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Programme objectives
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the professional options in the field of philosophy.
In addition, they have knowledge and understanding in the area of philosophy that far exceeds the level of secondary education, in particular as regards:
1. Knowledge and understanding
Graduates have knowledge and understanding in the area of philosophy that far exceeds the level of secondary education, in particular with regard to:
the historical development of Western philosophy, including Ancient and Modern philosophy, also in relation to the development of the various disciplines;
the societal and cultural significance of Western philosophy, also from a global and comparative perspective;
the main traditional elements of Western philosophy, including logic, metaphysics, philosophy of knowledge and science, political philosophy, Continental philosophy, philosophy of culture, and ethics, their problems, their methods and their key concepts;
for the specialisations Ethiek en politieke filosofie (Ethics and Political Philosophy), Filosofie van mens, techniek en cultuur (Philosophy of Mind, Culture and Technology), Geschiedenis van de filosofie (History of Philosophy) and Theoretische filosofie (Theoretical Philosophy): history of political philosophy, and also recent developments in the area of the specialisation;
for the specialisation Global and Comparative Perspectives: the philosophical traditions of India, China, Africa and the Middle East, and also recent developments in the area of comparative philosophy.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Graduates are able to apply their knowledge and understanding in the area of philosophy by:
independently collecting philosophical literature, using both traditional and modern methods, and evaluating this literature in terms of relevance and quality;
independently studying and analysing philosophical texts in terms of arguments and conclusions; evaluating them in terms of their argumentative qualities; understanding their interconnections, and situating them in a broader historical, societal and academic context;
independently identifying and analysing problems in the area of the specialisation, critically evaluating proposed solutions, and mapping out lines of further research;
independently formulating a philosophical, clearly delineated research question in the area of the specialisation, situating this question in a philosophical context, and developing an argument to answer the question;
independently reflecting on both the domain-specific and widely applicable skills (transferable skills), that are required in a future professional environment.
3. Making judgements
Graduates are able to:
formulate relevant and constructive criticisms of philosophical views and substantiate this criticisms with arguments;
determine their position on philosophical questions and support this position with arguments.
4. Communication
Graduates are able to:
clearly express themselves both orally and in writing in the programme’s language(s) of instruction (Dutch and English for the specialisations Ethiek en politieke filosofie [Ethics and Political Philosophy], Filosofie van mens, techniek en cultuur [Philosophy of Mind, Culture and Technology], Geschiedenis van de filosofie [History of Philosophy] and Theoretische filosofie [Theoretical Philosophy], and English for the specialisation Global and Comparative Perspectives);
to chair academic discussions and to participate in these in a relevant and constructive manner;
give a clearly structured and accessible argument in the form of an oral presentation, supported by digital presentation techniques;
clearly explain complex issues in writing.
5. Learning skills
Graduates are able to:
Furthermore, each humanities programme at Leiden University trains students in the general academic skills formulated by the Faculty. These skills relate to the Dublin descriptors Judgement, Communication, and Learning skills as specified in Appendix A of the general section of the BA Course and Examination Regulations (OER).
Academic integrity
Students should familiarize themselves with the notion of academic integrity and the ways in which this plays out in their own work. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students may not substantially reuse texts they have previously submitted in this or other courses. Minor overlap with previous work is allowed as long as it is duly noted in citation.
Studying with a disability
The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accommodations can be made in time conform to the above-mentioned protocol.
Additional requirements Binding Study Advice (BSA)
For the BA programme in Philosophy (full time and part-time) the regulations on Binding Study Advice (BSA) apply. These regulations contain information concerning the (binding) study advice issued to Leiden University students during their Bachelor’s programme, the requirements to be met for the issuance of positive advice, exceptions, transitional rulings and the procedures for cases of exceptional (personal) circumstances. For the Bachelor's programme in Philosophy no additional requirements have been set.
Programme
First year (propaedeutic year)
The first half of the Bachelor of Philosophy programme (semesters 1-3) offers a broad orientation in academic philosophy. This includes comparing the Western tradition with other, non-Western ways of thinking. In this phase, students receive an overview of the history of philosophy and systematic courses such as ethics, logic and cultural philosophy. During these content courses, they also practise academic skills such as analysis, argumentation, clear writing and so on. In addition to these courses, students take the Philosophical Skills course, which trains a number of essential academic skills around reading, understanding, researching and writing philosophical texts.
The first year of study, the propaedeutic year, consists entirely of compulsory courses. In the first year, students take ten subject courses. Most courses consist of a lecture; only Ethics, Logic, Philosophical Skills and Continental Philosophy from a Global Perspective are supported by a tutorial.
