Philosophy of Contemporary Challenges
Study philosophical and ethical issues that arise with respect to populism, migration, terrorism, inequality, sustainability, and the role that science and technology play in our society. In doing so, you develop crucial skills that enable you to think critically, conceptualize things clearly, and argue convincingly, each of which is a valuable asset in today’s job market.
On-campus education as of August 2021 | pleased to meet you
National Student Survey (Master Philosophy, all tracks), 2019 | n=23
Elsevier Best Studies, 2020; Keuzegids, 2020 (Master Philosophy, all tracks)
Alumni of Philosophy | National Alumni Survey, 2019 | n = 10 (Master Philosophy, all tracks)
Program and courses
- Develop a philosophical perspective on society
Learn to question the conventional ideas of sociologists, economists, and other specialists about migration, democracy, justice, market forces, the environment, science, and technology. - Enrich yourself with skills that matter
You will analyze, synthesize, and critically question philosophical texts and problems in clear and concise ways and according to high academic standards. You will refine your presentation and writing skills and learn how to formulate to-the-point arguments and evaluate the claims made by others. - Challenge yourself
All courses are taught by experts in the respective fields and revolve around state-of-the-art literature by contemporary thinkers. You learn to come to grips with these at a high academic level and apply them to contemporary challenges in society.
Typical courses are:
- Migration, Refugees and Human Rights
- Populism and Active Citizenship
- Sustainability and Environmental Ethics
- Justice and Inequality
Career prospects
As a trained philosopher, you are able to analyze and reflect critically on social, political, and ethical issues. You can formulate well-founded and to-the-point proposals to solve societal problems. Major newspapers and magazines emphasize the wide variety of professions open for philosophers in the labor market:
- The Atlantic: “Is Philosophy the Most Practical Major?”
- Huffington Post: “The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors Are Changing The World Of Business”
- The Guardian: “What can you do with a degree in philosophy?”
- The Guardian: “I think, therefore I earn. The rise in stock of philosophy graduates”
After graduating, you can also continue your career in various fields as an academic researcher who has already acquired an interdisciplinary background.
Alumni facts
- Number of months until first paid job: 3
- 90% of our alumni find a job within 1 month
- 90% would choose this program again at Tilburg University
Source: Alumni of Philosophy (all tracks) | National Alumni Survey, 2019 | n = 10
Application and admission
This Master's program starts:
End of August and end of January (both the Master’s and the Pre-Master’s programs)
Best preparatory programs:
Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Culture Studies, Political Studies, or Liberal Arts and Sciences and Global Management of Social Issues
Pre-Master's program:
Open to both Research University students and students of a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO).
Tuition fees and scholarships
International students find all information about tuition fees and scholarships here.
Interested in this Master's program?
More information
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Interested in the Philosophy of Contemporary Challenges track?
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