9 Philosophy MA Degree Programs in Netherlands

This master programme offers courses in the philosophy and history of science, skills courses to improve your writing, and tutorials in which you work with experts on the philosophy of your discipline. Additionally, the programme will regularly organize colloquia with experts working on the intersection of the philosophy, science and humanities.

The one-year master's programme in Philosophy at Leiden University integrates historical and systematic approaches in philosophy. It offers advanced training in philosophical methodologies and skills, as well as a sophisticated knowledge of traditional and recent philosophical developments.

Students will train the philosophical knowledge and skills they developed in their Bachelor's degree and are encouraged to engage in philosophical discussions at a deeper level during their Master's. The Master's in Philosophy, therefore, offers a highly individualized programme helping students to explore their options in philosophy after completion of the programme. The Master's is concluded with a thesis on a topic of your choice.

The two-year master’s programme in Philosophy at Leiden University investigates the fundamental principles underpinning human knowledge while cultivating your capacity for reason and sound argumentation.

This two-year Research Master’s programme is designed for international and Dutch students who wish to acquire the skills needed for a career in academic philosophy or in research. The programme has five specialisations, reflecting the expertise of researchers at the faculty. As a student you will follow intensive Research Master’s courses, and will develop your methodological and academic skills during dedicated Research Methods and Skills seminars. Throughout your studies, you will participate in ongoing research activities and will be assigned a personal supervisor who will guide you as you acquire the skills necessary for a career in research.

The MA Philosophy is the place where cutting-edge philosophical research meets the classroom. Students engage in contemporary philosophical debates centred on the great challenges of our time. Our programme is unique for its public and active engagement with societal problems.

Results of the National Student Assessment (NSE) show that our students are very satisfied with the contents of the Research Master in Philosophy and that they value the expertise of our teaching staff. Small-scale classes and a friendly, informal setting enhance contact between our staff and students. In reviews of the Keuzegids Universiteiten and in the Higher Education Review of Dutch University Faculties, our faculty was rated number one by both students and professors year after year - and second-best twice.

The Research Master's is a two-year full-time programme in the philosophy of economics. The first of its kind, the programme remains one of the few programmes in the world that focuses especially on the philosophy of economics and that offers a comprehensive overview of the field.

Do you have a strong desire to sharpen and clarify the loose arguments and vague concepts we all encounter in newspaper articles, textbook readings and everyday conversations? Are you as interested in questioning answers as answering questions? The research Master's in Philosophy is a challenging, two-year programme that prepares you to participate in the current debates in the international philosophical community and to develop your own research contributions to the field.