Ever thought what’s behind the subtle reasoning of Herman Van Rompuy, the former President of the European Council? A bachelor's degree in philosophy from Leuven, in the heart of Europe! An ideal basis for further studies in philosophy at Leuven or further afield, or as a launch pad for an exciting professional career in related fields such as law, economics and medicine. 

About the programme:

The Bachelor of  Philosophy programme will do much more than introduce you to the highly sought-after skills of logic, critical thinking and close reading. Structuring your own quest for truth, a Bachelor of philosophy will help you to orient your thoughts about the world that we are living in, and it will also teach you to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary scientific and societal debates. 

The aim of the programme is to provide a thorough, broad and comprehensive historical and systematic education in philosophy. At the same time, the programme seeks to provide students with the research skills required for successful written and verbal expression in philosophy. You’ll also learn to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary societal debates. 

The programme is structured with a system of major and minors:

• The philosophy courses in the major (Truncus Communis) provide you with the necessary knowledge of systematic philosophy and its history and make you familiar with key philosophical topics and concepts. At the same time, you will learn how to read and analyse texts closely, to give well-structured presentations and to write a clear and cogent philosophical text.

• For the Minor, students can choose one of the following three options: Liberal Arts, Theology and Religious Studies, and Educational Studies.

Student profile:

You should possess intellectual curiosity, a strong interest in questions of meaning, a capacity for abstract and conceptual thinking as well as a critical capacity to examine one’s own presuppositions and views.

Study Lab:

Teachers and assistants, study career consultants, study coaches and the ombuds office are ready to guide you through a broad range of support options.

Broaden your career perspectives with our minor system:

Depending on your choice you will be able to continue your studies in either the Master of Philosophy, or the master in the field of your minor.

Study abroad:

The Institute of Philosophy has Erasmus+ exchange agreements with more than 40 European universities, including universities in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, Rome, and Prague. 

Open Online Courses in Philosophy:

Discover our online courses to prepare yourself for obtaining a degree in philosophy at KU Leuven.

Career perspectives:

With an academic bachelor's degree, you have a broad general knowledge, but you are not yet ready for the labour market. The bachelor's in Philosophy prepares you for a master's programme in which you will further deepen your knowledge. After obtaining your master's degree, you will have a wealth of knowledge and competences and a wide range of career opportunities.

• Master of Philosophy

• Research Master of Philosophy, after admission

• Master of Theology and Religious Studies, after an abridged bachelor programme of at least 30 credits if you took the Minor Theology and Religious Studies in the Bachelor of Philosophy and if you chose your minor courses with the abridged bachelor programme in mind

• Master of Educational Studies, after a preparatory programme of 60 credits. If you took the minor Educational Studies, all courses of this preparatory programme were included in the Bachelor of Philosophy. If you successfully completed all your minor courses, you will be granted an exemption for all courses of the preparatory programme and you can directly start with the Master of Educational Studies after the bachelor