Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

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Fact sheet

The Master's

The Institute of Philosophy offers full programmes in English leading to BA, MA, MPhil and PhD degrees. Viewed collectively, our undergraduate and post-graduate degrees aim to familiarise students with the historical traditions of philosophy, as well as with contemporary movements in English-speaking and Continental Philosophy, so that they are able to tackle the fundamental areas of philosophical research.

The aim of the BA programme is to provide a thorough historical and systematic education in philosophy. Ordinarily, our BA degree is taught over three years, although it is possible for students to be admitted to either the second or third stage of the programme, depending upon their educational background and qualifications. Students who have already earned a BA degree in an area of studies other than Philosophy may be eligible to enter a one-year Abridged BA programme in Philosophy.

The one-year MA programme aims to develop students’ knowledge of philosophy by exposing them to more detailed study of the central issues of the subject, and by equipping them with the requisite research skills needed to proceed to a higher degree.

The MPhil is situated in the curriculum of the Institute of Philosophy after the BA and MA. The programme is primarily research-oriented, and is integrated into the Doctoral Programme. Students should already have acquired a broad and somewhat specialised knowledge of philosophy, and possess the skills needed for independent research. The MPhil aims to deepen this knowledge, with particular focus on an area of research in which the student wishes to prepare a PhD. The process of gaining more in-depth knowledge and the process of specialisation go hand in hand. The objective set for the student is to obtain a thorough familiarity with and fundamental understanding of an area of research, and thereby to attain a level of expertise which demonstrates this.

My profile

You have an MA (Phil) and a general and thorough knowledge of the history of Philosophy and of its most important research domains. You belong to the top of your class at the MA level. You can prove your research abilities. You can tell us why you are interested in the programme and you can formulate the basic outline of your research project.

Admission requirements

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Study programme

The programme is oriented towards specialised research work in philosophy. The focus is firmly on the development of independent research and concentrates on a number of fundamental courses which develop the specific skills of the advanced student. The programme can be considered to be a final degree. It is also a bridge or transitional programme to the doctoral programme and functions as a qualification for formal acceptance to doctoral studies.

The MPhil is designed in such a way that it allows each student to concentrate on a major field of study. In order to complete the programme, the student participates in:

1. a common seminar in which students present their own research to fellow students (4 credits);
2. research seminars taken from his/her major (16 credits)
3. electives (16 credits); and
4. the writing of a MPhil Master’s thesis (24 credits).   

Possible areas of research for the major and minor, and the thesis are:

• Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
• Phenomenology and Contemporary Continental Philosophy
• Metaphysics and Philosophy of Culture
• Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy
• Analytical Philosophy.

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Assets

Philosophy has been taught at the KU Leuven since its foundation in 1425. Throughout the centuries, the university has remained an important and influential centre of philosophical thought, with a strong commitment to the international dimension of education. In more recent times, the Institute of Philosophy, established in 1889, has continued this august tradition, and is now an internationally recognised centre of philosophical research. It houses the famous Husserl-Archives and the renowned De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy. The institute is also home to the Centre for Metaphysics and Modern Philosophy, the Centre for Culture and Philosophy, the Centre for Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy and the Centre for Logic and Analytic Philosophy.

The Institute of Philosophy is committed to philosophical pluralism and to the highest possible standards in research. Its teaching staff of more than thirty outstanding scholars offers a wide variety of challenging courses and research seminars at undergraduate and graduate levels. With a population of nearly 700 students, comprising some 40 different nationalities, the institute is a vibrant intellectual community that celebrates the subject of philosophy in all its many guises.

The library of the institute is one of the finest philosophical libraries in the world. It contains more than 100.000 volumes and subscribes to more than 400 journals. It is user-friendly, with open stacks, a liberal lending policy and an online catalogue. The student also has access to other excellent collections at the Central University Library, the Maurits Sabbe Library of the Theology Faculty, and to the considerable holdings in philosophy of other libraries within the university’s library network.

Career prospects

Students of philosophy deepen their skills of analysis and synthesis, and so are uniquely prepared to take on a variety of different careers. Most of our graduates however aim at an academic career, they obtain their doctorate in Philosophy and end up being a professor or scientific researcher. Others go into management positions, into official positions, into government, the press and publication world, as well as the media and socio-cultural sector.

Registration fee

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More information

Extra admission requirements upon application

• Three letters of recommendation, written by someone familiar with the candidate's academic work and achievements;
• A sample of the candidate's best written work in philosophy or in a related area;
• A certificate proving the applicant’s proficiency in English (except for those coming from the USA, Ireland, the UK, and the English-speaking regions of the UK Commonwealth).

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If you have other questions, contact:

Institute of Philosophy
Kardinaal Mercierplein 2
3000 Leuven, Belgium
Tel.: +32 16 32 63 02 or +32 16 32 63 00
Fax +32 16 32 63 48

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