Philosophy and English

Philosophy and English are disciplines that share a central commitment to careful, sustained engagement with language and ideas. Philosophy asks fundamental questions about knowledge, reality, ethics, the mind, and what can be said with confidence about the world and our place in it, developing rigorous methods of argument and conceptual analysis. English literature examines how language has been used across centuries and cultures to explore what it means to be human, developing close reading skills, critical sensitivity, and historical awareness.

Together, they form a combination that develops exceptional intellectual range and precision.

At the University of Sussex, this three-year, full-time programme is shaped by the university's commitment to rigour, debate, and progressive thinking. You will engage with both analytic and continental philosophical traditions, with western and non-western perspectives, and with literature that speaks across cultures and centuries. The philosophy strand will take you from ethics and aesthetics to epistemology and the philosophy of mind, developing your capacity to construct and evaluate arguments with clarity and precision.

The English strand will develop your ability to read closely, interpret carefully, and engage with literary texts in their historical and cultural contexts. The programme includes a foundation year for those who need additional academic preparation, a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement integrated throughout, giving you considerable practical experience alongside your academic development.

A typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects a competitive but accessible admissions profile. Graduates from philosophy and English programmes go on to careers in law, the civil service, journalism, education, publishing, arts administration, research, and any field that rewards intellectual rigour and the ability to communicate complex ideas with precision. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in philosophy, literature, law, or related fields, using the dual grounding of the undergraduate degree as a foundation for advanced specialist work.