Second year
The first half of the second year of Philosophy continues and deepens the introductory programme of the propaedeutic year. Students take five compulsory courses.
In the second half, students take two Core Courses and two specialisation courses of 10 EC from an annually changing offer.
Each Core Course is linked to a specialisation:
Core Course: Intercultural Philosophical Hermeneutics (Global and Comparative Perspectives)
Core Course: Naming and Necessity (Theoretical Philosophy)
Core Course: Advanced Moral and Political Philosophy (Ethics and Political Philosophy)
Core Course: The Secret History of Philosophy (History of philosophy)
Core Course: The World as Problem (Philosophy of Man, Technology and Culture)
The Core Course: Intercultural Philosophical Hermeneutics is mandatory for students of the specialisation Global and Comparative Perspectives. Additionally, the students choose one Core Course from another specialisation.
Third year
The third year of the bachelor's programme is characterised by greater depth and more freedom of choice. The first semester of the third year offers students the opportunity to broaden their intellectual horizons in the elective space.
In the second semester, students take two thematic BA3 courses of 10 EC from a yearly changing offer.
The third year is concluded with a BA Thesis of 10 EC and level 400 (see below: BA final dissertation and and graduation requirements). In this final semester, students also take the compulsory thesis seminar.
Discretionary space
In the first semester of the third year of the Bachelor of Philosophy programme, the study programme offers a discretionary space of 30 EC.
The 30 EC elective space can be filled with an individual (self-composed) elective package. Both non-philosophical and philosophical electives may be included in the package, but the programme encourages its students to use the elective space for non-philosophical components. The elective space can also be filled with an established minor (see also minor site. In addition, students can use the elective space for an academic internship, or a study abroad.
An individual elective package must always be submitted in advance to the examination board for approval. The Board of Examiners assesses whether the proposed package has sufficient coherence and level structure. At least one of the courses of the elective package must be level 300. An internship plan or the intended study programme at a foreign university must also be approved in advance by the examination committee. A minor does not have to be submitted to the Board of Examiners for approval.
See also the central information page on the elective space.
BA Thesis
In order to graduate students must have completed the propedeutic year and all components of the second and third years of the programme. The bachelor’s programme will be completed with a BA Thesis. In this thesis a student shows whether (s)he is capable of working independently and to present a critical description of the state of the art of a philosophical problem that is relevant for the chosen specialisation.
See BA Thesis Philosophy
Specialisations and graduation requirements
The BA programme in Philosophy offers the following specialisations:
Ethiek en politieke filosofie [Ethics and Political Philosophy]
Filosofie van mens, techniek en cultuur [Philosophy of Mind, Culture and Technology]
Geschiedenis van de filosofie [History of Philosophy]
Global and Comparative Perspectives
Theoretische filosofie [Theoretical Philosophy]
The following requirements apply for graduation in a specialisation:
Students follow the Core Course of the chosen specialisation.
Students choose two thematic BA2 philosophy courses of 10 EC each from a yearly changing offer.
Students choose two thematic BA3 courses in philosophy of 10 EC each from a yearly changing offer.
At least one BA2 course and one BA3 course must be selected from the offer of the chosen specialisation.
The topic of the BA Thesis must belong to the chosen specialisation.
For students who started the programme in 2023-2024 or earlier, the old requirements still apply: students must have succesfully completed at least two and not more than four of the five third-year seminars in philosophy (level 300-400) that belong to the chosen specialisation. The subject of the BA thesis must also belong to the chosen specialisation.
The specialisation Global and Comparative Perspectives is an English taught track and the choice for this specialisation has been made at the start of the first year.
Transitional provisions
Due to changes in the BA programme as of the 1st of September 2025, transitional provisions will apply.
Students who have not yet passed one of the courses below will have the one-time opportunity to follow and pass these courses in 2025-2026 (some only as reading courses):
Full-time and part-time
The BA programme Philosophy: Global and Comparative Philosophy is offered as a full-time programme as well as a part-time programme.
The part-time programme of the BA Philosophy is identical in content to the full-time programme. However, the part-time programme assumes an average study progress of 40 EC per year, so that the bachelor's programme lasts 4.5 years.
The overview for each year is as follows:
First year: All components of the propaedeutic year are compulsory. However, part-time students take eight of the 12 propaedeutic courses in the first year of enrolment (40 EC). They take the remaining four courses in the second year of enrolment.
Second year: In the second year of enrolment, part-time students follow the four components of the propaedeutic programme that they have not yet completed in the first year of enrolment (20 EC). In addition, in semester 1 they take three of the six components of the second year (15 EC).
Third year: In the first semester of the third year of enrolment, part-time students follow the three BA2 components they have not yet completed in the second year of enrolment (15 EC). Part-time students take two Core Courses and two BA2 courses (total 30 EC) in the third year of enrolment.
