Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

  My profile | Study programme | Admission | Career prospects | More information

Fact sheet

The Bachelor’s

What might you have in common with Herman Van Rompuy, first and current President of the European Council? A Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Leuven, in the heart of Europe! An ideal basis for further studies in philosophy at Leuven or further afield, or a launching pad for an exciting professional career in fields such as law, economics and medicine, a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy will do much more than introduce you to the highly sought-after skills of logic, critical thinking and close reading. Structuring your own quest for meaning, a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy will help you to make sense of the world and your own place in it. Come to Leuven and get to know yourself!

If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, and you feel like taking up an exciting intellectual challenge and expanding your skills, you will certainly be interested in the Bachelor’s Abridged programme which will take you through all the beauties and intricacies of philosophy in just one year.

My profile

Students must have a good knowledge of English (either native or TOEFL standards: minimum 100 on the Internet based test, or an IELTS score of 7-7.5 pt. Other English language proficiency certificates are also accepted).
Students with some higher education may be eligible to apply for admission with advanced placement of either 60 ECTS or 120 ECTS.

Besides the usual entry qualifications for university education in general (a high-quality secondary-level education, excellent reading and writing skills) and for cultural studies in particular (broad general knowledge, intellectual curiosity), the following are important indicators:
 

• a sense of history and an open spirit of curiosity and intellectual wonder;
• a strong interest in questions of meaning;
• a capacity for abstract and conceptual thinking;
• a reflexive and critical capacity concerning one's own presuppositions and problems formulated for oneself.
  
   

Study programme

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy programme is a three-year programme composed of 180 ECTS and divided into 3 stages. The student should earn an average of 60 ECTS per stage.

The programme is structured around Basic and Historical Philosophy Courses – the so-called “Core Courses” – as well as Seminars and Elective Courses. The Core Courses provide the student with the necessary knowledge of the history of philosophy and key philosophical themes and concepts. In Seminars, the student learns how to read and analyse texts closely, as well as give well-structured presentations. Electives, which also include non-philosophical courses, stimulate the student’s interests and encourage interdisciplinarity.  An important part of the programme is the Bachelor’s Paper with Seminar during which the student learns how to research and write a more extended piece of philosophical scholarship.

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Abridged programme is a one-year programme composed of 64-65 ECTS; its structure follows the same principles as the regular BA programme with a particular emphasis on the Core Courses.

Individually tailored programmes of study and bridging programmes can be drawn up on the basis of the student’s file.

To a detailed overview of the programme (180 ECTS)

To a detailed overview of the abridged programme

Admission requirements

To the definitive admission requirements of the Bachelor's programme (180 ECTS) or the abridged programme.

 
Click the -icon next to 'admission requirements'.

After you have obtained your Bachelor’s degree

• Master of Arts in Philosophy

Students with a Bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Philosophy can go on directly to the Master of Arts in Philosophy programme offered by the Institute or they can continue their studies at another university abroad or in Belgium.

Career prospects

Graduates in philosophy go on to careers in many different sectors, including: business, civil service, politics, publishing, media, the socio-cultural sector, journalism and many more. Many employers are interested in finding candidates who are not only well-grounded in a specific field, but who can also handle fundamental questions that arise in the course of their work. Graduates also tend to have just as much success in teaching careers as students who have specifically studied to become teachers.           

More information

The Institute of Philosophy has its roots in the eminent tradition of European continental philosophy. In recent years, however, there has been a great openness to other philosophical traditions, to Anglo-American thought, and to non-Western philosophy. The Institute of Philosophy is proud to offer its students a broad philosophical education and a wide range of courses and seminars. With nearly 700 students, from some 45 different nations, the Institute is a vibrant and cosmopolitan intellectual community that celebrates the subject of philosophy in its many forms. Furthermore, with around 30 professors, 100 researchers and over 100 doctoral students, the Institute of Philosophy is among the largest philosophical research groups in the Benelux countries.