After graduation

Postgraduate School of Thinking is a certificate programme. To obtain the certificate of completion the students are required to meet the following requirements within the allocated timeframes:

  • Attendance: minimum 80%.
  • Knowledge: pass 2 knowledge quizzes with at least 75% correct answers to complete the Thinking about Thinking course  
  • Portfolio assignments:
    1. Record 26 hours of self-observation of thinking  to complete the Engaged Thinking course 
    2. Prepare an intervention into collective thinking in a real-life situation and participate in a creative writing assignment to complete the Thinking Studio course. 
    3. Participate in a group project to complete the Beautiful Minds course

Upon successful fulfillment of the completion requirements listed above, a  ‘Postgraduate Certificate School of Thinking – Field of study Philosophy and Moral Sciences’ will be awarded by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Many of our graduates maintain contact with each other and the programme - re-appearing at selected sessions, organizing follow-up discussions and launching further projects. So far, our cooperation has reulted in a publication co-written by faculty and students, and more projects are under way. 

What have you learnt?

Our graduates return to their professional lives with new vigour, a more flexible mindset and the ability to look at problems differently. The attention that focused primarily on the content of everyday tasks can now willigly be shifted to noticing the process - the particular way in which assumptions and operations result in the usual outcomes, including well-practiced, traditional ways of getting stuck. This offers new degrees of freedom in approaching one' s professional and personal challenges - they may be solved differently or abandoned for more interesting and productive ones.

More specifically, you will have access to a combination of skills, theoretical knowledge and above all the experience of integrating these into your own approach to thinking. This includes: 

  • a wide range of frameworks, methods and tools to choose as scaffolding for thinking, 
  • increased ability for true critical thinking - one that is practiced by questioning one's own assumptions and beliefs, rather the ones that are seen as external attempts for persuasion or manipulation, 
  • a well practiced habit of observing the quality of thinking, both in oneself and in others, 
  • a general, a-disciplinary language to think and talk about thinking, offering more flluency in crossing boundaries set by academic disciplines and professional identities. 
Are you aware that VUB sometimes looks for philosophers?

That's right! You can build an exciting and meaningful career as a philosopher here at your alma mater. As a large organisation we look for very diverse profiles.

Find out which vacancies are currently open

Join our community of former students

On graduation from VUB you become part of a unique network of 75,000 former students (known as alumni) who are ready to build a better future. We exchange as many experiences, ideas and other forms of knowledge as possible to stand stronger together in our jobs, our lives and the world outside.

So, besides strengthening your position on the labour market, a VUB diploma gives you a network you can build on to realise your professional ambitions and make a difference in the world. Do you need more reasons? We list more below for you.

Proclamatie van Recht en Criminologie aan de VUB

... it's worth it!

  • Benefits on and off campus - A BasicFit annual subscription at half the price, student rates in the Resto... : being a former student pays off with a digital alumni pass.
  • Help with job applications - It is sometimes hard for young alumni to find their way on the labour market. We help you get off to a flying start.
  • Networking - Join your faculty or study-programme alumni association and keep up to date with the latest networking events and developments in your field.
  • Career inspiration - Are you looking for a job that matches your passions? Read the career stories and tips of former students and discover the possibilities per diploma.
  • Our continuing education - Society and the labour market are constantly on the move. Our continuing education courses keep your knowledge and skills relevant. For a lifetime.

More about our activities for former students