Master's in Theoretical Philosophy Ruhr-Universität Bochum

TU Dortmund

The programme is offered in English. However, students may also choose courses offered in German, but they may only take up to 20% of all their courses in this language.

The Master's thesis must be written in English.

Theoretical philosophy is a vast discipline. It includes the foundational questions of metaphysics, the study of philosophical and scientific methodology, and the formal investigation of logical systems. It deals with the intricacies of mind, consciousness and cognition. It investigates the conditions of knowledge, and it studies the philosophical aspects of language. Moreover, the topics of the discipline have a history (in the Western world) of over 2,500 years.

The philosophy departments of the universities of Bochum and Dortmund have teamed up to offer a comprehensive and thorough MA programme covering all the above-mentioned subdisciplines of theoretical philosophy. The programme is taught in English by a sizeable group of instructors, each a specialist in their respective fields. Below, you can find a short overview of the contents of the programme.

• Summer semester: 1 December to 15 January
• Winter semester: 1 June to 15 July

Please check https://theoretical-philosophy.de/ for updates regarding the deadlines.

In principle, there are no tuition fees at RUB. However, there are a few exceptions. Therefore, please inform yourself in advance about any additional costs for the degree programme you are interested in.

https://theoretical-philosophy.de/the-program/program-overview/

While an internship is not obligatory, the programme explicitly allows for the possibility.

Varied

In principle, there are no tuition fees at RUB. However, there are a few exceptions. Therefore, please inform yourself in advance about any additional costs for the degree programme you are interested in.

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 330 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in Germany (https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/re-registration-and-social-contribution).

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses in Germany

• BA in philosophy
• BA includes at least 30 credit points in courses on analytical philosophy.
• Diploma
• Transcript of records
• Language certificates

English equivalent to C1 (CEFR), proven by one of the following:

• UNIcert III (grade 2.0 or better)
• IELTS 7.5
• TOEFL IBT 95
• CAE (grade A or B)

• Summer semester: 1 December to 15 January
• Winter semester: 1 June to 15 July

Please check https://theoretical-philosophy.de/ for updates regarding the deadlines.

Students with outstanding academic achievements and a high degree of social responsibility can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium” grant. They will receive a one-year scholarship of 300 EUR per month from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html.

International students with good to very good academic achievements can apply for assistance at the International Office, e.g. for financial support during their final phase of study, such as graduation grants up to 400 EUR per month for four months: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/scholarships?_wrapper_format=html.

In the city of Bochum, you can find different types of accommodation. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 350 to 600 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is usually less expensive.

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in multiple student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, students have their own single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with other students, they rent an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or they share an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.

In addition, private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/.