Undergraduate Degrees in the School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies

Forge your own path towards a life filled with extraordinary experiences

Are you curious about society and culture? Passionate about building a sustainable future? Like the idea of travelling as part of your degree?

Our school combines expertise across eight subject areas. Whether you're interested in studying a single subject, or combining your studies with another discipline such as law, politics, or languages to name a few, we're confident you'll find a course you love within our mixture of single honours, joint honours, and interdisciplinary degrees.

Explore our courses in Clearing

What can you study?

Our Courses

American Studies Art History European Studies Global Studies

Our Courses

History Latin American Studies Liberal Arts

Hear from our Director of Education

“If you're keen to unearth your creativity, find your own voice and see the world differently, if you're ready to become yourself, explore the topics that deeply matter to you and fuel your desire to learn, you are in the right place.”

Dr Jörg Schaub Director of Education philosophical, historical, and interdisciplinary studies

Our research-led teaching

As an undergraduate student, you'll get a front seat to the latest discoveries and cutting-edge insights as they're delivered straight into your lectures. How? Because your academics are trailblazers and passionate researchers who, when not leading your lessons, are actively engaging with the dynamic world around us and immersing themselves at the forefront of the ever-evolving social and political landscape.

Everything they learn and uncover in their research is instilled directly into our curriculum, meaning when you finish your degree, you'll be heading into the graduate jobs market highly skilled and with the most up-to-date knowledge in your field.

Research

Our research Our Research Centres Our research groups Research case studies

Meet your lecturers

Philosophy History Art history Interdisciplinary studies

Careers and your future

Throughout your time with us, you'll have access to many CV-boosting opportunities such as career mentoring, networking events, volunteering, placements and internships.

Careers advice

Fancy a peek into your future?

Study abroad

Now's your chance to travel the world

Work placements

Get a competitive edge and add a placement to your degree

Supporting you during your studies

Whether you're looking for information about your course, study resources, or details on which services and facilities are available to you at Essex, you can find all of our advice and guidance in the Student Directory.

Support

Your departmental handbook (.PDF) Scholarships Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS) LGBTQ+ students Faith Centre

Accessibility

Physical, hearing, or visual impairment Autistic Spectrum Condition and ADHD Dyslexia and Specific Learning Differences AuDHD Neurodivergent Society

Meet our subject leads

Meet your subject leads below and get to know more about the people who'll be shaping your education.

Philosophy

Dr Daniel Watts

Senior Lecturer

Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex

I see philosophy not just as an abstract, intellectual pursuit. As the ancient Greeks taught, philosophy is a way of taking care of one’s own life that begins in lived experiences of wonder and perplexity. My favourite modern philosopher is Søren Kierkegaard, who also emphasized philosophy’s connections to certain sorts of humour, anxiety, suffering and experiences of transcendence. I think it’s vital to keep philosophy in touch with its more-than-merely-intellectual dimensions.

History

Dr Matthew Grant

Reader

Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex

I became fascinated by history at an early age. Reading at school, watching television, and listening to family stories gave me the sense of the past as a set of stories and narratives to be untangled. Through football championships and Olympics, the world was changing in front of me. Now, as a professional historian, I'm keen to explore how such massive political and cultural changes are understood by ordinary people.

Art History

Dr Natasha Ruiz-Gomez

Senior Lecturer

Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex

Art reveals how we think about the world and our place in it. For me, great art makes you feel—it connects us, like a time machine, to other historical moments. We live in increasingly visual times, and so the ability to read images is critical to navigating, understanding and shaping our reality. Thinking like an art historian has never been more important.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Dr Matthew Burch

Senior Lecturer

Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex

I love Interdisciplinary Studies because it does not pen us in with disciplinary boundaries, but rather sets us free to follow the questions we care about where they lead. This freedom attracts many of the most intellectually curious and adventurous students I have ever met.

Ready to apply? Get the ball rolling

Applying to Essex

Applying through Clearing UK applicants International applicants Writing your personal statement Keep in touch

Fees and funding

Scholarships School awards and prizes UK Fees EU and International fees

Life at Essex

Whether you're hoping to make lifelong friends or you're planning on getting your head down to focus on your studies, if you're returning to education or moving across the world, finding your place here and throwing yourself into life at Essex is something to get excited about.

Student Societies

Meet like minded people

What's on?

See what events the SU have planned

International students

Transition into your new home away from home

Art History undergraduate enquiries Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies

Email: arugadmin@essex.ac.uk

Interdisciplinary Studies undergraduate enquiries Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies

Email: iscugadmin@essex.ac.uk

Philosophy undergraduate enquiries Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies

Email: pyugadmin@essex.ac.uk

History undergraduate enquiries Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies

Email: hrugadmin@essex.ac.uk