Philosophy is not a subject that directly qualifies for a profession, but rather opens up one of the fundamental ways of thinking of our culture and of humanity in general. It deals mainly with texts, but its subject matter is the convictions and arguments on the basis of which everything laid down in great works and complicated discussion threads is to be critically examined and further developed. No subject of study is more dependent on freedom and self-responsibility than philosophy, but none is more sustainable as a guide to intellectual competence and personal independence.
The subject can be studied as a major or minor subject in the Interdisciplinary Master’s degree program in the Aisthesis. cultural and media studies variant or in the flexible variant in the amount of up to 65 ECTS credits. It can be combined with a minor subject and/or the Studium Individuale.
The subject Philosophy offers a fundamental university education in which students acquire in-depth content-related and methodological skills. The degree program teaches basic knowledge on the discipline, eras and positions of philosophy. Students are familiarized with the main forms of philosophical thought and learn to deal with them independently, in particular: Conceptual analysis, argumentation, logical deduction, text interpretation, reflective understanding of systematical and historical controversies, strategies of legitimization. They will acquire the ability to deal with the difference and correlation of descriptive and normative questions and will develop methodological and academic-theoretical critical ability. Furthermore, they will be introduced to the task of pooling own philosophical thought and the results of the degree program in order to make independent, objective contributions to scientific discourse. The program focuses on classical primary texts from the field of philosophical tradition and present.
The systematic structure of the program is based on the structure of the philosophical epochs (Antiquity, Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, Renaissance and the Early Modern Times, Modernity and the Present), the disciplines (Theoretical Philosophy, especially Ontology, Epistemology, Anthropology and Philosophy of Culture, Aesthetics as well as Practical Philosophy, especially Ethics, Philosophy of Law and State, Social Philosophy, Philosophy of History, Philosophy of Religion) and the basic approaches (especially Metaphysics, Transcendental Philosophy, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Language). Students also learn to understand and evaluate the practical-real consequences and the effectiveness of philosophical ways of thinking in social and cultural life. This also includes an introduction to the interdisciplinary and intercultural horizons of the subject of philosophy.
KU students and alumni have voted for their University to be Germany's most popular university in the 2024 ranking of the online portal StudyCheck. This is the third time in a row, as KU was also voted the most popular university in 2021 and 2022. The ranking was based on over 78,000 evaluations for more than 500 higher education institutions and universities. 97 percent of students questioned for the ranking would recommend studying at the KU to others.
"There is no better praise for a university than almost 100 percent of students and alumni agreeing: I can only recommend studying at the KU! That is why we are very pleased with the ranking’s outcome, because it expresses the high level of satisfaction of our students," says KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien.
Study abroad periods are possible in the framework of the Interdisciplinary degree programs. The KU International Office supports students in the planning phase and provides information on different financing possibilities for stays abroad.
For individual advice and support in finding an internship and financing possibilities, the KU Career Service and the International Internship Service are happy to help.
The subject Philosophy qualifies for a wide range of possible professional fields. In addition to education and science, this includes the fields of media, adult education, management and political consulting, philosophical practice, ethics and social consulting, as well as publishing.
The study of philosophy offers orientation and the opportunity to distinguish oneself in selected areas according to one's own abilities.
The KU has two campuses: Eichstätt and Ingolstadt. Seven faculties are located in Eichstätt. The Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI) and MIDS (Institute of Applied Mathematics, Machine Learning and Data Science) are located on our Ingolstadt campus.
This degree program is taught on our Eichstätt campus.
The district of Eichstätt and the city of Ingolstadt are located in the heart of Bavaria. This central location also means that the KU is easy to reach. Eichstätt impresses with its unique combination of baroque architecture, modern amenities and the picturesque nature of the Altmühltal natural park.
Short distances and lavish green spaces characterize the KU campus in Eichstätt. The KU is a campus University with modern facilities. The buildings on campus are located close to the Eichstätt old town.
Studying at the KU not only provides you with the specialist knowledge you need, but also aims to open up real future prospects for its students. We want to support our students in finding their own personal path to their individual dream future! The question is not "What career do I want to pursue?", but rather "Who do I want to be?"
Some offers and study conditions are different for international students – our International Office is happy to provide help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We are happy to accompany you on your way to the KU and hope that we can welcome you in person soon!
The application process for international applicants is now completely digital. You can register online in our application portal and carry out and submit your application. After you have carried out the application and uploaded your documents, you do not need to send your documents to us again by post. You do have to submit certified true copies only if you are admitted at the time of enrollment.
Depending on the course of study, you may be asked for information on internships, professional experience, etc. Please upload the relevant documents in the upload area for all the information you provide, even if these are not mandatory fields!
Before you start the application process, please read the additional information on this page, in particular the information on the respective (German) language requirements and university entrance qualifications.