History and Philosophy of Science and Logic (HPS+Logic), M.A.
The Master’s programme History and Philosophy of Science and Logic (HPS+Logic) at Ruhr University Bochum is an English-language interdisciplinary master’s degree that combines philosophy and history of science with formal and philosophical logic. The programme prepares students to analyse scientific knowledge, methods, values, arguments and the social role of science from historical, systematic and logical perspectives.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
| Admission | Aptitude assessment: the university evaluates how well your previous education fits the programme |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €380 per semester |
| Practical semester | Optional |
| Campus | University Campus Bochum |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Admission goes through an aptitude assessment: the university checks how well the subjects, credits and grades of your previous education fit the programme. There is no fixed cut-off — the assessment is comparative.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
HPS+Logic is a specialised master’s programme in philosophy, history and philosophy of science, and logic. According to the official programme profile, it is unique in the German-speaking world in this combination: it connects reflection on science and its history with cultural and social-science perspectives and an intensive study of philosophical and non-classical logic. The curriculum is modular, designed for four semesters, and allows students to build an individual profile through elective modules and the choice between a research-oriented or practice-oriented third semester.
What you study
- 1st and 2nd semester: Basic Module 1 “History & Philosophy of Science”, Basic Module 2 “Formal Logic and History of Logic”, plus two out of three elective modules
- Elective modules: “Knowledge, Science and its History”, “Problems and Philosophical Aspects of Logic”, “Complementary Studies”
- 3rd semester: either Research Module or Internship Module
- 4th semester: Final Module with master’s thesis and thesis defence colloquium
- Total volume: 120 ECTS
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
- Academic research and teaching
- Non-university research
- Science management
- Science funding and promotion
- Science communication and public engagement
- Museums, foundations, publishers, science journalism, ministries, science-related public relations
- Consultancy in science policy and ethics of science
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €380 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must prove foundations in philosophy and/or history of science and logic; applicants with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering must additionally prove humanities and social-science study components. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application until 15.01Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.01.2027 (93 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.