Admission requirements

- For admission to the Master’s degree program in Philosophy, applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree program – in Germany or one of equal status abroad – in Philosophy, a different Bachelor’s degree program with supplementary courses in Philosophy or a Bachelor’s degree program to become a teacher with a focus in Ethics or Philosophy, each comprising at least 63 ECTS points, or a related degree program.
In addition, applicants must provide proof of proficiency in German as well as two other languages,

- including English at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
Proof of the required English language skills is provided by means of a relevant examination certificate or language certificate. This can take the form of:
• Certificate of general or subject-specific university entrance qualification that serves as evidence of having learned English as a foreign language from grades 5-12,
• Certificate of higher education entrance qualification taken entirely in English or certificate of higher education entrance qualification taken entirely in English or
• Proof of a recognized English test e.g. IELTS: 5.5; TOEFL: 72; UNIcert II)

- and another language at the B1 level of the CEFR or proficiency in Latin.

German language requirements

International applicants and German applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification are kindly advised to read the requirements for German-language courses.

Notes on the application process

If, at the time of application, proof of the first degree qualifying the applicant for a profession is not yet available, the application will be considered under the precondition that 80% of the credit points attainable for the degree have already been achieved based on completed module examinations or the final thesis and the colloquium (if applicable). A certification from the awarding institute of higher education (examination office) serves as proof of the above-mentioned academic achievements. You can find the appropriate form on the Admissions Office website.

General information about the degree program

In the Philosophy Master’s degree program, students acquire in-depth knowledge of philosophy and are free to select their own concentration based on their choice of elective compulsory modules. They also expand their knowledge in the focus courses. Upon completion of their studies, students will have extensive knowledge in the areas of Theoretical and Practical Philosophy as well as in the Philosophy of Technology and Science and/or Religious and Cultural Philosophy and/or the History of Philosophy. They will also have the methodological skills for applying specific philosophical practices independently.

The degree program introduces students to current research fields and issues in philosophy. The objective is to enable students to identify, understand and critically discuss key points of discourse in philosophical research, in turn training their powers of argumentation and judgment. In the course of the Master’s degree program, students acquire the skill to recognize connections between the various areas of philosophy: recognition and action, science and societal practice, science and technology, nature and culture, art and technology, humanity and religion, culture and history, etc.

Study contents

The Master’s degree program in Philosophy is strongly research-oriented. Students acquire fundamental knowledge of the methodical, content-related, systematic and historical foundations of the subject. The program is divided into modules. The standard period of study is four semesters. The curriculum is divided into three semesters. With the course of study in the focus area laid out below, the third semester lends itself to a stay abroad, where students can credit their work at a foreign university to their studies here in Dresden. The fourth semester is dedicated to writing the master’s thesis.

The following fundamental modules are compulsory core course modules:

1. Master’s module “Theoretical Philosophy” (Phil MA 1) and
2. Master’s module “Practical Philosophy” (Phil MA 2).

For the elective compulsory core course modules, students have the choice between the following concentrations:

1. Elective compulsory module “The Philosophy of Science and Technology” (Phil MA WP 1),
2. Elective compulsory module “The Philosophy of Culture and Religion” (Phil MA WP 2),
3. Elective compulsory module “The History of Philosophy” (Phil MA WP 3),

of which two must be selected.

The degree program also comprises other focus course modules.

View the module descriptions

Structure

Core courses (90 ECTS credit points)
Focus courses (30 ECTS credit points)

For the focus courses, students can choose between

— Studying abroad
— An internship
— Interdisciplinary studies

or combine the internship with interdisciplinary studies.

Further information on the elective compulsory field of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

Stay abroad

Would you like to spend a semester abroad? Whether it is a semester, an internship or a language course abroad, you will definitely benefit from the international experience. You can improve your subject and language skills, establish new contacts, make friends, get to know other cultures, and much more. You can find further information on the International Office’s website.
Additional information can be found on the Institute’s website.

Double degrees

Double degrees are offered in cooperation with the following universities:
— Università degli Studi di Trento – UNITN Trento (Italy)
Detailed information is available on Double Master’s degree website.

Occupational fields

The Master’s degree program in Philosophy can prepare students for the career path of an early-career researcher. But all students will gain the ability to impart their knowledge, which they can also apply to other occupational fields. They will learn the unique skill of making philosophical concepts, arguments and opinions generally comprehensible to a broader audience. This includes finding the appropriate linguistic register, creating clear presentations and the use of suitable media.

Study documents

The official announcements of TU Dresden include all published regulations . Please use the search bar to find the document you need: Official proclamation

The regulations are also available on each institution’s website.

Contacts

Admissions Office

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

International Office

Additional information