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Master's programme

Philosophy University of Konstanz

Duration
4 semesters
Language of instruction
English
Tuition fees
Tuition varies
Next application deadline
15 January 2027 (summer semester)
Language level required
English: C1
German: None

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First impressions

Take a closer look

Philosophy
© Universität Konstanz

Philosophy

In this short film, the Master's degree in Philosophy in Konstanz is discussed from the perspective of current MA students and the perspective of teachers in the programme. It invites and encourages potential MA students of philosophy to consider pursuing their desired MA degree at the University of Konstanz.

Play video

Programme overview

Quick facts

Degree
MA
Duration
4 semesters
Full-time / part-time
Full-time
Intake
Winter and summer semester
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
A Diploma supplement will be issued
Yes
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No

Language of instruction

English

The MA programme can be completed entirely in German or entirely in English or by attending some seminars in German and others in English.

Programme description

This MA programme is research oriented. Both branches, practical philosophy and theoretical philosophy, work closely together and even collaborate on topics and areas of study.
We focus on contemporary topics in analytical philosophy, especially on topics in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science & philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of mind, moral philosophy & ethics, and political philosophy.

Programme structure

Students have to successfully complete 12 graduate seminars (either four seminars each in practical philosophy, theoretical philosophy, and history of philosophy or six seminars in two of these fields).
They can freely choose the seminars they wish to attend in any given semester.

During the last semester, students write the MA thesis.

Mode of study

  • Fully on-site

International elements in the curriculum

The curriculum of this study programme includes international elements that support global perspectives and cross-cultural learning:

  • Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
  • International guest lecturers
  • Specialist literature in other languages

Application and admission

Application period(s)

Summer semester

Applicants from Applications begin Application deadline
All countries
25 November 2026
15 January 2027

Winter semester

Applicants from Applications begin Application deadline
All countries
7 May 2027
15 July 2027

Academic admissions requirements

Bachelor's degree in philosophy with a grade corresponding to the German grade "good" (2.5 or better)

Language requirements

Please check all requirements directly with the respective higher education institution.

German language requirements

German: None

English language requirements

English: C1

Accepted certificates include
Certificates Minimum result
IELTS Academic
Total: 7 / 9

How to apply?

Website

Please check this website.

Click here

Costs and funding

Tuition fees per semester

Varied

Semester contribution

Students currently pay the following fees:

  • Degree-seeking students / free movers: 179 EUR/semester
  • Exchange students: 109 EUR/semester

For more detailed information, please check here or here.

Cost of living

The average monthly cost of living in Konstanz amounts to around 800–900 EUR, including rent:

  • Rent (including utilities): 320–450 EUR
  • Food: 170 EUR
  • Clothing, laundry, personal hygiene: 40 EUR
  • Learning materials (books, copies): 30 EUR
  • Health insurance, medical care, medicine: 110 EUR
  • Phone, Internet, broadcasting fees: 35 EUR
  • Leisure time, culture, sports: 65 EUR
  • Additional costs: student bus ticket: 56 EUR per semester (Studi-Ticket)

Part-time employment

If you want to earn some extra cash while you study, you can get a student job. The university administration and many departments offer student assistant jobs. You can find a number of advertisements for jobs both on and off campus on online platforms (in German), for example:

Jobbörse Seezeit: the job portal of our student services

Jobs are also posted on the notice boards of the university in the foyer and canteen areas as well as in the departments.

Scholarships and financing information

Students with great academic credentials and community service experience can apply for scholarships in Germany. In cases of unexpected financial hardship, the university will try to help with emergency financial support. For an overview of financial support options, check our website.

For example, you may apply for the Deutschlandstipendium.

The scholarship amounts to 300 EUR per month and is awarded without regard to income for a minimum of two semesters.

Living & services

Career advisory services

Accommodation

There are a number of possibilities for accommodation for students: in apartments, flat shares, or residence halls. Check out our website, where we provide an overview of the different options as well as general tips. You can also contact the team of our international office for advice on housing.

About us

University of Konstanz

Would you like to study at one of the best research universities in Germany? Then the University of Konstanz is the right place for you. We offer you excellent study conditions in a beautiful location between Lake Constance and the Alps. For us, excellence in studies and teaching also means cultivating close cooperation. We encourage our students to take part in discussions and get involved in research from the start.

