Why this Master

1. Admission into PhD programmes

The MAP prepares its students for the most demanding PhD programmes. Students are carefully guided in the process of assembling their PhD applications: right from the first semester, they attend a course specifically designed to make students create their dossier following the advice of our professors. Moreover, the structure of the MAP is such that it allows students to have more time for individual study during the third semester, so that they can focus on the PhD applications. Thanks to these and several other peculiarities of the MAP, most of our students who applied to a PhD programme received an offer before graduating.

2. Study with a clear disciplinary focus

The Master focuses on four core areas: Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Logic, Philosophy of Physics.

3. Be ready to pursue your own research

The research-oriented approach of the Master quickly introduces students to some of the many lively contemporary debates in philosophy. Eminent scholars teach and discuss their own work in Masterclasses. Students are equipped to apply to the most demanding PhD programmes around the world.

4. Study with some of the most eminent scholars in the world

Many of our professors are among the best scholars in the world in their respective fields. Guest professors come from prestigious universities (New York University, Oxford, Cambridge, Geneva, …), and many are members of national academies:

  • Academia Europaea (5),
  • British Academy (4),
  • American Academy of Arts and Sciences (3)
  • Polish Academy of Sciences (1),
  • Royal Swedish Academy of Letters(1).
  • Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (2)
  • Academie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (1)
  • Royal Irish Academy (2)

5. Assessments and personal supervision

The Master requires students to submit regular written work, produce research papers and improve their speaking skills by giving several presentations. Moreover, each student is assigned a personal tutor, chosen among professors of the MAP. This one-to-one supervision includes regular meetings, feedback on written work and guidance about how to pursue an academic career.

6. Personalise your curriculum

MAP students have various ways to personalize their curriculum:

  • a pool of many MAP elective courses in our four core areas,
  • elective courses chosen from MA programmes in Philosophy from any Swiss university,
  • elective courses chosen from Master programmes in other disciplines,
  • one semester as exchange students at the Universiteit van Amsterdam or any Swiss university,

Overall, the number of ECTS that a student can get from other universities cannot exceed 30.

7. Students can apply for various scholarships that can facilitate their study and living expenses:

  • USI scholarships
  • Student assistant positions
  • Scholarships for students in philosophy and offered by private foundations (write to [email protected] for more information)