Master studies in Philosophy
General information about the department
The Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Salzburg offers a two-year MA programme in Philosophy in English. The programme is therefore especially designed for international students. Courses can be taken either exclusively in English or partly in English and partly in German.
The teaching staff in the Department of Philosophy include both experienced professors and young researchers. The Chair of Theoretical Philosophy was held by Professor Christopher Gauker until autumn 2024 and is currently being filled; the Chair of Logic and Philosophy of Science is held by Professor Charlotte Werndl (she is also a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics). Other members of staff include Bettina Bussmann, Alexander Hieke, David Lanius Leonhard Menges, Julien Murzi and Patricia Palacios. There is also a large group of postdocs and visiting researchers.
The Department of Philosophy in Salzburg has a lively, collegial and research-orientated atmosphere. Students regularly take part in the wide range of events organised by the department. These include an ongoing colloquium series (approx. 12 speakers per year), research seminars in which staff and philosophers from other universities present their work, the graduate seminar in which MA and PhD students present their work to lecturers and colleagues, and a series of workshops and conferences, often organised in collaboration with the international research partners in the USA (UC Irvine), England (LSE London) and Germany (LMU Munich). Students can also choose from a range of exchange programmes, which can take them to the University of Groningen and the University of Konstanz, among others. Finally, every year the Salzburg philosophy students organise SOPhiA, which is currently the largest annual graduate conference in philosophy in Europe.
The English-language MA programme is taught exclusively at the Faculty of Social Sciences. In addition, the University of Salzburg offers a German-language MA programme in Philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology. The programme offered by the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology may be more suitable for some applicants who have the necessary German language skills.
General Information on the Master’s degree programme
Language requirements
All students must have English language skills at level C1 or higher. Students wishing to take courses in German should have German language skills at level B2 or higher. German-speaking students may complete up to 50% of the required coursework in German. The Master’s thesis can be written in English or German.
Duration and structure of the degree programme
The MA programme lasts two years (four semesters, 120 ECTS). During the first three semesters, the focus is on the courses (seminars, lectures, writing assignments) and on the exchange with other students and guest lecturers as part of the department’s colloquium series. The fourth semester is dedicated to writing a Master’s thesis.
Academic prerequisites
Admission to the Master’s degree programme requires a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in Austria or abroad. The degree does not have to be in Philosophy. Students with or without a degree in Philosophy must prove in a qualitative selection procedure that they are sufficiently prepared for successful study at MA level. If a student’s qualifications are deemed insufficient for admission to the MA programme in Philosophy, they may be required to complete additional courses totalling up to 45 ECTS credits. Special regulations apply to students with a BA degree from the University of Salzburg (see below).
Costs
There are no tuition fees for EU citizens. Tuition fees for non-EU students are currently (2023) 727 euros per semester. The cost of living in Salzburg is comparable to that of large European cities such as Berlin or Paris. Information about scholarships can be found here.
Application process
Information about the application procedure can be found under this link.
Planning your studies
You can find tips to help plan your studies here.
