.jpg?mw=300)
Welcome Week
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies Departmental Induction 2026
Welcome to our School
Come and find out more about your course, meet key members of staff and meet the people you’re going to be studying with.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our department.
Joint-honours degrees
Studying more than one subject? If you're studying a joint degree, you should access key support through your home department. If you're not sure which is your home department, you can find out on MyEssex.
Undergraduate schedules
- Foundation year
- Art History (First year)
- History (First year)
- Philosophy (First year)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (First year)
- Returning undergraduates (Second and final years)
Postgraduate schedules
Foundation year
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Foundation Year welcome talk An essential introductory seminar to introduce your tutors and other Foundation Year students. |
New undergraduates
Art History
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Sign in and refreshments | EBS Foyer |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Welcome
Talk from Head of School |
EBS 2.2 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Meet and greet
Meet your course director and student advisor. |
EBS.2.68 |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch | EBS Foyer |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Intro lecture
An introductory lecture on art history. |
EBS.2.68 |
| 15:00 | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 13:30 - 15:15 | Campus walk | TBC |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Tour of ESCALA | TBC |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | New student workshop | LTB 07 |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
History
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Sign in and refreshments | EBS Foyer |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Welcome
Talk from Head of School |
EBS 2.2 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Meet and greet
Meet your course director and student advisor. |
EBS.2.65 |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch | EBS Foyer |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Intro lecture
An introductory lecture on art history. |
EBS.2.65 |
| 15:00 | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 13:30 - 15:15 | Campus walk | TBC |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Tour of ESCALA | TBC |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | New student workshop | LTB 07 |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Philosophy
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Sign in and refreshments | EBS Foyer |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Welcome
Talk from Head of School |
EBS 2.2 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Meet and greet
Meet your course director and student advisor. |
EBS.2.66 |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch | EBS Foyer |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Intro lecture
An introductory lecture on art history. |
EBS.2.66 |
| 15:00 | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 13:30 - 15:15 | Campus walk | TBC |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Tour of ESCALA | TBC |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | New student workshop | LTB 07 |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Interdisciplinary Studies
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Sign in and refreshments | EBS Foyer |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Welcome
Talk from Head of School |
EBS 2.2 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Meet and greet
Meet your course director and student advisor. |
EBS.2.46 |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch | EBS Foyer |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Intro lecture
An introductory lecture on art history. |
EBS.2.46 |
| 15:00 | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 13:30 - 15:15 | Campus walk | TBC |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Tour of ESCALA | TBC |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | New student workshop | LTB 07 |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Returning undergraduates
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Wednesday 14 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Welcome back
Welcome talk from the Head of School |
CTC |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Meet your student advisor/course directors and lunch: | |
| Art history | TBC | |
| History | TBC | |
| Philosophy | TBC | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | TBC |
Thursday 15 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Women in Philosophy lunch
All PHAIS students welcome |
6.143 (PHAIS common room) |
| 15:00 - 17:00 | PHAIS seminar series and reception | TBC |
Postgraduate Taught
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 15:00 onwards | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Sign in and refreshments | Tony Rich Foyer |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Course introduction: | |
| Art History | TC.1.10 | |
| History | TC.1.16 | |
| Philosophy | TC.1.11 | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | TC.1.12 and TC.1.13 | |
| 12:00 - 13:30 | Welcome talk and lunch | NTC.3.05 |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Tour of ESCALA | TBC |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Thursday 15 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Women in Philosophy lunch
All PHAIS students welcome |
6.143 (PHAIS common room) |
| 15:00 - 17:00 | PHAIS seminar series and reception | TBC |
Postgraduate Research
Tuesday 6 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 15:00 onwards | Social event
Join us for a social event including a quiz. |
EBS.2.1 |
Wednesday 7 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 09:00 - 14:00 | PGR welcome conference
Centrally organised, not department specific. |
TBC |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Meet and greet
Meet the Director of Graduate Studies and supervisors |
TBA |
| 15:30 - 17:00 | PHAIS Seminar Series
Join us for the first departmental seminar of the academic year. |
LTB 01 |
Thursday 8 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 11:30 - 13:00 | Walk to Wivenhoe | TBC |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Departmental reception
All undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to join us for a reception to mark the start of the new academic year. |
STEM 3.1 |
Thursday 15 October 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Women in Philosophy lunch
All PHAIS students welcome |
6.143 (PHAIS common room) |
| 15:00 - 17:00 | PHAIS seminar series and reception | TBC |
Queries about department induction events
