Q&A with Agnes Kosek
Agnes studied on the Philosophy of Education MA, class of 2025.
What is your educational background?
I have completed an undergraduate degree in Primary Education at the University of Greenwich and then a postgraduate PGCE in Primary Education, where I qualified as a primary school teacher.
I have previously qualified as a nursery nurse and have been working in client-based early years settings in a managerial position at the Ministry of Defence and Deutsche Bank’s client-based Bright Horizons Nurseries
What are your motivations for pursuing a graduate-level qualification?
I had a few modules on the philosophy of education during my undergraduate studies at a different university and have always been interested in philosophy. However, I felt that I also wanted to explore other areas within the field, particularly the philosophy of mind, hermeneutics, and the development of morality in childhood.
This led me to self-study philosophy and apply to UCL to deepen my understanding of the subject. While completing my qualification at UCL, I also obtained a P4C (Philosophy for Children) qualification.
Why did you apply to UCL for graduate study?
I applied to UCL because of my interest in expanding my understanding of the application of philosophy of education in classrooms and teacher training programmes.
After my graduation, I worked as a lecturer at the University of Greenwich, teaching on the Early Years and Primary School Teacher Training Programme, which deepened my interest in this field.
What is the best thing about your course?
The best thing about the course was the engagement with the lecturers and the valuable feedback I received. The lecturers encouraged thorough engagement with readings and were experts in their fields of study. Their sessions fostered stimulating and thought-provoking conversations around particular texts, leaving room for both academic precision and creativity of interpretation.
I also really appreciated the campus environment and the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) seminars, which were organised to promote the advancement and teaching of philosophy of education across educational sectors. I continue to attend these seminars even after completing the course.
I have attended the PESGB seminars and also the Oxford Conference every year for the past three years, where I have had the opportunity to meet people interested in the field of philosophy of education and network.
What do you find interesting about your field of study and what inspires you?
I am interested in the different ways philosophers express their ideas and the various angles from which they approach education, and how this can then underpin classroom practice.
I am inspired by academic rigour and deep engagement with philosophical texts.
What are your career plans once you’ve completed your current programme of study at UCL?
My career plans have always been to work in academia, which is something I have been doing for the past few years.
How did studying at UCL benefit your career?
Education at UCL was extremely beneficial for my career, even though benefiting from it was not the intention behind my application—rather, it was the intellectual challenge and the opportunity to be exposed to diverse ways of interpretation and thought. It significantly expanded my career opportunities and gave me valuable insight into the various ways in which people might perceive the purpose of education, as well as what meaningful academic engagement and an enriching learning environment might look like.
Some of the good practices I observed at UCL—such as being approachable for students, creating a welcoming and intellectually engaging environment—are now elements I bring into my own lectures and encourage in my students.
Receiving funding allowed me to focus on my studies and dedicate the necessary time to my academic work without the added pressure of financial stress.
What is it like studying in London and do you think it has benefited your studies?
Studying in London was a great experience, as it gave me the opportunity to meet other students on the same course, which really supported my learning. It was also beneficial to have easy access to nearby libraries for my studies.
Being in London allowed me to make use of various leisure centres and gyms, which helped me relax and recharge between study sessions—something I found really valuable.
Last updated 14 November 2025.