to support a successful transition beyond undergraduate study. Students develop confidence in critical thinking, communication, teamwork and self reflection while exploring future study and career options.
View Beyond the BA: Skills for the Next Step on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY
What is the nature and limits of human knowledge? Does our common-sense view of the world have a philosophical foundation? Does sensory experience provide the only path to knowledge of the world or can we gain knowledge through the exercise of pure reason? What role, if any, does God play in knowledge? What is the relation between the body and the mind? Do we know that the sun will rise tomorrow? Study the philosophical texts of the modern era that helped lay the conceptual foundations for these questions and others. We will begin with a close reading of Descartes' Meditations before exploring both rationalist (Spinoza and Leibniz) and empiricist (Locke and Hume) responses.
COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
This year, we will explore some of the things that worry people about morality. These are matters that may be thought of as challenges to morality and that seem either to make morality impossible or to undermine our commitment to it. For instance, if morality is just a matter of what we happen to like or dislike, or it is only relative to the standards of one's culture, the idea that we can ask and give moral reasons appears to be undermined, or significantly limited. Analogously, the fact that moral discussions (unlike arguments about matters of fact) often end up in irresolvable disagreements seems to threaten the rationality of moral arguments. The role that matters of luck play in our moral evaluations seems to involve holding people responsible for things that are not really under their control, thus compromising the idea that we can really assess the moral value of their actions. In the first term, we will look at these and other challenges to morality, and we will also explore some of the metaethical questions that these challenges raise: can we say that our moral judgements are capable of being true or false? If they are, does their truth depend on certain moral facts? Can we describe these facts as natural?
COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY
In this module we will intensively examine a classic philosophical text, treating it not only as a historical document, but principally with regard to its ongoing contribution to philosophical thinking.
View Reading Texts from the History of Philosophy on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
This is an intensive final-year module running over five weeks during the summer term. It involves a guided and structured approach to support you in completing a research project of your own.
COMPONENT 01: CORE
This is the final project module for students on the Integrated Masters in Philosophy. It consists of a mixture of skills workshops and individual supervisions in the summer term to enable students to draft a article-length final project.
View Final Project: Draft Journal Article on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
This module provides intensive training in postgraduate-level writing and research in philosophy. The module is primarily designed for MA philosophy students. First-year PhD students can request permission from the Course Instructor to participate. Please note that while this module delivers valuable training, it is also demanding, both in time and effort. The module combines a weekly two-hour common session in seminar format with weekly tutorials. The tutorials provide an opportunity to receive detailed feedback on written work, to develop micro-skills of writing, and to discuss the philosophical issues explored in the workshop. The module is credit bearing. However, so that students have the freedom to experiment and learn from their mistakes without penalty, this module is assessed on the basis of a portfolio of essays. Each week, students write essays based on a reading or research assignment. In addition, the module leader might make use of a range of innovative teaching methods (e.g. asking students to present their work in class, asking students to read and provide peer feedback on the work of others in their tutorial group. Each year, the instructor chooses a suitable topic or topics for the MA Writing Workshop.
Entry requirements
Clearing entry requirements
We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of our courses with most offers expected to be made at CCD - CDD (88 - 80 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. A complete breakdown of expected Clearing entry requirements, by course, is available on our Clearing entry requirements page.
We consider each application individually and requirements may be lower for some of our courses, so please still get in touch if your grades are below those outlined.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in an equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements 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.
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.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the 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
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,790 per year
International fee
£21,500 per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
If your course has the option to include a placement year or study abroad, and you choose to do so, you will pay the following:
Placement year
20% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Study abroad
Full year abroad
15% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Single term abroad
Standard tuition fee
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
How to apply during Clearing
Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.
If you already hold an offer from Essex
Please don't reapply through Clearing. We'll review your existing application using our Clearing entry requirements. If you're worried about meeting your offer or would like to change course, please contact our Admissions Team on ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
Interviews
We don’t require an interview for most of our courses that are available through Clearing, however there are some courses such as those in our School of Health and Social Care and East 15 Acting School where an interview (or audition) may be required. If this is something that’s required for the course you have applied for, we’ll email you with all of the details.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
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