Global and Comparative Philosophy (MA)

Career preparation

Our goal is to prepare you for a career that makes a difference.

Knowledge and skills

The MA in Philosophy at Leiden University aims to equip you with a range of intellectual skills and academic abilities that will help you thrive in any future position. Philosophy teaches you to analyse problems effectively and to use this analysis to find innovative solutions. Recent research attests to the value of training in philosophy in cultivating students’ intellectual abilities.

Relevant professional skills and experience

Every student is encouraged to apply what they learn in a professional, practical or foreign situation. This may include studying abroad, working as an intern at an organisation, or getting involved in extracurricular activities. These experiences are valued by organisations, as are strong communication skills. In class, every student is invited to participate in discussions, learning how to confidently and clearly articulate their ideas.

Internships

A growing number of students choose to do an internship during their study. Internships are a great way to gain indispensable firsthand experience in your area of interest before you decide on making it a career.

In recent years students from the MA Philosophy (60EC) have been doing internships at the following organisations:

Delft Emergence Lab
Filosofie Magazine
Dutch Royal Library The Hague
Peace Palace The Hague
Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment
Dutch Consulate Office in Chongquing, China
PricewaterhouseCoopers Consultancy

Humanities Career Service

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 Humanities Career Service provide all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.

Online Career Week

The first Online Career Week was organised in May 2020. Every day there were 2 events that students could sign up for.

For example, there was a Q&A with interns. Three interns working for respectively Philips, the Dutch Mission to the UN, and the World Economic Forum provided the participants with information on their internships, the application processes and working from home. In addition, a live webinar CV writing took place, and students were able to schedule an appointment with a career counselor for personal advice.