Philosophy with Human Rights

Philosophy with human rights is a degree that brings together one of the oldest intellectual disciplines and one of its most consequential practical applications. Philosophy develops the tools of rigorous argument and conceptual analysis, asking foundational questions about knowledge, existence, ethics, and justice with the kind of precision that pushes beyond intuition and common sense. Human rights is both a philosophical idea and a political and legal framework, and it is one of the most influential practical expressions of philosophical thinking in the modern world.

The claim that all human beings possess the same fundamental rights is philosophically contested, legally codified, and practically urgent, making it a subject that rewards serious philosophical attention.

At the University of Essex, this three-year, full-time degree examines human rights as a philosophical problem, tracing the arguments that ground and challenge it alongside its practical manifestations in international law, political institutions, and social movements. You will develop your capacity for sustained philosophical reasoning while engaging with real questions about how the idea of human rights should be understood, applied, and defended. A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the accessible standard of entry for a programme that rewards intellectual curiosity and the willingness to engage with difficult questions.

Graduates of philosophy with human rights go on to work in law, human rights organisations, international development, the civil service, journalism, education, policy research, and a wide range of other fields where the ability to reason carefully about justice and rights is valued. The degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study in philosophy, law, political theory, or human rights, and it provides a strong foundation for a career in human rights law or advocacy.