Philosophy in World Traditions (MA)

Admission requirements

To be eligible for Philosophy in World Traditions at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Diploma requirements

You are eligible to apply for the MA Philosophy in World Traditions (120 EC) if you have:

A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree, or demonstrate to meet the requirements for such a degree, including general academic skills (research/heuristic skills, written/oral presentation skills, learning skills); and the degree is:
- either in a discipline relevant to Philosophy in World Traditions: Asian studies or Intercultural Philosophy are considered as relevant to the discipline; and you possess knowledge, understanding and skills comparable to those acquired upon completion of the pre-master’s programme in philosophy, for example by having earned a bachelor’s degree in a programme in which philosophy is combined with the chosen discipline;
- or the bachelor’s degree is in Philosophy; and you possess knowledge, understanding and skills comparable to those acquired upon completion of the pre-master’s programme in one of the relevant non-philosophical disciplines, and the ability to formulate a clear philosophical research question, to develop and formulate a critical view on that question, and to support this view by means of argument and analysis, to be determined on the basis of a writing sample;

If you have a bachelor’s degree from a research university that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for the pre-master’s programme. If you have completed the imposed pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialisation of the Master’s programme. Read more about the pre-master’s programme.

Applicants with a degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo) or equivalent are not eligible for admission to the Master’s programme in Philosophy (120 EC) and its pre-master’s programme.

Language requirements

In order to successfully participate in this programme, you must be proficient in English. The following requirements apply:

IELTS: 7.0;
TOEFL (Internet based) 100.

From September 2024:

IELTS: 6.5; where each separate component score must be at least 6.0;
TOEFL (Internet based) 90, where each separate component score must be at least 20.

See also the English test score equivalency table of Leiden University.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.

English tests accepted
Note that English test results may not be more than two years old. The following types of English test are accepted:

IELTS: Academic
- We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator
- We are not yet able to accept the new IELTS online.
TOEFL: internet based
- We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best ™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™ or institutional tests such as ITP.
- We can accept TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition™ or TOEFL IBT Paper Edition™ in the following situations only:
  - You are applying for a programme starting in February 2023, or
  - You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (& it is not more than 2 years old), or
  - You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres in your region are closed or inaccessible due to unsafe conditions.
Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency or C1 Advanced, depending on admission criteria

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.

You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.

>> Go to the next step: Step 2: Check the application deadlines