Master in philosophy

• What linguistic competencies are required to enroll in the MA in Philosophy?

  The UniNE MA in Philosophy is bilingual: the languages of instruction are French and English. Students who wish to enroll in the MA in Philosophy must be at the level of B2 in either French or English and must be willing and interested in improving their competence in the other language. Unless the student is a native speaker of either French or English, evidence indicating that the student has reached the level of B2 in at least one of the two languages of instruction must be submitted along with the other application materials.

• The UniNE Institute of Philosophy is a small institute. Are there real research opportunities there?

  Despite our small size, we are a lively intellectual community. Our MA students in Philosophy are invited to participate in our regular activities and events, which include our weekly research colloquium, conferences and workshops, as well as seminars taught by visiting faculty members from universities in Switzerland and abroad. The UniNE Institute of Philosophy offers its MA students a human-scale environment, where each student receives sustained attention from faculty members.

• Is it possible to do exchanges to other universities during MA program in Philosophy at UniNE?

  In principle, students can do exchanges anywhere, but the Institute has some official arrangements worth mentioning. MA students in Philosophy can take seminars at other Swiss universities in particular through the BeNeFri (Bern, Neuchâtel, Fribourg) and the TriangleAzur (Lausanne, Geneva, Neuchâtel) programs as well as study abroad at Central European University, the University of Tübingen, or the University of Bologna.

• What are the professional opportunities after a Master’s degree in philosophy?

  Students who complete an advanced degree in philosophy acquire many useful skills that are valued by potential employers, including: the ability to read texts carefully, to analyze and construct arguments, to present and defend a position convincingly both orally and in writing, as well as the ability to propose innovative solutions to difficult problems. These skills are valued by potential employers regardless of the particular career path that is chosen by the student after their Master’s degree in Philosophy. For additional information, see for example the American Philosophical Association’s webpage on non-academic careers in Philosophy: https://www.apaonline.org/page/nonacademic.

• What are the specialties of the UniNE Institute of Philosophy?

  Our Institute specializes in social ontology, philosophy of action, metaphysics, and ethics. We also provide our students with a strong foundation in the history of philosophy; hands-on training in formal and conceptual tools for conducting advanced research in philosophy; training in philosophical and professional skills aimed at preparing students for both academic and non-academic careers, the option to write a standard research thesis or a practically oriented thesis carried out in conjunction with an internship; as well as the opportunity to combine a specialization in philosophy with another discipline within FLSH.