Philosophy
Philosophy is one of our oldest academic subjects. But in a complex reality and a pluralistic society, the subject remains as relevant as ever before.
By studying philosophy, you can take a deep dive into questions such as: Are there objective truths and values? Is democracy the best form of government? What is required for someone to be responsible for their actions? What bestows on language its meaning? In the programme option Philosophy, you will learn about these and other philosophical questions in one of the largest and most international philosophical communities in the Nordic countries.
Internationally renowned teaching and research
The Master's program in Philosophy offers teaching and supervision at a high international level within a broad spectrum of philosophy's main areas and traditions. You choose which course packages you want to delve into, linked to the department's research groups with high expertise in:
- Ancient philosophy
- Ethics
- The philosophies of languages and logic
- Philosophy of mind and epistemology.
Work on the master's thesis is independent and is followed up by a supervisor. You can choose between two tracks: one with a 60-credit master's thesis and one with a 30-credit master's thesis. In line with the program's optional course packages, you can follow and get involved in research groups such as: The Society for Ancient Philosophy, the Practical Philosophy Group, the Center for Philosophy and the Sciences (CPS) and the Oslo Mind, Language and Epistemology Network (OMLET).
→ Read more about the programme structure.
With a large number of international students and teachers, all of the master's level teaching takes place in English where this is requested by the students and instructors. See which teachers are affiliated with the programme and who offer supervision for the master's thesis.
Valuable skills
Through the study of philosophy, you are trained in skills that are valuable both in working life and in further education.
- Intellectual creativity and independence: you are trained to see problems from new angles and to solve problems independently. The history of philosophy is an important source of inspiration here.
- Critical thinking and analysis: you learn to analyze texts and arguments, as well as to build arguments and write argumentative texts yourself.
- Normative thinking: philosophy shows that normative argumentation can be something far more than an "opinion". No other subject provides such broad and thorough training in argumentation about justice, democracy, values, right and wrong, and what is a good life.
- Rational discussion across great disagreement: in philosophy you learn to deal critically but constructively in debates with great disagreement. What premises can the disagreement be traced back to? What else can be agreed on? To what extent is pluralism a possibility?
International possibilities
The programme option Philosophy gives students the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad. The Department has exchange agreements with a number of strong universities in Europe and North America, including vibrant communities of philosophy.
→ Read more about studies abroad.
Learning environment
Philosophy has an active student council that organizes evenings of different academic topics, movie nights, study trips and parties, partly in collaboration with the other subject and programme committees at the Department of Philosophy, History of Ideas and Art and Classical Languages. The student journal Filosofisk supplement is run by and for students in the programme.
Career prospects
What jobs do philosophers have? Our graduates work in various types of information dissemination, journalism, publishing, case management, analysis, and service and public relations. Other areas of work include supervision, teaching, research and cultural dissemination.
→ Read more about career prospects and research opportunities.
Honours certificates at master's level
Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master's degree with an honours certificate of 20 credits. You take the certificate at the same time as your master's degree.
→ Read more about Honours certificates.