Philosophy (master)
Norwegian version of this page

Programme structure

For students at the programme option Ancient Philosophy 

Structure

The master's degree consists of the following parts:

  • 40 credits of obligatory courses 
  • 20 credits of elective courses
  • 60 credits consisting of
    • either a longer independent work, or a shorter independent work plus elective courses (this option is for students starting their MA in the autumn of 2019 and later)
      or
    • either a longer independent work, or two shorter independent works (this option is for students who started their MA  in the autumn of 2018)

You can take the whole programme in English. Some courses are offered only in English. Others are offered in Norwegian, or in English if there are students who do not understand Norwegian.

Study progression

You can choose between two courses of study, the one with a master's thesis of 60 credits, the other with a master's thesis of 30 credits:

If you choose to write a master's thesis of 60 credits

4. semester FIL4090 – Master's Thesis in Philosophy
3. semester Semester abroad / FIL4090 – Master's thesis in philosophy Semester abroad / 10 credit MA course in philosophy
2. semester FIL4090 – Master's Thesis in Philosophy 10 credit MA course in ancient history of ideas / 10 credit MA course in philosophy 10 credit MA course in philosophy
1. semester FIL4081- Philosophical method and practice

FIL4561 – Ancient Philosophy and its key concepts
  10 credits 10 credits 10 credits

If you choose to write a master's thesis of 30 credits

4. semester

 FIL4091 – Master's Thesis in philosophy 10 credit MA course in philosophy 10 credit MA course in philosophy
3. semester

Semester abroad / FIL4091 – Master's Thesis in philosophy

Semester abroad / 10 credit MA course in philosophy

 

Semester abroad / 10 credit MA course in philosophy

2. semester

 FIL4091 – Master's Thesis in philosophy 10 credit MA course in ancient history of ideas / 10 credit MA course in philosophy 10 credit MA course in philosophy
1. semester FIL4081- Philosophical method and practice FIL4561 – Ancient Philosophy and its key concepts

 

10 credits

10 credits

10 credits

Semester abroad

We recommend that you go abroad in the third semester. 

If you are writing a master's thesis of 30 credits, you can take courses giving 20 credits at the institution abroad. If you are writing a master's thesis of 60 credits, it may be useful to move part of the work on the thesis from the third to the second semester, so that you can take more than one course in your semester abroad.

To organise this, please contact the student advisor well ahead of your stay.

40 credits compulsory courses

In addition you have to take a minimum of 10 credits in ancient history of ideas and/or ancient philosophy either abroad or at the University of Oslo. We offer one course in ancient history of ideas per year. For those who stay in Norway, one of the following courses may be offered:

20 credits of elective courses

20 credits chosen among all 10 credit courses in philosophy listed below.

Metaphysics and the philosophy of mind

Epistemology and philosophy of science

Ethics and other practical philosophy

Philosophy of language/logic

History of philosophy

Aesthetics

Courses at the intersection of the areas listed above

Courses that may shift areas from semester to semester

The following courses will each time belong to a designated area depending on the course contents:

FIL4010 and FIL4011 are shared master's and Ph.D. courses. These are offered as 10 credit courses and students can only take two such within the master's degree programme.

Since the content of many of the cour