Master in Philosophy

Master in Philosophy is one of 5 English-taught Philosophy programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 3 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

What you study

The Master's in Philosophy at the University of Salzburg brings you up to date with current work in epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, ethics, normative ethics, metaethics, political philosophy, logic, philosophy of logic, and philosophy of science. Within philosophy of science the programme puts special emphasis on the philosophies of physics, climate change, and economics. You can do all your coursework in English. If you also speak German, you may complete up to 50% of the required coursework in German. The master's thesis can be written in English or German.

How the programme is organised

The degree runs over four semesters and carries 120 ECTS. Teaching happens in small seminar groups. You give presentations, take part in research seminars, and join the department's research life. International postdoctoral researchers funded by competitive research projects offer advanced graduate classes in English. You work under the supervision of international researchers, and the department hosts international conferences.

Who it suits

This programme suits students who want analytic philosophy with a strong research orientation. The Salzburg department is one of the few fully analytic departments in continental Europe. It is a good fit if you are considering a PhD in philosophy, since the international orientation prepares you to apply for entry to doctoral programmes anywhere in the world. You do not need a bachelor's degree in philosophy, but your degree must be equivalent to a bachelor's degree from the University of Salzburg.

Admission, language and next steps

Admission requires a completed bachelor's degree from a recognised domestic or foreign university or post-secondary institution. The degree need not be in philosophy. The language of instruction is English, and you need English at C1 level with proof of proficiency. The dates and deadlines change every semester, so check the programme page for the current application period. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the University of Salzburg. As a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. The department sits in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the programme leads on to the Doctoral Programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Master’s program in philosophy brings students up to the latest developments in various domains of philosophy, such as epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, ethics, normative ethics, metaethics, political philosophy, logic, philosophy of logic, and philosophy of science (with special emphasis on the philosophies of physics, climate change, and economics).

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Salzburg. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.