About this program
Master's Degree in Analytical Philosophy
A research degree in philosophy
The master in Analytic Philosophy is a research degree in philosophy. It prepares students for a research career in philosophy by giving them a balanced background in core areas of philosophy and helping them to develop the research skills necessary to conduct original research in theoretical or practical philosophy.
Why the Master's Degree in Analytical Philosophy?
- The UB is one of the top 50 universities worldwide in Philosophy (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)
- The Master's offers a solid training in fundamental areas of theoretical and practical analytic philosophy
- Stands out for the recognition and excellence of its professors
- Offers intensive courses by invited professors from top universities around the world
- Is research-oriented and aims to prepare its students for the most demanding doctoral programmes, in Spain and abroad
- Guarantees a personal tutor, and provides regular individual tutorials, feedback on written work and guidance on future academic careers
- Duration of one year
- Official recognized master’s degree, accredited by AQU
- Interuniversity Master
- In Barcelona!
Admission requirements
Recommended applicant profile
Candidates should have the motivation and interest needed to acquire the competences and skills provided by the study of contemporary analytical philosophy. They should have a capacity for abstract reasoning, the imagination to explore the possibilities beyond what has been established, and the intellectual honesty to shun the refuge of obscurity and acknowledge the weakness of their own positions when faced with criticism. Students must also have an excellent level of English, as the entire degree is taught in this language.
The course is open to holders of degrees in philosophy or other disciplines, such as humanities, journalism, linguistics, philology, psychology, physics or biology, who want to pursue additional training (after completing, where necessary, the appropriate bridging courses).
Access requirements and conditions
General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/29 October 2007, students must hold one of the following qualifications to access university master's degree courses:
- An official Spanish degree.
- A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.
- A qualification from outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, the qualification should be recognized as equivalent to an official Spanish degree. If it is not recognized, the University of Barcelona shall verify that it corresponds to a level of education that is equivalent to official Spanish degrees and that it authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.
Specific requirements
- Candidates should have a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree in humanities, psychology, linguistics, philology, translation and interpreting, journalism, mathematics, physics, biology, or a related discipline.
- Commitment to conduct a significant piece of research, expressed in a statement indicating the applicant's interests and how these interests are related to the course content.
- Two letters of reference, for candidates with degrees from universities not participating in the programme.
- A sample of the candidate's work (between 2000 and 4000 words in length).
- Level of English equivalent to B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, 7.00 on the IELTS exam, or 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (internet-based) on the TOEFL exam.
Bridging courses:
Candidates may be required to complete bridging subjects with a study load of up to 30 credits. This will depend on their previous studies. The bridging courses address the subjects covered by the bachelor's degree in Philosophy at the UB. The objective is to familiarize students with the fundamental elements of logic; the philosophy of language and of mind, and the epistemology and ontology of contemporary analytical philosophy. Two of these are final-year bachelor's degree subjects, which vary each year.
Successful candidates who have a qualification with only 180 credits may be required to complete bridging courses with a study load of up to 60 credits in order to obtain the 300 credits needed for admission to the doctoral programme.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreProgram content
Structure of the Master
To get the degree Master in Analytic Philosophy students need to earn a total of 60 master credits (ECTS) in the following master courses.
- 15 credits of general mandatory courses: Metaethics, Models of Justice and Human Rights and Research Methods in Analytic Philosophy
- 10 credits correspond to the Research Paper (mandatory).
- 15 credits specific to the chosen itinerary, i.e. either Practical Philosophy or Theoretical Philosophy. These consist of: 5 credits from the Research Seminar and 10 credits from Module 6 or Module 4, as the case may be.
- 20 credits chosen from optional courses on offer.
Tuition
For more information about tuition fees, please visit the university website.
Continuing studies
If you study full-time, the master takes one year to complete (60 credits ECTS). According to the rules of the European education area, a four-year undergraduate degree together with the Master in Analytic Philosophy qualifies for entry into a PhD programme. Those who take the master on the basis of a three-year bachelor degree can still use the master for access to our PhD programmes, but they will need to complete further coursework in order to meet legal requirements.
Career paths
The course is specifically designed to prepare students for doctoral study and the preparation of a doctoral thesis. As such, the main career opportunities are research and university teaching in fields related to philosophy. Other important areas include fields in which professionals benefit from interdisciplinary training in research on language, such as publishing, information technology, cultural management, journalism and public administration.
Consequently, students who complete the master's degree can become research and teaching staff, assessors (in areas addressed by the master's degree), and officials and managers in the public administration.
About this institute
Universitat de Barcelona
The University of Barcelona, founded in 1450, is a comprehensive higher education institution that presents deep academic tradition coupled with frontier scientific knowledge. It is located in the city of Barcelona, one of the main cosmopolitan hubs in the Mediterranean...
Why study at Universitat de Barcelona
Why choose the University of Barcelona?
- It is the top-rated Spanish university in the most prestigious international university rankings.
- It is among the 25 best universities of the world with more than 400 years of history.
- It is situated in Barcelona, one of the best university cities in the World.
- It offers a wide range of course offerings: bachelor’s degree courses, master’s degree courses, doctoral programs and other specific courses and programs.
The APHIL Masters is an absolute must for anyone wanting to pursue an academic career in analytic philosophy. It offers a very comprehensive curriculum, with subjects in all relevant topics of contemporary (analytic) philosophy, masterfully delivered by the pros themselves, i.e. the researchers at the forefront of philosophical life & work. It i...