Knowledge and Knowledge Development: University of Groningen

General information

The Research Master’s programme is designed for excellent students wishing to pursue a career as academic researchers. Tuition is distributed amongst the four departments of the Faculty of Philosophy in Groningen: Theoretical Philosophy, Practical Philosophy, Ethics and History of Philosophy. Research Master’s students are required to specialize in one of these domains by following courses and conducting in-depth reading. At the same time, students are encouraged to acquire an overview of the central debates within the discipline of their choice and to learn to situate these debates in the wider context of scientific, political, and cultural developments.

Career prospects

Career prospects for Master’s graduates are very good. About half of the Groningen graduates move on to research or teaching jobs – within institutions for vocational training or high school, but most often within the university system (whether in the Netherlands or in another country). Owing to the highly favourable evaluation of its research, the Faculty has lately been awarded a large number of PhD positions and post-doctorate research posts. Many other graduates find employment in the media, in education, or in various public and private enterprises such as libraries, publishing houses, trade unions, and local and national government bodies (for example, the local government and the Department of the Interior, Foreign Office).

Admission requirments

Admission to the Research Master’s programme is possible on the basis of a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy (or a Bachelor’s degree partly devoted to philosophy). In order to be admitted to the Research Master’s Programme the student’s results must have been credited as very good.

Students applying for the Research Master’s programme must comply with a minimum English language requirement: a TOEFL score of 571 (231 for the computer versions) or a score of 6.5 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System).