In starting your philosophy degree, Europe is the perfect place for you. It has been the home of the world’s greatest philosophers and excellent philosophy universities that are student-centered and truly value quality teachings.
Philosophy majors are highly likely to graduate with strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and writing skills that can be used in a wide range of professions. Depending on your field of interest, you can pursue being a journalist, HR manager, analyst, or paralegal.
Given that it is a vast profession, you must supply yourself with sufficient and appropriate education to help you land the career you want. You should be prepared and trained by the finest and leading institutions in the world. With that, read until the end of this article to discover some of the best philosophy schools in Europe that will unquestionably magnify your abilities.
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Is Philosophy hard to study?
The direction of philosophy is quite an intriguing course that requires students to focus and study hard so that they can achieve their goals. This course is not considered among the top courses in difficulty but is not considered an easy course. The advantages that come from this course are quite high, as the prospect for a successful career is seen as very fruitful. We currently do not have information on this specific course, but if you are interested, you may search all the available courses that are on our website, so that you can make better decisions about your future career.
Top Philosophy Schools in Europe
1. University of Oxford
Oxford is one of the world’s greatest centers for philosophy and is even internationally recognized to be among the best. Its greatness is embedded from its history, as prominent philosophers have studied and taught at Oxford. Some of them are Thomas Bradwardine, William of Ockham, John Wycliffe, and John Locke.
With that kind of standard, expect that Oxford’s philosophy programs are intellectually demanding and will truly challenge you. Recognized as one of Europe’s best philosophy schools, Oxford’s Faculty of Philosophy already has over 50 full-time members, each with a college Fellowship, covering the broad spectrum of philosophy subjects.
The University of Oxford already has not less than 21,000 students from 140 countries. Its excellent teachings have marked Oxford as the Best Philosophy University in Europe according to 2021 QS World University Rankings.
Also See: University of Oxford Scholarships
2. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
The London School of Economics and Political Science already has a long history of philosophy. The university’s experience with Bertrand Russel, Karl Popper, and Imre Lakatos marked LSE’s spot in the leading philosophy schools in the world.
LSE has been known as a top philosophy institution in Europe. Since the Department of Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method’s inauguration in 1946, it has already created a name for being a world-class center for teaching and research in philosophy of science, political and moral philosophy, decision theory, and social science.
Currently, there are already 16 Nobel Laureates from the university. QS World University Rankings ranked LSE as the 2nd Best Philosophy School in Europe in 2021.
3. University of Cambridge
Cambridge is considered to be the birthplace of analytic philosophy. It was also the philosophical home of well-celebrated philosophers, such as Russel, Moore, Wittgenstein, Ramsey, and Anscombe.
Today, the University of Cambridge continues to be one of the top philosophical research centers globally. The institution also organizes seminars and gatherings to help students widen their perspectives and acquire new learnings from others within the community.
The University of Cambridge has over 30 academic philosophers under its Faculty of Philosophy, with 150 undergraduates and about 50 postgraduate students. The university is successful in placing students in academic jobs and philosophy-related careers.
During the 2021 QS World University Rankings, the University of Cambridge was declared the 3rd Best Philosophy School in Europe.
4. King’s College of London
King’s College of London is one of the largest dedicated philosophy departments in the United Kingdom. It is even consistently ranked for excellent performance in philosophy teaching and research.
The institution also collaborates with different world-leading universities to cultivate special partnerships and heighten the academic experience of its students. This partnership also paves the way for academic staff and research students exchanges and joint research activities.
Anyone who wants to develop their philosophical arguments and ideas in a focused environment should consider exploring King’s College of London. As it is a leading philosophy school in Europe, it puts emphasis on small-group teaching to ensure that students will acquire and hone more profound critical thinking skills. The school also offers various scholarship opportunities for students to support their studies.
King’s College of London was the 2021 QS World University Rankings’ 4th Best Philosophy School in Europe.
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5. University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews offers a wide range of courses on opportunities for every philosophy student. There are also events with visiting scholars and lecturers to assist aspirants and guide them in the professional field.
A very active Philosophy Society is also present in this top philosophy university, which constantly organizes debates, talks, and parties to enhance the students’ social skills and quick thinking.
The university’s large philosophical center comprises 20 permanent academic staff, post-doctoral fellows, graduate tutors, and visiting professors. The university was ranked the 5th Best Philosophy School in Europe during the 2021 QS World University Rankings.
6. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University of Berlin)
The Humboldt University of Berlin is named after the famous linguist and Prussian philosopher Wilhelm von Humboldt. The scientist created a distinct learning model, balancing theory with active research activities. This is then later on adapted by leading universities in Europe.
The university has entered into partnership agreements with 375 universities globally, opening up the prospect of internships and collaborations. Many philosophy students keep an eye on Humboldt University because it is a state university where you can study for free.
Since all its undergraduate courses are taught in German, applicants must submit a German language certification. For master’s and other individual courses, predominantly use English as the medium of instruction.
The Humboldt University of Berlin was the 2021 QS World University Ranking’s 6th Best Philosophy School in Europe.
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7. Ludwig Maximilian Universität München
LMU is another one of the best philosophy schools in Europe and is a public research university located in Munich. It is considered the second-largest university in Germany and one of the most prestigious institutions in the said country. The German Universities Excellence Initiative has even granted the university an elite status.
Just like most universities in Germany, all undergraduate programs of LMU are taught in German. Others, however, are already offered in English. Also, philosophy graduates who want to pursue PhD programs at the institution have the chance to apply for financial assistance from the university itself.
LMU has stretched all means to maintain a strong relationship with other universities, domestically and internationally. Up to date, the university already has 493 contracts with other institutions. As a philosophy student of Munich, you have the opportunity to go on an exchange program to any partner institution all over the world.
In the 2021 QS World University Ranking, the University of Munich Ludwig-Maximilian placed 7th on the Best Philosophy Schools in Europe.
Europe offers a great destination for students looking to pursue their philosophy careers from the top philosophy schools in the world. The above top-ranking universities in Europe have an excellent reputation for offering quality programs in Philosophy. Fortunately, you can make your educational dream a reality in any of them by taking advantage of the open scholarships to support your finances.
We hope that you found this article on the best philosophy schools in Europe informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
