Master of Arts in Philosophy

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Fact sheet

The Master's

The Institute of Philosophy offers a comprehensive range of BA, MA, MPhil and PhD degrees. All its programmes are taught in English. Courses are taught by means of lectures and seminars, while doctoral study is based around supervisory meetings with a supervisor.

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 (or Advanced Master’s programme) is primarily research-oriented, and is integrated into the Doctoral Programme. It allows the student significant freedom in developing a research project suitable for a doctoral dissertation, permitting deepened knowledge of other core areas of philosophy.

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.

My profile

You have a BA in Philosophy (or another recognised university degree or an academic background in philosophy equivalent to the BA in philosophy) as a preparation for further studies in the discipline. You have knowledge of languages, an interest in questions of meaning, the capacity for abstract and conceptual thought and a reflective and critical inquisitiveness with regard to your own presuppositions and particular problems. You are motivated to specialise in (a particular area of) philosophy. You are able to build on the knowledge you have acquired previously and to conduct sound independent research on an academic level, resulting in a Master's thesis.

Admission requirements

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Study programme

The programme consists of Core Courses, Electives and a Master’s Thesis.

• Core Courses (32 credits)
  • Three Text Courses (12 credits)
  • Four Advanced Courses (16 credits)
  • One Seminar (4 credits)
• Electives (4 credits)
• Master’s Thesis (24 credits)

Within the Core Courses, students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of Text Courses, Advanced Courses and Seminars. The Master’s Thesis is the pinnacle of a year of intensive study in which a student learns to find his/her way in the world of individual scientific research. The thesis work is guided by a supervisor.

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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 students also have 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 in the university’s library network.

Career prospects

The programme does not directly prepare the student for a specific professional activity. Graduates work in many different disciplines, in business, in civil service, politics, the book and publishing industry, the media, the socio-cultural sector 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 as if they had studied specifically to become teachers. Philosophy is still less eminent in programmes of secondary education. Philosophers mainly end up teaching more general courses. Philosophy is more prevalent, however, in higher education. Teaching in higher education usually requires a doctoral degree. Graduates in Philosophy also score comparatively well in exams for the civil service, ministries, the financial world and so on.

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
fax + 32 16 32 63 48

Application