Bachelor of Philosophy

KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Shortlist

# 19QS Subject Rankings

36 monthsProgramme duration

9,493 EURTuition Fee/year

10 Mar, 2026Application Deadline

Shortlist

Programme overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

Ever thought what’s behind the subtle reasoning of Herman Van Rompuy, the former President of the European Council? A bachelor's degree in philosophy from Leuven, in the heart of Europe! An ideal basis for further studies in philosophy at Leuven or further afield, or as a launch pad for an exciting professional career in related fields such as law, economics and medicine.

The Bachelor of Philosophy programme will do much more than introduce you to the highly sought-after skills of logic, critical thinking and close reading. Structuring your own quest for truth, a Bachelor of philosophy will help you to orient your thoughts about the world that we are living in, and it will also teach you to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary scientific and societal debates.

The aim of the programme is to provide a thorough, broad and comprehensive historical and systematic education in philosophy. At the same time, the programme seeks to provide students with the research skills required for successful written and verbal expression in philosophy. You’ll also learn to use philosophical skills in analysing contemporary societal debates.

The programme is structure with a common major paired with your choice of minor. The philosophy courses in the major (Truncus Communis) provide you with the necessary knowledge of systematic philosophy and its history and make you familiar with key philosophical topics and concepts. At the same time, you will learn how to read and analyse texts closely, to give well-structured presentations and to write a clear and cogent philosophical text. For the minor, you can choose one of the following options:

The Liberal Arts Minor consists of a broad range of introductory courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with a strong interdisciplinary component. It also offers you the opportunity to read philosophical texts in French or German or to choose more philosophical electives.
The Educational Studies Minor and the Theology and Religious Studies Minor are offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Studies and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, respectively. These minors introduce you to the basic topics and methods of the two disciplines.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

The Liberal Arts Minor consists of a broad range of introductory courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with a strong interdisciplinary component. It also offers you the opportunity to read philosophical texts in French or German or to choose more philosophical electives.
The Educational Studies Minor and the Theology and Religious Studies Minor are offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Studies and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, respectively. These minors introduce you to the basic topics and methods of the two disciplines.

Brochures

Admission Requirements

IELTS

6.5+

TOEFL

90+

Students with a degree obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community:

For admission to this programme, the general admission requirements for a bachelor programme apply:

1° a Flemish degree of secondary education; awarded in the school year 2024-2025 or earlier;
1°/1 a Flemish degree of secondary education, educational qualification level 4, awarded as of the school year 2024-2025;
2° a Flemish degree of short-course higher education;
3° a Flemish degree of higher education for social advancement, with the exception of the certificate of pedagogic aptitude (Getuigschrift Pedagogische Bekwaamheid), or
4° a degree or certificate, awarded in the context of the Flemish HBO (hoger beroepsonderwijs)
4°/1 a Flemish bachelor's or master's degree

Students must be proficient in English. Their reading, listening, speaking and writing skills must be adequate for university- level studies. Taking an English proficiency test is recommended but not required.

Students with a degree obtained at an institution outside the Flemish Community:

Diploma requirements: The Institute of Philosophy considers applications from all students holding a high school diploma that gives access to university-level education in their home country. Students may be admitted by the Board of Admissions upon consideration of their complete application file. Decisions on admission are based on the candidate's academic potential (as demonstrated by the complete application file including our academic reading and writing assignment).

Language requirements

The Institute of Philosophy accepts the following tests as a proof of English proficiency: An exemption from the proof of English proficiency by means of the above mentioned tests is only granted to applicants who hold a degree obtained in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the USA. The degree and transcripts are sufficient, provided they can prove that the entire study was completed in English. Degrees obtained in an online format cannot serve as a basis for an exemption.

Application Deadline

10 Mar 2026

Program Duration

3 Years

Starting Month(s)

Sep

International

Starts from

9,493 EUR

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

# 19QS Subject Rankings

36 monthsProgramme duration

9,493 EURTuition Fee/year

10 Mar, 2026Application Deadline

Programme overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Programme overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Brochures

Admission Requirements

Exam Scores

Important Dates

Tuition Fee

International

Scholarships

Scholarships

QS WUR Ranking By Subject

More programmes from the university

Ad Feature Programmes(5)

Master of Deglutology

Master of Educational Studies

Master of Engineering: Energy

Master of European Social Security

Master of Psychology: Theory and Research

Bachelor (6) UG(6)

Bachelor of Philosophy

Bachelor of Theology and Religious Studies

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Business Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Laws

Master (95) PG(95)

Master of Architecture

Master of Canon Law

Master of Cultural Studies

Master of English Linguistics and Literature

Master of History

Master of Multilingual Communication: Cross-Cultural Communication Management

Master of Philosophy

Master of Society, Law and Religion

Master of Theology and Religious Studies

Master of Urbanism, Landscape and Planning

Master of Western Literature

Research Master of Philosophy

Research Master: Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion

Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering

Master of Advanced Studies in Economics

Master of Business Economics

Master of Business Engineering (incl. double degree variants)

Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering (incl. double degree variants)

Master of Economics

Master of Information Management

Master of International Business (incl. double degree variants)

Master of Management Engineering

EIT-KIC Master in Energy

Erasmus Mundus Japan - Master of Science in Imaging and Light in Extended Reality (IMLEX)

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

European Master of Science in Radiation and its Effects on Microelectronics and Photonics Technologies (RADMEP)

European Master of Sustainable Food Systems Engineering, Technology and Business (FOOD4S)

Master of Artificial Intelligence

Master of Artificial Intelligence in Business and Industry

Master of Biochemical Engineering Technology

Master of Biomedical Engineering

Master of Bioscience Engineering: Agro- and Ecosystems Engineering

Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cellular and Genetic Engineering

Master of Bioscience Engineering: Human Health Engineering

Master of Bioscience Engineering: Sustainable Urban Bioscience-Engineering

Master of Chemical Engineering

Master of Chemical Engineering Technology

Master of Civil Engineering

Master of Civil Engineering Technology

Master of Conservation of Monuments and Sites

Master of Cybersecurity