Bachelor of Philosophy
Leuven, Belgium
BA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
16 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,493 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EEA; June 1st for EEA | for the most recent – and only official – information on application deadlines, please check the KU Leuven webpage
** for non-EEA; EUR 1181.40 for EEA | for the most recent – and only official – information on tuition fees, please check the KU Leuven webpage
Key Summary
About: A Bachelor of Philosophy at KU Leuven offers a broad historical and systematic education in philosophy, teaching logic, critical thinking, close reading, and research skills for clear verbal expression. The Truncus Communis major gives core courses in systematic philosophy and its history. You can pair it with a minor: Liberal Arts, Educational Studies, or Theology and Religious Studies. It trains clear academic argumentation skills.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can progress to advanced study or enter roles that use analytical reasoning and communication skills. Typical careers include law, economics, medicine, policy analysis, research, teaching, journalism, consultancy, and public- or private-sector roles.
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Ever thought about what’s behind the subtle reasoning of Herman Van Rompuy, the former 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 as a launch pad for an exciting professional career in related fields such as law, economics and medicine.
About this Programme
The Bachelor of Philosophy programme 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 truth, a Bachelor of philosophy will help you to orient your thoughts about the world that we are living in, and it will also teach you to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary scientific and societal debates.
The aim of the programme is to provide a thorough, broad and comprehensive historical and systematic education in philosophy. At the same time, the programme seeks to provide students with the research skills required for successful written and verbal expression in philosophy. You’ll also learn to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary societal debates.
The program is structure with a common major paired with your choice of minor. The philosophy courses in the major (Truncus Communis) provide you with the necessary knowledge of systematic philosophy and its history and make you familiar with key philosophical topics and concepts. At the same time, you will learn how to read and analyse texts closely, to give well-structured presentations and to write a clear and cogent philosophical text. For the minor, you can choose one of the following options:
- The Liberal Arts Minor consists of a broad range of introductory courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with a strong interdisciplinary component. It also offers you the opportunity to read philosophical texts in French or German or to choose more philosophical electives.
- The Educational Studies Minor and the Theology and Religious Studies Minor are offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Studies and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, respectively. These minors introduce you to the basic topics and methods of the two disciplines.