Fourth year: In the fourth year of enrolment, students take one BA3 course of 10 EC from the offer. The remaining time of the fourth year is available for the discretionary space (30 EC).
Fifth year: In the first semester of the fifth year of enrolment, students take one BA3 course of 10 EC from the annual offer. In the fifth year of enrolment, part-time students write a BA Thesis on a topic within their chosen major and attend the compulsory thesis seminar.
Follow-on Master's programmes
MA in Philosophy
The bachelor's degree in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives gives direct admisson to the following specialisations of the one-year master's programme in Philosophy 60 EC at Leiden University:
Global and Comparative Philosophy
Modern European Philosophy
Moral and Political Philosophy
Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy
Philosophy of Knowledge
Teacher's programme in Philosophy
A master’s programme which prepares you for a position in education in the Netherlands, for example at a secondary school or in adult education. There are a number of criteria students of Philosophy have to meet to be eligible for this programme. See ICLON, Lerarenopleiding (in Dutch), and World Teacher's Programme
Pre-master
The pre-master’s programme in Philosophy
is intended for students with a bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree, who do not fulfil the entry requirements regarding the knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of philosophy. It provides a bridging programme for students who have applied for the MA Philosophy 60 EC or 120 EC, but who, according to the Board of Admissions, still have deficiencies in philosophy.
Compensation regulations
On completing the propaedeutic year of the BA Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives compensation of failed grades is possible between courses of the following cluster of study components:
Logic
Philosophy of Culture
Compensation of failed grades is only possible in cases where:
a. the weighted average in the specific cluster is at least 6.0;
b. the student has no more than one failed grade for any of the study components in the specified cluster;
c. none of the grades awarded in the specified cluster is lower than 5.0;
d. at least one of the study components in the specified cluster has been graded with at least 8.0.
If a student meets these conditions, he/she is supposed to have met the requirements for the exam for which he/she prepares him/herself with this cluster of study components. Students who wish to make use of this option can submit a request to apply the compensation regulation to the Board of Examiners.
Compensation is not possible in the post-propaedeutic phase.
Career Preparation
Career Preparation in the BA Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives
The programme
The curriculum of the English-taught BA Philosophy: Global and Compatrative Perspectives is versatile: students will broaden their knowledge in a variety of the world's traditions of thought, as well as in the ways these traditions mutually inform and enrich one another. Additionally, the series of Comparative Philosophy modules focus on classical readings and topics. In the first three semesters, the basic knowledge will be offered in lecturers and tutorial sessions. In their third year, students choose advanced seminars in their specialisation. Right from the start of the first year, students will be trained in a number of basic academic skills for working with philosophical texts, themes and problems.
How can you use this knowledge and the skills that you acquire? Which specialisation should you choose within your study programme and why? What skills do you already have, and what further skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses that you choose into something that you’d like to do after graduation?
These questions and more will be discussed at various times during your study programme. You may already have spoken about them with your study coordinator, the Humanities Career Service or other students, or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. Many different activities are organised to help you reflect on your own wishes and options, and give you the chance to explore the job market. All these activities are focused on the questions: ‘What can I do?’, ‘What do I want?’ and ‘How do I achieve my goals?’.
Activities
You will be notified via the Humanities website, your study programme website, and email about further activities in the area of job market preparation. The following activities will help you to thoroughly explore your options, so we advise you to take careful note of them:
First year
Second year
Third year
Transferable skills
Future employers are interested not only in the subject-related knowledge that you acquired during your study programme, but also in the ‘transferable skills’. These include cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation and innovation; intrapersonal skills, such as flexibility, initiative, appreciating diversity and metacognition; and interpersonal skills, such as communication, accountability and conflict resolution. In short, they are skills that all professionals need in order to perform well.
It is therefore important that during your study programme you not only acquire as much knowledge as possible about your subject, but also are aware of the skills you have gained and the further skills you still want to learn. The course descriptions in the e-Prospectus of the BA Philosophy include, in addition to the courses’ learning objectives, a list of the skills that they aim to develop.
The skills you may encounter in the various courses are:
Collaboration
Persuasion
Research
Self-directed learning
Creative thinking
Courses of BA Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives
Courses of the study programme obviously help to prepare you for the job market. As a study programme, we aim to cover this topic either directly or less directly in each semester. Within the BA Philosophy, this takes, for example, place within the following courses:
First year
Second year
Third year
Contact
If you have any questions about career choices, whether in your studies or on the job market, you are welcome to make an appointment with the career adviser of the the Humanities Career Service 071-5272235, or with your study advisor, Patsy Casse.
