Philosophy

Bachelor's degree in philosophy or a related disciplinary field with a specialization of at least 80 credits in philosophy or equivalent.

The specialisation should show a progression from introductory to more advanced courses in philosophy.

Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale.

Admission capacity
8 places

Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries
Her finner du all informasjon knyttet til søking og opptak.

International applicants from EU/EEA and Switzerland
You will find more information about international admission here.

International applicants from outside EU/EEA

• You will find more information about international admission here.
• Non-EU students must be prepared to pay tuition fees, more information here

Program description

The master’s programme in philosophy at UiT places particular emphasis on research-based education that gives students a great deal of freedom to delve into philosophical issues of their own choosing. The programme addresses both fundamental timeless questions related to humanity and its place in the world, and more applied current issues related to social and political conditions.

The programme consists of a master’s thesis of 60 credits, and a training component where you take five mandatory specialization courses - each of 10 credits. The content of the five courses includes Norwegian philosophy, ethics, metaphysics and philosophy of mind, political philosophy, and epistemology and philosophy of science. In addition, there is a mandatory 10 credits course in sustainability and innovation for all master students at UiT The Arctic University of Tromsø.

Through the specialization courses, you will receive thorough introductions to philosophical topics, and you will gain both writing training and experience working independently on self-selected issues – skills that will also be valuable in connection with the work on the master's thesis.

The master's thesis itself is an independent and thorough philosophical work. Here, you will delve into a self-selected issue with the support of a supervisor. Through working on the thesis, you will acquire expertise within a clearly defined philosophical area, and general skills that are valued both in and outside academia.

You will be able to take part in an active student environment. "Utsikten linjeforening" organizes social and academic events, and the philosophical film club regularly shows films with a philosophical introduction. A unique offer at the Department of Philosophy at UiT is that master's students have their own rooms with office space and equipment.

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Learning outcomes

In the master’s program in philosophy you get the chance to engage in in-depth explorations of a range of philosophical questions. And you get considerable freedom in choosing specific topics to work on in line with your own research interests.

The programme consists of a master’s thesis of 60 credits, and a training component with five courses - each of 10 credits.

The five courses in the training component cover Norwegian philosophy, ethics, metaphysics and philosophy of mind, political philosophy, and epistemology and philosophy of science. In addition, there is a 10 credits course in sustainability and innovation that is mandatory for all master students at UiT - The Arctic University of Tromsø.

The master's thesis itself is an independent and substantial piece of philosophical research where you delve into a topic of your own choosing with the support of a supervisor. By working on the thesis, you will acquire expertise within a clearly defined philosophical area, and general skills that are valued both in and outside academia.

Job prospectives

The master’s degree in philosophy gives you analytical expertise, the ability to critically reflect and good language skills. This is relevant competence for professions within schools and education, cultural institutions, political organisations, nature management, non-profit organisations, public administration and management, journalism, the publishing, media and communication industries, and in business.

In combination with other teaching subjects and practical pedagogical education, a master’s degree in philosophy qualifies you for teaching in primary and secondary schools.

The master’s degree programme also forms the basis for further research education in the subject of Philosophy.

Access to further studies

A master’s degree in philosophy qualifies you for admission to PhD studies in philosophy or other relevant disciplines. In addition, you must achieve a grade requirement, which varies between different institutions.

At the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Teacher Education (HSL), a grade point average of B (or equivalent) is required.

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Studieplan

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Language of instruction

The Master's degree program in philosophy is in English. Instruction and examination papers are also in English, but you have the opportunity to choose whether to answer the exams in English, Norwegian, or another Scandinavian language.

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Teaching and assessment

The programme uses several different teaching methods:

• lectures
• seminars
• individual supervision
• writing training
• colloquium groups
• self-study

The Master's degree program consists of a training part and a master’s thesis, each worth 60 credits. The training part consists of five 10-credit courses in philosophy and one interdisciplinary course in sustainability and innovation. The courses in philosophy are based on the research that takes place at the department.

The master's thesis is an independent work of approximately 80 pages, on a topic of your own choosing. You will have a professional supervisor who will provide you with individual supervision. In addition, you will choose a specialization syllabus of 7-800 pages, of which at least half is original literature. The evaluation of the master's thesis is twofold, and the grade is set after a comprehensive assessment of both the thesis and an oral exam.