Moral and Political Philosophy Leiden University

Overview

The Master's in Philosophy: Moral and Political Philosophy at Leiden University offer an excellent opportunity to explore fundamental issues in moral and political philosophy.

The programme capitalises on Leiden University's internationally-acclaimed expertise in practical philosophy which covers the entire gamut of moral and political philosophy. The Leiden Institute of Philosophy hosts the Centre for Political Philosophy which brings together all researchers with an active interest in political philosophy from different institutes, branches and fields of study at Leiden University, making Leiden one of the best places to study Moral and Political Philosophy.

This programme focuses on fundamental problems of moral and political philosophy. You will be immersed in philosophical reflection on the foundations and normative principles underlying individual action and society. Questions such as the relation between individual responsibility and structural justice, the nature of our moral discourse, and the fundamentals of practical judgment will be on the menu.

This challenging programme attracts talented and highly-motivated students. In-class discussions will help you develop analytical and communicative skills. Classes are deliberately kept small to ensure a high level of contact between students and lecturers.

What you will learn

The master’s programme in Philosophy at Leiden University aims to equip you with a range of intellectual skills and academic attitude that will help you thrive in any future position. Your high-level skills in abstraction, reasoning and critical thinking can be applied within any role, to any conceptual problem, helping you come up with innovative and out-of-the-box solutions.

Every student is encouraged to apply what they learn in a professional, practical or foreign situation. This may include studying abroad, working as an intern at an organisation, or getting involved in extracurricular activities. These experiences are valued by organisations, as are strong communication skills. In class, every student is invited to participate in discussions, learning how to confidently and clearly articulate their ideas.

Career prospects

The one-year master’s programme in Philosophy prepares you for any career in which reasoning skills, high levels of abstraction and critical thinking are valued. Our graduates are currently employed in a wide range of professions in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Successful completion of an MA also prepares you for PhD research and a career in academia.

Currently 100% of our students find employment at university-graduate level within one year of completing our one-year MA in Philosophy. We can attribute this both to the high quality of the programme and the talent and ambition of our students.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• Policy Officer at a ministry
• Copywriter at a media company
• Freelance editor
• PhD candidates both in the Netherlands and abroad
• Editor at a communications consultancy firm
• Consultant at an IT consultancy firm
• Editor at a company specialising in reviewing theses and dissertations
• Coordinator at an international human rights watch organisation

If you are interested in a career in teaching, you can apply for the Dutch-taught teacher-training MA at the ICLON Graduate School of Education after graduating from the master’s programme. To be admitted, you need to have a master’s degree in the relevant discipline. Fluency in Dutch is mandatory, and additional entry requirements may apply.

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.