Philosophy, M.A.
The master's program Philosophy (M.A.) at the University of Münster provides advanced academic knowledge in key areas of theoretical and practical philosophy. The program builds on a previous bachelor's degree and enables students to independently analyze complex philosophical questions, work on them academically, and discuss them critically. The program combines intensive work with philosophical texts, seminar-based learning, and independent research, and offers the opportunity to develop individual thematic specializations.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.09, summer semester until 15.03 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €369.50 per semester |
| Campus | Münster Campus |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
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
The master's program in philosophy has a standard duration of four semesters and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The aim of the program is to deepen philosophical knowledge and to develop the ability to independently analyze complex academic problems and critically evaluate philosophical approaches to their solution.
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The program is based on a seminar-oriented teaching format in which philosophical texts are intensively prepared and discussed together. These reading-based seminars promote analytical thinking, argumentative competence, and the ability to participate in academic discussions.
Students choose different thematic focus areas and can structure their studies individually. In addition to compulsory modules, elective and specialization modules are selected, allowing students to focus on particular areas of philosophy.
What you study
Total Scope
- Standard duration: 4 semesters
- Total workload: 120 ECTS
- Master’s thesis: 26 ECTS
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates of the master's program in philosophy have a wide range of career prospects, for example in:
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- science and academic research
- university teaching
- journalism and media
- cultural institutions
- political consulting
- management consulting
- publishing
- education and continuing education sector
- public administration
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €369.50 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Subject-specific qualification in the field of philosophy or related disciplines |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.09, summer semester until 15.03 |
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.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application directly to the university until 15.03Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 5Admission, 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.
Video about the programme
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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 15.03.2027 (152 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.