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Program and courses Philosophy of Data and Digital Society

Explore distinct philosophical questions that emerge in a digitalized society. When are new technologies conducive for society and when do they erode the very basis of worthwhile human existence and interaction?

Program structure

This one-year program consists of 60 credits (ECTS):

  • 10 core courses:
    - 1 signature course of 6 ECTS
    - 2 common courses of 6 ECTS (12 ECTS)
    - 7 track-specific courses of 3 ECTS (21 ECTS)
  • Master Seminar (0 ECTS)
  • 1 or 2 electives (6 ECTS)
  • 1 Master’s thesis (15 ECTS)

You can start at the end of August, or at the end of January.

Program content

Core courses

You will follow 1 signature course:

  • Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (6 ECTS)

You take 2 common courses (12 ECTS in total) with the other Philosophy master tracks:

  • Ethics (6 ECTS)
  • The Canon and Beyond (6 ECTS)

You will follow 7 track-specific courses (21 ECTS):

  • Ethics and Digital Life (3 ECTS)
  • Rights and Justice in a Digital Society (3 ECTS)
  • Philosophy of Data Science (3 ECTS)
  • Digitalization and Meaningful Work (3 ECTS)
  • Knowledge and Truth in the Digital World (3 ECTS)
  • Philosophy of Big Data and Society (3 ECTS)
  • Digital Aesthetics (3 ECTS)

The Master Seminar (0 ECTS) offers a theoretical and practical deepening and enrichment of the Master's program. For the seminars, philosophers and professionals from relevant fields are invited.

Elective courses

Choose 1 course of 6 ECTS or 2 courses of 3 ECTS from the curriculum of the following tracks:

Master's thesis

In the first semester, you will receive practical information about the process of writing your Master's thesis and then get to work choosing a topic, developing an outline, and finding a supervisor. In the second semester, you get to work on writing your thesis.

Your thesis in short:

  • You can freely choose the subject of your thesis. The topic must be philosophical in nature and consistent with the content of the program. 
  • You are matched with a supervisor based on content expertise and availability.
  • You have the opportunity, under conditions, to write your thesis in response to a research question from a company or organization. 
  • The thesis is an academic and philosophical piece of writing and thus the research expected is philosophical in nature (conceptual, argumentative, literature review).

Watch a trial lecture

Go to course descriptions

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.

Part-time study program

Read more about the part-time Master's track Philosophy of Data and Digital Society

Part-time students usually take two years to complete the master (instead of one year), and three years for pre-master plus master. However, a higher or lower study tempo in the master is also negotiable.

As a part-time student, keep the following in mind:

  1. The courses from the Master's are scheduled in such a way that the program can be followed partly in the evening hours as a part-time student.
  2. Evening lectures start at 17.45h (or later) and are given on one or two regular evenings during the week. They usually take place on Monday and/or Thursday evening. Lectures that start before the evening (e.g., 16.45h) and end in the evening do not count as evening classes.
  3. As a part-time student you will also encounter lectures that are given during the day. These lectures can take place on all working days (Monday up to and including Friday). 
  4. Lecturing schedules are drawn up per semester and are usually announced one or one and a half month before the start of the semester.
  5. Since lectures can be scheduled every day of the week, during the day as well as in the evening, it is important to have some flexibility in your working schedule when you want to combine this study with a job.
  6. The average study load when studying part-time is 20-25 hours per week. This includes lectures, exams and preparation for the lectures and exams.
  7. Attendance during the working lectures is not mandatory for part-time students, but it is highly recommended. 

Do you want to know more about this Master’s program?

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Short overview of Philosophy of Data and Digital Society

  • Explore distinct philosophical questions that emerge in a digitalized society in this track which is unique in the domain of Philosophy Master’s programs.
  • Immerse yourself in the community of Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences where knowledge in the field of digitalization and its implications for society is highly represented and students and faculty have a strong affinity for this topic.
  • Profit from small-scale working methods with a great deal of interaction, which enables in-depth analysis and discussion with fellow students and lecturers. 
  • Choose a program that scores high on student satisfaction. In the most recent National Student Survey (2023), students of the Master’s in Philosophy at Tilburg University (incl. all tracks) gave high scores for, among other things, connection of the program to current developments, expertise of the lecturers, and the degree to which the program inspires them.

Interested in the Philosophy of Data and Digital Society track?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application.

Application and admission

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