IB Pathways
Philosophy

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Netherlands

Philosophy

Fundamental questions about knowledge, reality and justice asked about current themes, building a critical perspective on science, religion and society.

Image: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Where
AmsterdamNetherlands
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. 6 November 2026

    VU Bachelor's Day on campus (6 and 7 November)
    DetailsSource

  2. 1 May 2027

    Application deadline for EU/EEA students
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 31 August 2027

    Enrolment: tuition fee paid (15 July for numerus fixus programmes)
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource
All dates for this programme (2 more)

  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. 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

Year one introduces logic and argumentation, epistemology, ethics, philosophy in global antiquity and contemporary European thought. Year two covers historical, practical and theoretical philosophy, from analytic philosophy and political philosophy to metaphysics and philosophy of mind, with two text seminars and electives. In year three you take a minor from another faculty and two electives, and write a thesis with training and tutoring support, choosing your own topic, problem and supervisor. English and Dutch tracks are offered, and a second study programme can be combined with philosophy.

What you need

  • Apply for Philosophy in Studielink, then confirm the English-taught track in your VU dashboard.
Requirements in full

Every IB applicant at VU Amsterdam

Full IB Diploma meets the entry rule. English: an English-taught or bilingual IB, or English A Lang & Lit SL 7/HL 6.

Where it says so

Its entry requirements

Check it on vu.nl

How places are decided

    • Everyone eligible is admitted
    No cap: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply in Studielink by 1 May and complete your VU application.
Sources (2)
  1. Philosophy at VU Amsterdam — checked 2026-09-30
  2. Entry requirements

Other degrees at VU Amsterdam