Research Master in Philosophy

What do you learn on the programme? 

This full time English language research master is jointly organised by the Department of Philosophy of the University of Antwerp, the Department of Philosophy and Moral Science of Ghent University and the Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences of Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 

Graduates of this programme are capable of developing a philosophical research project and draw up a funding application that can be filed with local, national or international funding institutions. They are able, within their areas of specialisation, to formulate original and innovative research problems based on a duly founded insight into the internationally recognised state-of-the-art in that domain. Graduates of this programme are able to work out original solutions to the selected research problems, and argue their cases clearly and convincingly. They are trained in academic writing, which enables them to act as lead authors of academic articles.

Find out more about this programme 

What are the strengths of our programme?

• You benefit from a truly problem-centred curriculum, in which theory and practice are combined.
• You enjoy a refreshing and valuable interdisciplinary approach, giving the opportunity to discover complex social, political and communication matters from many angles.
• You experience the best of many worlds: cosmopolitan Brussels, beautiful Ghent and industrious Antwerp. You benefit from being a student at three universities, and can make use of the sports facilities, libraries, student restaurants in both places. Not to mention the many opportunities for an exciting nightlife. The three cities are well connected by train, so you can enjoy academic and cultural activities wherever you fancy.

Discover all our general strengths as a university

After graduation

The programme prepares students for a research career in philosophy. Students are encouraged to apply for pre-doctoral fellowships — e.g. with the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) or the research councils of the participating universities — with their own research proposal. Students may also apply for doctoral positions with a predetermined research project that falls within their area of expertise. Such positions are regularly advertised in academic newsletters and email-lists.

Between 2018 and 2020, 11 students graduated in our research master programme. 10 of them now are employed by a university or funding agency as predoctoral researcher. In September 2021, 5 students graduated in our programme. 2 of them are now employed as predoctoral researchers. The other students continue to apply for such positions. We hope that they will succeed in 2022.

Discover the many opportunities