Our university is currently home to some 10,000 students enrolled in around 120 different study programmes in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, humanities, politics, law, and economics. With students from more than 90 countries around the world, we are proud to call our university an international community. This international character is further strengthened by our extensive network of over 245 Erasmus+ partnerships across Europe, more than 60 bilateral partnerships with universities worldwide and several Master’s programmes with double degree options. The University of Konstanz is a campus-based university: you will get to know other students quickly, come into contact with other departments and feel at home right away. Our university has an open-door policy: professors are very accessible and happy to help you with any questions or issues you might have.

We will give you a very warm welcome and support you in every stage of your stay. We have an excellent supervision ratio and top advisory services. You will learn in small groups and work across disciplines. We promote innovative teaching methods and strategies such as transfer formats or virtual classrooms and support lecturers in further developing their teaching. Our Advanced Data and Information Literacy Track (ADILT) complements all study programmes by teaching the fundamentals of computer science and data processing methods, along with their legal foundations. Additionally, it provides reflection on their relevance for society.

In Konstanz, you will find optimal conditions for research, studying, and teaching.

The University of Konstanz has set the following five research priorities:

  • Collective Behaviour
  • Cultural Dynamics and Social Transformation
  • Material – Function - Quantum
  • Molecular Principles of Life
  • Inequality and Conflict

We want to give you the best possible opportunities to develop personally and professionally. You will have many opportunities to put your own ideas into action – whether you conduct research or start a spin-off. In Konstanz, we foster close communication and a strong sense of community to enhance the potential of our university members at all levels. We bring together our different backgrounds and disciplines to create something truly outstanding. At the same time, you will enjoy an /exceptionally beautiful environment with a historical city, lake, and nearby mountains as well as excellent sports facilities.

Find out more about our university and student life in Konstanz on our website.

Location

Konstanz is situated in south-west Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, and it shares its border with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. It is beautifully located on the shores of the Rhine River and Lake Constance, central Europe's second-largest lake, where the borders of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland converge. The lively university city, with about 87,000 inhabitants, among them more than 14,000 students, is the economic and cultural centre of the Lake Constance region. Take a stroll through the shopping mall and the historical centre featuring both large department stores and small specialist shops. Take a break in one of the many cafés, restaurants, ice cream parlours, pubs, and wine bars. Konstanz is not only a popular tourist destination but also an attractive business location (light industry, commerce, high technology). It is a very safe place to live offering a high quality of life with its excellent infrastructure and diverse cultural and recreational facilities. Konstanz has a long and rich historical tradition. The first settlements were erected in Konstanz Bay in 2000 BC, and the city was given its name "Constantia" by the Romans in the fourth century AD. Konstanz has a well-preserved medieval town and numerous historical buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.

Konstanz has the perfect location for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities. The region has an excellent network of routes for walking, cycling, and in-line skating tours. The beaches are a major attraction for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake or the Rhine. The lake offers various water sports, such as sailing, canoeing, and diving, while the nearby Alps provide year-round enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and climbers. Konstanz is the home of the oldest running theatre in Germany and of the famous Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. There are several museums, art galleries, and art centres offering a broad spectrum of events: art and documentary exhibitions and concerts in all genres of music. Konstanz is also an ideal starting point for excursions to many attractions in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. On the city's doorstep are the famous gardens of Mainau Island and the Island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take boat trips to beautiful towns around the lake, such as Meersburg, Überlingen, and Lindau. The lakeside town of Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin, and the Austrian city of Bregenz is renowned for its summer festivals, featuring spectacular opera and musical performances on a floating stage in the lake. A boat trip along one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine takes you to the magnificent Rhine Falls at the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. From Konstanz, you can easily reach major cities, such as Zurich, Basel, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Milan.

Deutschlandkarte

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Contact

Main contact

Department of Philosophy

Name
Dr Michael Kieninger
Adresse
Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464 Konstanz
E-Mail
E-mail

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Immer wissen, was als Nächstes ansteht

Mit deinem Study Guide hast du eine persönliche To-do-Liste, die sich an dein Herkunftsland, deinen Abschluss und deine Interessen anpasst – und dir zeigt, was als Nächstes wichtig ist.