IB Pathways

Leiden University · Netherlands

Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives

Philosophy's big questions studied by comparing Western thought with Indian, East Asian, African and Arabic traditions side by side, rather than as separate options.

Where
LeidenNetherlands
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
1 May 2027
Admission
Open to all who qualify
EU/EEA fee
€2,7712027/28 statutory fee
More facts
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 1 December 2026*

    Create your Studielink account
    Your own plan
    Details

    Not an official deadline. With a Dutch address you log in with DigiD, which the government says takes about five days. Without one you upload a scan or photo of your passport or EU identity card and Studielink verifies it automatically. Either way, do it well before 15 January.

    Source

  2. 1 May 2027

    Programmes without numerus fixus (with matching): apply by
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    Details

    Both Dutch deadlines fall well before this. How a conditional place pending results is handled is set by each institution; ask yours.

    Source

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in the Netherlands

What it is

You explore questions about reality, the mind and society through philosophical traditions from China, India, East Asia, Africa and the Arab world as well as Western philosophy from antiquity to the present, including ethics taught in tutorial seminars. Teaching centres on small tutorial groups for in-depth discussion, lectures by internationally known scholars, skills training and mentoring by senior students. You can tailor the curriculum to your interests, use the Asian Library collections, and add a semester abroad or an international internship. The training in critical thinking and handling complex information suits many employers, and a master such as Modern European Philosophy is an option.

What you need

  • Full IB Diploma required (not certificates); send grade 11, November grade 12 and predicted grades. English-taught IB or English A HL waives the English test. Science programmes set HL subjects.
Requirements in full

Where it says so

Check it on universiteitleiden.nl

How places are decided

    • Everyone eligible is admitted
    Not selective: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply by 1 May 2027; online matching is compulsory, its advice not binding.
Sources (2)
  1. Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives at Leiden — checked 2026-09-30
  2. IB applicants at Leiden

Other degrees at Leiden

  • Open entry

Urban Studies

BA · 3 yrs · The Hague

Interdisciplinary