Philosophy of Mind and Psychology
Winter intake start date
2025-02-01
Winter intake deadline
2024-11-25
Take a philosophical approach to understand the human psyche. By delving into philosophical texts and reflecting on theories and findings from other relevant disciplines - such as psychology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence - you will gain more insights into mental phenomena, such as ‘emotions’, ‘intelligence’ and ‘cognition’, as well as ethical and existential questions. This program can also be followed part-time. Philosophy of Mind and Psychology is a track of the MA Philosophy.
Study themes at the intersection of philosophy and psychology and reflect on the mental phenomena that jointly make up the ‘human mind’. What does it mean to have 'emotions' and 'consciousness', and (how) can we have knowledge about ourselves?
Program and courses
Apply a philosophical approach to study questions at the intersection of philosophy and psychology and reflect on the mental phenomena that jointly make up the ‘human mind’.
- Address essential philosophical questions such as:
- 'What role do and should emotions play in our decision making?'
- 'How do we cope with crises, risks, uncertainties and turbulence?'
- 'How susceptible are we to external influences and how should this affect our claims about being free and autonomous agents?'
- 'To what extent is the human mode of coming to grips with reality through (knowledge-based) understanding itself limited, and a hindrance in understanding the human mind?'
- 'What does psychology, as a discipline, have to contribute to our understanding of all this? And how can philosophy help deepen that understanding?'
- Profit from small-scale working methods with a great deal of interaction, which enables in-depth analysis and discussion with fellow students and lecturers.
- This program can also be followed part-time.
Philosophy of Mind and Psychology is a track of the MA Philosophy. You always choose one of the tracks.
Typical courses are:
- Crisis and Insecurity
- The Intelligence of Emotions
- Philosophy and the Limits of Psychology
- Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious
Na studia magisterskie mogą kandydować wszyscy, którzy ukończyli studia licencjackie lub inżynierskie (studia I stopnia), studia magisterskie lub studiują na ostatnim roku studiów I-stopnia. Studia, które planujesz powinny mieć zbliżony profil do tych obecnych lub ukończonych, ponieważ w procesie rekrutacji kluczowa jest ich zgodność programowa.
- Wykaz punktów ECTS – osoby, które są jeszcze w trakcie studiów, muszą załączyć wypis punktów ECTS, w którym będzie wykazane, jakie przedmioty były realizowane na studiach oraz ile punktów za nie otrzymano.
- Dyplom ukończenia studiów licencjackich lub inżynierskich – jeśli jesteś absolwentem wyższej uczelni, nie potrzebujesz wypisu, wystarczy załączyć dyplom ukończenia studiów wraz z suplementem (w języku angielskim lub oryginał z tłumaczeniem)
- Uwaga! Każdy kierunek magisterski może mieć inne wymagania i wymagać specyficznych dodatkowych dokumentów. Przed aplikacją sprawdź na stronie uczelni, jakich dokumentów potrzebujesz!
Spełnienie wymagań w zakresie języka angielskiego można udokumentować w następujący sposób:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 90
You are certainly eligible to apply if you have a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy. The Admissions Committee will assess whether your degree is equivalent to a Dutch Bachelor's in Philosophy.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in another relevant discipline, such as Psychology, Culture studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Economics, Law, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Organization Studies or Human Resource Management, you are also most welcome to apply, but most likely a pre-Master's program will be required.
Diploma(s)
If you have not yet completed your higher education study program, you should upload a provisional transcript with your grades up to this point (see 2). Once conditionally admitted, you must send a certified hard copy of your diploma to us, according to the details in your conditional Admission Statement.
If you already have completed your higher education study program but have not yet received your diploma, you can provide us with a Graduation Statement from your university that you have completed all graduation requirements for your study program and the date the diploma will be awarded. Such a statement must have an original seal/stamp and signature.
Your Bachelor's (and Master's) diploma(s), if you already have them.
Transcript of Records. This is a list from your University of the courses you have taken in your Bachelor's (and Master's) degree, with the grades you have achieved. This must be an official list from your University, not your results downloaded from the University’s student system. If you have not yet completed all courses at the time of application, please provide the Transcript plus a list of the courses you still need to complete before graduation.
Official translations of the Transcript of Records and diploma(s). If your Transcript of Records and diploma are not in English or Dutch, a certified translator must translate the documents (with the exception of the course description and the thesis/research paper). The translator must attach the translation to copies of the original document and stamp both documents. Please note: we cannot accept translations that are not attached to a copy of the original document; the translator must make sure that s/he stamps the copy of the original document and attaches the two documents to each other.
English language test results if you are not exempted. Exemption form (pdf).You can check the requirements above under the heading 'English language requirements'. Please note that it is not obligatory to have completed the English language test before application. In our online application system you can indicate the type of test you intend to take and the approximate test date.
Statement of purpose (motivation letter) - format (pdf).
Resume / Curriculum vitae.
A copy of your Bachelor's or Master's thesis or an essay completed during your studies (only in English and at least 1500 words; if you have not yet written a thesis, you could also upload a dedicated writing sample in form of an academic essay or research proposal)
You will be able to shed new light on fundamental questions related to the human mind and human behavior.
Knowledge and skills
You will be trained to become a critical and responsible thinker with strong analytical and communication skills who can explain how and to what extent the workings of our minds define us as human beings. You will also be able to reflect critically on what we (can) claim to know about the workings of the mind.
The knowledge and skills you gain in this track are valuable for careers in - for example - research, education, consultancy, policy-making, politics, journalism, coaching/counseling or mental health care. Career opportunities will partly depend on your previous education.
Examples of positions held by graduates of the Master's in Philosophy:
Lecturer in Social Work at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences
Board Member of the Dutch Association for Psychiatry
Trainer/Coach at Exentra VZW
Case manager at a youth support organization
Journalist at a Dutch newspaper
