Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology (Research) (specialisation)

Entry requirements

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in Philosophy or in a related discipline (in the latter case, students must have acquired at least 60 EC in Philosophical disciplines).

The applicant must have a degree with merit or distinction or equivalent. Meaning: a student’s weighted grade-point average in philosophy in the 2nd and 3rd year of their Bachelor's programme must be the equivalent of 7.5 or more (on the Dutch scale of 10).

On the page "Conversions of international grades" you will find an indication of what the equivalent of a Dutch 7.5 or 8 might be in the country where you obtained your Bachelor’s degree.

2. A proficiency in English

In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English.This requirement has been satisfied when the student meets the conditions, listed on our website.

3. Highly motivated

An applicant must be able to demonstrate to the Examination Board that they have serious research interests and skills. Applicant must write a motivation letter and send a writing sample which can help evaluate their research and writing skills

Months of entry

February, September

Course content

Focussing on how metaphysical questions are affected by hermeneutical philosophy as it has developed in the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

The www.ru.nl/en/education/masters/metaphysics-and-philosophical-anthropologyMaster's specialisation in Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology is a research program looking at the age-old fundamental questions regarding being, truth and reality from a contemporary viewpoint with the help of modern philosophers. You’ll also examine these questions in the light of major thinkers from the hermeneutic tradition and from the continental tradition who were critical of these hermeneutic developments in philosophy with a contemporary aim.

This programme's approach to metaphysics and epistemology includes a strong multidisciplinary focus, making connections to other disciplines, such as linguistics and the use of language or anthropology and the control society, or even mathematical science and the reduction of truth. You’ll gain a fresh, modern perspective to one of the most traditional fields of philosophy.

Key authors for this specialisation include: Aquinas, Aristotle, Derrida, Dilthey, Gadamer, Hegel, Heidegger, Husserl, Ricoeur and Schleiermacher.

Career prospects

A majority of graduates from this programme pursue a career in academia. Other graduates may find work as teachers or other fields such as journalism, policy and politics.

If you have any questions, email us here: study-information@ru.nl

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Information for international students

Application deadlines

Non-EU/EEA students

• The deadline for non-EU/EEA students who wish to apply for a scholarship is 31 January prior to the September intake. For the requirements and selection procedure for scholarships, please check our scholarship overview.
• The deadline for those not applying for a scholarship is 1 April for non-EU/EEA nationals for the September 2026 intake. You can apply for the September 2026 intake from 1 October 2025.

EU/EEA students

• The application deadline for EU/EEA students with housing assistance for the September 2026 intake is 1 May, and the deadline without housing assistance is 1 July. You can apply from 1 October onward for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The application deadlines for Master’s starting in February are 1 November for non-EU/EEA citizens and 1 December for EU/EEA citizens.

Fees and funding

Radboud University offers 3 different scholarships that are open to prospective Master's students from non-EU/EEA countries and who want to follow an English-taught Master's programme.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers talented, highly motivated, non-EU/EEA students with outstanding study results the opportunity to be awarded a partial scholarship for an English-taught Master’s programme.

NL Scholarship (for prospective students)

The NL Scholarship (formerly known as Holland Scholarship) is a partial scholarship for non-EU/EEA students who want to do their Master’s in the Netherlands.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

The Fulbright Commission, sponsored by Radboud University, is offering scholarships for talented American students to study at Radboud University.