You are eligible to apply for the MA Philosophy: Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy if you have:

• A bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Philosophy; or       
• 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; and
• general academic skills (research/heuristic skills, written/oral presentation skills, learning skills), 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); and
• relevant knowledge of contemporary ethics, political philosophy and/or political theory, equivalent to the knowledge obtained in the pre-master’s programme for Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy.

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Philosophy on the basis of the requirements specified above. 

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in International Studies or Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges and who completed courses in philosophy with a total course load of at least 35 credits are admitted to the specialization Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy. Depending on the contents of the completed courses, the Board of Admissions will determine an additional catch-up programme (with a maximum of 15 EC).

Applicants who are in possession of a bachelor’s degree in Political Science or in Public Administration from a Dutch research university are admitted to Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy. The Board of Admissions has determined a catch-up programme, for 15 EC of deficiencies, consisting of the following bachelor’s courses: Philosophical Skills I (5 EC), Ethics (5 EC), and Political Philosophy (5 EC).

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 (60 EC) and its pre-master’s programme.

February 2024 intake:

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

• IELTS: 7.0; with a score of at least 7.0 for each component.
  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.
• TOEFL (Internet based) 100, with a score of at least 25 for each components
  • We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only:
    You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old), or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
  • 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.

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.

From September 2024: