The application deadline for this selective Master's programme was 1 March 2023, 23:59 CET for students with a Dutch or other EU/EER nationality (register in Studielink two days before, see step 3).

Please note: if you are an applicant with an EU/EEA nationality and wish to apply for housing, you must submit your application by 1 March.

If you are interested in a scholarship, you need to apply for both the Master's programme and the scholarship before 15 January. Learn more at:

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 (pre-master or 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 whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you need to arrange to take an official English language test. See the English language requirements on the Graduate School of Humanities website.

Selection procedure

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 explanation of how motivated you are to do this Master's programme.

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

All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.

You need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Philosophy (Research). 

It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see next step).

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 fee

All applicants holding a nationality outside the EU/EEA are required to pay an application fee of €100 per Studielink enrolment before submitting your MyInfo application form. You will find payment instructions on your application form.

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 May (non-EEA students) or 1 August (EEA students).

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.