Global and Comparative Philosophy (MA)

Career prospects

Where do our graduates work?

The one-year master’s programme in Global and Comparative Philosophy prepares you for any career in which reasoning skills, high levels of abstraction and critical thinking are valued. Our graduates are currently employed in a wide range of professions in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Successful completion of an MA prepares you for PhD research and a career in academia.

Currently 100% of our students find employment at university-graduate level within one year of completing our one-year MA in Global and Comparative Philosophy. We can attribute this both to the high quality of the programme and the talent and ambition of our students.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• Policy Officer at a ministry
• Copywriter at a media company
• Freelance editor
• PhD candidate at a university abroad
• Editor at a communications consultancy firm
• Consultant at an IT consultancy firm
• Editor at a company specialising in reviewing theses and dissertations
• Coordinator at an international human rights watch organisation

Cecile van Bruggen

Teacher at Willem de Kooning Academy, presenter, moderator

I chose to study Global and Comparative Philosophy because I was curious about the boundaries of what I know. While I have always been fascinated by philosophy, I initially pursued a BA in Arts. During my BA, I developed sociological skills, but this left me unsatisfied because sociology often is constrained by specific methodologies. This MA offered the knowledge and perspective I was looking for, and after completing a pre-master’s program, I entered the MA.

Through this MA, I did not just learn how to think philosophically; I also learned to add cultural and temporal dimensions to philosophical inquiry. Situating philosophies within their historical and cultural contexts strips away the arrogance often associated with Western thinking and helps uncover the structures of (y)our own thought. For example, studying Yogācāra Buddhism taught me how to challenge my frameworks of reality and sharpen my ability to discern information from diverse perspectives.

I currently work as a teacher at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. With new technologies easily producing information, discernment has become a crucial skill, particularly in the context of an art academy. The skills I gained during the MA were highly valued when I applied for my position. I use this knowledge daily as a lens for teaching and am actively working to make the curriculum more inclusive and diverse to enrich students’ learning.

Teacher qualification

If you are interested in a career in teaching, you can apply for the Dutch-taught teacher-training MA at the ICLON Graduate School of Education after graduating from the master’s programme. To be admitted, you need to have a master’s degree in the  relevant discipline. Fluency in Dutch is mandatory, and additional entry requirements may apply. Please visit the ICLON website to learn more about the different teacher training programmes at ICLON.

In which sector do students find jobs?

The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA in Philosophy (60EC) 2020-2024.

• 35 % Government and semi-government
• 18 % Research
• 15 % Education
• 6 % Financial institutions
• 6 % Media and journalism
• 3 % Information management
• 3 % Communication and marketing
• 3 % IT-services
• 3 % Advice
• 8 % Other

Career preparation

Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.

Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at the Humanities Career Service provides all Leiden University Humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. The Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV. Check our video and hear from our alumni how they have benefited from our services!