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Research Master
Philosophy (research)
Vergelijk

Application deadline

The application deadline for this selective Master's programme is 1 March 2024, 23:59 CET (register in Studielink before 23 February, see step 2).

Application process

Please make sure to follow the steps of the application process carefully to ensure that your application can be processed.

  • 1. Check entry requirements

    The Research Master's in Philosophy is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from an accredited university, as well as to students with a Bachelor's degree in a programme other than Philosophy from an accredited university, provided that it includes a set of units of study in philosophy accounting for at least 60 ECTS (the equivalent of approximately one year of full-time academic studies) that meets the following requirements:

    1. The units of study cover multiple subdisciplines of philosophy;
    2. Several units of study have been taken at an advanced level;
    3. At least one of the units of study has been completed with a substantial philosophical and scientific essay.

    Student profile

    You will be considered for admission to this Research Master’s programme if you have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and can demonstrate the following knowledge, insight and skills:

    • acquired a number of credits in philosophy (min 60 ECTS), within a variety of philosophical fields, including credits at BA2 and BA3 levels. Note that if you do not have the minimal amount of credits required you will not be admitted;
    • excellent research skills at Bachelor’s level: you are able to conduct research independently (i.e. collecting material, applying theory, and writing a thesis);
    • strong academic interest in the philosophical tradition in the broadest sense and a desire to develop your own specialisation, as convincingly demonstrated in the motivation form in which you explain why you think you can successfully complete this specific programme.

    Students are expected to contribute eagerly and critically to the academic environment of the Philosophy department.

    Hbo-bachelor not eligible

    It is not possible to apply to this programme with a degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo). We do not offer a pre-Master's programme (schakelprogramma) for this Master's.

    English language requirements

    New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully on the page below whether:

    • you already meet the English language requirements based on your prior education; or
    • you need to arrange to take an official English language test. If you have serious reasons to believe you should be exempted from taking an official English language test, you will need to file a strongly motivated, official exemption request at the Graduate School of Humanities’ Examinations Board. Please note that there is a strict deadline in place for such a request, which is one month prior to the Master's application deadline.

    Selection procedure

    Because of the limited number of places available, all prospective students are subject to a selection process. We will compare your file to that of other applicants. Distinguish yourself with solid basic academic knowledge in the field of study, sufficient test scores and a convincing and enthusiastic motivation letter.

    Grade average

    If you wish to apply for a Research Master's programme, you are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least an

    • A/3.6 (American system)
    • 2.1 HONS (an upper second class honours degree in the British system)
    • B (ECTS-system), or 
    • 7.5 (Dutch system)

    If you obtained a  lower grade averages you can  apply, particularly if you obtained a sufficient grade average for the courses related to the research master’s programme and/or courses taken in the advanced phase of your prior education. Please include an explanation in your motivation form.

  • 2. Register in Studielink
  • 3. Pay the application fee (international prior education only)

    All students applying for a Master’s programme with a non-Dutch degree must pay a non-refundable application fee of €100.  The UvA cannot start processing your application until this fee has been paid. You can pay the application fee via SIS by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL.

    You do not have to pay the application fee:

    • If you have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO);
    • If you have already applied and paid the application fee for another Master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025;
    • If you have already applied and paid the application fee for a Master's programme at the Graduate School of Humanities for the academic year 2023-2024;
    • If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).

    Please note that the application fee is non-refundable. You are not entitled to a refund even if you do not submit your application form, if you submit an application form after the deadline (which will not be taken into consideration) or if you submit an incomplete application.

  • 4. Submit your application form in MyInfo

    After enrolling in Studielink, you will automatically receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.

    Application documents

    Make sure you are well prepared before you start your application, and you have all necessary documents ready. You are asked to upload the following documents:

    • curriculum vitae;
    • proof of language proficiency (if required, see language requirements);
    • transcript of records, up-to-date and issued by your home institution (if you are already a student at the UvA, a screenshot from SIS is sufficient);
    • diploma (if already obtained)* or list of courses yet to complete;
    • translation of your diploma and transcript of records (if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French);
    • motivation form (PDF);
    • programme specific documents (see below).

    *Please note: If you have not yet obtained your diploma but are in possession of all other application documents, you may proceed with your application - as long as you obtain your Bachelor's degree before 1 September. If you have a non-Dutch prior education, please bear in mind that you must submit your certified documents before 1 August.

    Programme-specific document

    You must upload a sample of written work in philosophy as a programme-specific document in MyInfo. This sample of written work must be academic, written by you and written in English. If you are not in the possession of such a paper, please translate or rewrite 5 to 10 pages of a term paper or of your Bachelor’s thesis into English. If needed, you may combine several short papers into one document.

    This programme does not require any other documents, such as a reference letter. Only the above-mentioned documents are taken into consideration by the Admissions Board.

After submitting your application

Because this is a selective programme, applications will be evaluated by the Admissions Board after the application deadline has passed. You will be notified of whether you have been admitted to the programme after this time.

If you are admitted to the programme, you will receive a letter of conditional acceptance. In order to proceed with your enrolment, you must accept this offer at your earliest convenience. Read more about the steps you need to take after (conditional) acceptance on the website of the Graduate School of Humanities: