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Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability (Including Placement Year)

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 10/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Colchester Campus

Course summary

Our BA in Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability at Essex University is a course for anyone who wants to understand the environmental crises of today and play an active role in addressing them.

Philosophy provides you with the skills to analyse the environmental challenges we face and to creatively re-think our relationship to the non-human world. It ensures that you understand and respond appropriately to the ethical dimensions of environmental challenges, such as climate justice or animal ethics.

On this course, interdisciplinary modules such as “Addressing Global Sustainability Challenges” from Life Sciences enable you to make sense of the science behind these environmental challenges and to effectively cooperate with scientists in addressing these issues.

Our BA also includes Interdisciplinary Studies modules such as “Social Entrepreneurs, Sustainability and Community Action” and “Community Engagement: Group Projects or Global Challenges” that prepare you to get actively involved in tackling environmental challenges.

This course offers a Philosophy-led, interdisciplinary approach to sustainability and focuses on the existential questions of human life, providing a critical perspective on the social, political and economic challenges we are facing today.

We are involved in many exciting and interdisciplinary research projects, and have active links with other areas including Political Science, Law, Sociology and Psychoanalysis. We are 7th in the UK for research impact in philosophy (Grade Point Average, REF2021).

Our courses can also be taken as a four-year option including a year of study abroad.

Modules

Visit the University of Essex website for full module details.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
V5L7
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 112 - 120 points

Offers will be made from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. We accept A Levels, BTECs, Access to HE Diploma, International Baccalaureate, T Levels, AAQs and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff. Whilst International A-levels and BTECs aren't on the tariff calculator, we assign them the same tariff points as their UK counterparts.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Essex we consider your whole application – not just grades. If you don’t meet the exact grade requirements, you may still be considered.
We’re dedicated to helping students from underrepresented groups to access an Essex education. We may give you a Contextual Offer up to two A-Level grades below our standard conditional offer based on where you live, your school, and other details from your application.

Learn more on the University of Essex website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
EU£21500Year 1
International£21500Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for the 2026-27 academic year. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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