The Philosophy Department at Sussex has a long tradition of examining and engaging with radical ideas, from a variety of philosophical traditions and perspectives. In a supportive environment, students intensively engage with important thinkers and big theories, ancient and modern, challenging received dogma and coming to their own considered views. In the process, they learn how to think and write more clearly and independently. As well as a Single Honours Philosophy degree, we offer a select number of joint Philosophy degrees in complementary subjects.
Members of the faculty at Sussex are at the forefront of the research areas in which they teach. The Philosophy department is one of the few in the UK that has both teaching and research strengths in Anglo-American ‘analytic’ philosophy, and Modern European or ‘continental’ philosophy. Please see our individual profiles for further details of our publications and research interests.
The philosophical community at Sussex is a lively one. Undergraduate philosophy students are encouraged to attend the Department’s weekly Philosophy Society research seminars, where cutting-edge research is defended by invited speakers to a friendly but critical audience. There is a thriving Sussex Undergraduate Philosophy Society, run by students, with speakers both from the University and further afield. The Department runs an annual one-day conference for second and third years, at which they present their own research to their peers. We also run an annual one-day conference for sixth-formers and sixth-form Philosophy teachers.
We welcome applications from those who find philosophical questions fascinating and who wish to explore them further. A Philosophy ‘A’ level is not required for undergraduate entry.
For further information, please explore the Philosophy department website, view our current undergraduate online prospectus, or our postgraduate online prospectus, or come to visit and meet us on one of our Open Days.
For an overview of the University of Sussex, you can also take a virtual tour of the campus.