Central European University (CEU)
Master of Arts in Philosophy (2 years)Vienna, Austria
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* application deadline for applicants for master’s programs who wish to be considered for CEU financial aid (where available).
** payable in one or two installments, non-refundable initial tuition fee installment (€500 EUR) is paid to confirm your acceptance of our offer of admission and is credited towards the 1st tuition fee installment in year 1
Key Summary
Introduction
The Department of Philosophy offers two MA programs in Philosophy: a two-year program and a one-year program.
Holders of at least a four-year degree in philosophy may apply for both the two-year and one-year MA programs. Holders of a three-year bachelor’s degree in philosophy should, as a rule, apply for the two-year MA program rather than the one-year program. This also prevents potential degree recognition problems when applying for doctoral study in continental Europe or on the continental European job market. Occasional exemptions from this rule are granted. Holders of degrees only in subjects other than philosophy are advised to apply for the two-year MA program.
The two-year program covers most of the major areas of philosophy, mainly from an analytic perspective, including the major periods in the history of philosophy. The one-year program is suitable for students who already have a general grounding in the history of philosophy and the major subject areas, and wish to deepen their acquaintance with particular fields and develop their analytic skills as a preparation for doctoral training or other professional careers.
Philosophy students studying in either the two-year or the one-year MA program may optionally participate in one of the three specializations that earn an additional US non-degree Advanced Certificate. These are the Advanced Certificate in Religious Studies, coordinated by the Center for Religious Studies; Advanced Certificate in Political Thought, coordinated by the Center for Historical Studies; and Advanced Certificate in Ethics and Political Philosophy, jointly offered by the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Political Science.
Why choose philosophy?
CEU’s Philosophy Department is internationally recognized as one of the top analytic philosophy programs in continental Europe. Its faculty has published in the best journals and presses in the world.
Sample Courses for the Master’s Programs
Compulsory courses
Epistemology; Philosophy of Language; Metaphysics; Ethics; Ancient Philosophy; Early Modern Philosophy; Kant and After
Elective courses
Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Religion; Aristotle; Aesthetics
Program Accreditation/Registration
- The program was approved and registered by the New York State Education Department.
- Program accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ-Austria)
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
To master’s candidates, we award financial aid based on academic merit. You can apply for financial support for master’s studies in the Funding section of the Online Application Form.
Curriculum
Two-year Philosophy MA program, overview of the planned curriculum (example)
1st year, 1st term
- Academic Writing (Credits 2)
- Departmental Colloquium (Credits 1)
- Logic (Credits 2)
- Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Language (Credits 2)
- Epistemology (Credits 2)
- Ancient Philosophy (Credits 2)
- Elective Courses (Credits 4)
1st year, 2nd term
- Departmental Colloquium (Credits 1)
- Ethics (Credits 2)
- Metaphysics (Credits 2)
- Early Modern Philosophy (Credits 2)
- Continental Philosophy since Kant (Credits 2)
- Elective Courses (Credits 6)
2nd year, 1st term
- Departmental Colloquium (Credits 1)
- Elective Courses (Credits 10)
2nd year, 2nd term
- Departmental Colloquium (Credits 1)
- MA Thesis Seminar (Credits 2)
- Elective Courses (Credits 8)
- MA Thesis (Credits 8)
Credits earned in the two years: 60 CEU credits (each year 30 CEU credits). Spring terms are mainly for preparation for exams or thesis writing. MA Thesis work starts however already in the Fall of the second year.
The Structure of the Program
Two-year program
To graduate in the two-year MA program, students must complete a total of 60 CEU credits (equals 120 ECTS), of which they earn:
- 24 credits from required courses (all MA core courses, Logic, Academic Writing, Departmental Colloquium, and MA Thesis Seminar)
- 28 credits from elective courses
- 8 credits for the thesis (12,000–15,000 words total (references excluded); minimum passing grade C+)
While the minimum passing grade for all courses is C+, students must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.66 (B–) in the graded courses taken for credit to graduate.
Core courses, required in the first year
A significant part of the grade for the core courses is determined by performance in a series of final exams scheduled for the end of the Spring Term of the first year. The exams are grouped under two main headings: “Theoretical and Practical Philosophy”, which includes Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Language, Metaphysics, and Ethics; and “History of Philosophy”, which covers the three history courses: Ancient Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy, and Continental Philosophy. These are in-class, written exams. Students will get the questions from their instructors, by the end of the winter term, and use the spring term to prepare for the exams. They will answer one randomly drawn question for each course. The answers are graded by the instructors of the relevant courses. (Students outside the two-year program taking these courses will have a separate exam organized if needed).
Logic
This course is offered on a pass/fail basis and is mandatory for all MA students.
Academic Writing
The course is offered on a pass/fail basis by the Center for Academic Writing and is mandatory for all MA students. After the first three meetings, the academic writing instructor can recommend that a student be exempted from attending the course. The decision on whether to grant the exemption will be made by the MA Director and Head of the Department.
Departmental Colloquium series
The series consists of papers delivered by invited speakers and faculty members followed by a Q&A. Attendance at these colloquia is a key component in meeting the program objective of developing increased familiarity with current debates in philosophy. All MA students enroll each Fall and Winter Term in the one-credit pass/fail course entitled “Departmental Colloquium”. A pass grade is earned by students who attend at least 70% of the colloquia.
MA Thesis Supervisions
Second-year MA students enroll in the mandatory Second Year Thesis Supervisions I, II, and III courses in the Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms respectively, on a pass/fail basis. A pass grade is earned by students who meet with their supervisors regularly and make due progress on their thesis. Though mandatory, these courses are zero credit in the US program.
MA Thesis Seminar
MA students enroll in the thesis seminar on a pass/fail basis in the Winter Term before their defense. Students give presentations of their work and attend the presentations of others.
Elective courses
Students in the two-year program earn 28 credits from other courses of their choosing. These courses are taken for a grade. Of these, up to 4 credits per year may be chosen from courses offered by other programs at CEU or university-wide courses that are not cross-listed (courses cross-listed with the Department of Philosophy do not count toward this quota). The rest are from Master’s or Doctoral elective courses either offered by the Department of Philosophy or cross-listed with it. (Doctoral elective courses are usually open to MA students as well, and students are advised to check them too.)
Elective courses can be distributed between terms according to students’ preferences, as long as 10 credits of elective courses are taken in the first year, and the remainder of the 28 required credits of elective courses are taken in the second year.