Philosophy of the Arts (MA)

Why study Philosophy of the Arts at Leiden University?

The Leiden University Faculty of Humanities is one of the highest-ranked Humanities faculties in the world (21^st in the Times Higher Education ranking in 2025). It hosts an exceptional variety of expertise in world cultures and arts. The Institute for Philosophy reflects this plurality: it combines different philosophical approaches from analytic to continental,  historical to systematic, and Western to Global and Comparative philosophy. The MA in Philosophy of the Arts allows you to combine first-class instruction in aesthetics and continental philosophy with the academic study of art.

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What are your career prospects?

Successful completion of this two-year MA programme prepares you for PhD research in the field of philosophy or the academic study of the arts. In addition to an academic career, this programme provides excellent preparation for employment in the artistic and cultural sectors, including in publicity, art criticism, and art journalism, as well as in any field in which competence in analysis, interpretation, and the expression of complex ideas is valued. According to a 2025 survey, 67% of graduates of the MA120 found employment within six months of graduation, and 80% are employed at a University or HBO level.

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Is Philosophy of the Arts the programme for you?

The MA Philosophy of the Arts is open to anyone with a BA in Philosophy or who has the equivalent of a pre-masters. This high-level programme attracts both students who are interested in  engaging with arts through philosophical reflection or those who wish to study continental philosophy in more depth . Our acclaimed international teachers will give you a thorough understanding of post-Kantian philosophy from German idealism through phenomenology and deconstruction and including recent developments. You will get a substantial education in aesthetics as well experience in practical encounters with art. You will combine your studies in philosophy with studies in arts. Small classes allow for valuable, direct contact with your teachers, who are invested in developing your potential.

Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme?

Check the admission requirements

Susanna Lindberg

Professor of Continental Philosophy

This MA is designed for students with background in continental philosophy and/or arts. This programme continues an important current in modern philosophy, where philosophy is sometimes thought to culminate in art, and where art is increasingly conceptual and even philosophical. In this programme, art is not only an object of study: it can also challenge philosophy and push thinking further.