Master's specialisation of Research Master's in PhilosophyEthics and Political Philosophy
In this English-taught Philosophy Research Master’s programme, you will study ethics and political philosophy in relation to societal and political issues – such as climate change, social injustice, protests, public health, technology and digitalization.
Something for you?
- This programme focuses specifically on ethics and political philosophy from mostly a continental and particularly a practical philosophical perspective.
- This specialization reaches beyond the classical boundaries of philosophy, as it actively engages with current social and political issues – such as climate change, activism, protest, public health, digitalization and/or professional ethics.
- This programme will deepen your skills in critical philosophical analyses and thereby deepen your research skills for an academic career (PhD) or professions with large social and political responsibilities.
- This specialization is taught by researchers associated with the Radboud Center for Philosophy and Society (RCPS), and you will be actively engaged in the RCPS sessions.
- This Research master’s specialisation is part of a broader Research Master’s programme.
- This programme is rated well by students (Source: Keuzegids Masters 2024)
Admission requirements
Do you want to know if you can be admitted? Read more about the admission requirements of this programme.
Admission & ApplicationApply now
If you have determined that you can be admitted with your previous education, you can apply via Studielink.
Apply nowFactsheet
- Main language
- English
- Study duration
- 2 years (120 EC)
- Start
- February, September
- Programme format
- Full time
- Degree
- Master of Arts, specialisation of Research Master's in Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
- CROHO code
- 60128
- Accreditation
- NVAO
What will you learn
What is the nature of critique in French and/or German critical theory? What are the ethical, societal and political questions of digitalization or AI? How can we best understand various practices of protest and activism? Does post-truth rely on myth-building? What ethical questions do climate change or chronic illness pose? These are examples of the kind of questions that you will explore during this programme.
What makes this programme unique is not only its (non-exclusive) emphasis on continental practical philosophy, but also its engagement with pertinent societal and political issues – such as climate change, protest, disability, racism, post-truth and digitalisation. In this programme you will not only deepen your textual knowledge of ethics and (largely continental) social and political philosophy but also learn to apply it in practical relation to issues of justice, truth, equality, care, and ethical values. In doing so, you will both deepen your philosophical conceptual understanding, as well as your skills in ethical, social and political analysis.
Study Programme
Future career opportunities
Given this programme’s unique emphasis on both 1) ethics and social and political philosophy and 2) urgent societal and political issues, this Research Master Specialization provides you with the skills necessary for an academic career (PhD position) in Philosophy or a related field, as well as more (socially and politically impactful) practical fields of policymaking, journalism, education, government, think tanks, NGOs, and consultancy. Hence, our previous REMA students have both gone on to study PhDs, but also started working as strategists, researchers, or policy makers in a host of other fields.
In addition to the staff’s professional networks in a range of different social and political fields, the network of Research Master’s alumni and the reputation of the philosophy departments at Radboud University will serve you well, whichever career path you choose.
Here, you can read more about the experiences of former student Sümer Şen.
Career prospectsResearch
Teaching is provided by lecturers who are involved as professional academic researchers in the Radboud Center for Philosophy and Society. The RCPS deals with contemporary social issues from ethical and political philosophical perspectives. Researchers at the RCPS move beyond the classical boundaries of philosophy by engaging with disciplines such as medicine, political science, sociology, anthropology, computer and natural sciences, and by actively engaging with social and political stakeholders, including activists, victims, policymakers, professionals, politicians and NGOs.
The RCPS has 3 lines of research, which are of course also interrelated:
- The research line ethics and political philosophy is based on empirical ethics and continental political philosophy. It focuses on a range of interrelated topics such as professional ethics, democratic theory, democratic repertoires, protest, activism, racism, (de/post)coloniality, post-truth, myth-making, ableism, health, and political trauma.
- The research line digitalisation investigates the increasing digitisation in various social fields (such as health, education, politics and law) and in particular the consequences for social values such as privacy, inclusion, solidarity and democratic integrity in these domains.
- The sustainability and environment research line explores the challenges of unsustainable developments, including, for example, our relationship with future generations and non-human life, as well as the distribution of the benefits and burdens of environmental policy.
Thus, the RCPS conducts philosophical research that is both philosophically rigorous and socially impactful, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary challenges.
Questions about this programme?
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ContactTuitions & grants
If you are going to follow this Master's programme, you will pay an annual tuition fee. There are different tuition rates. The amount depends on your personal situation.
Tuition & Grants