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Top Universities for Philosophy in 2022-2023

Apr 15, 2022

Best Colleges and Universities for Philosophy in the World

About Philosophy

Philosophy is an academic study that seeks to answer fundamental problems about the world, such as what is valuable and what is not. In Greek, the word “philosophy” implies “love of wisdom.” In a broader sense, philosophy connects our past with the present providing answers to the basic and fundamental questions of life and existence. 

Philosophical education broadens one’s horizons in life. It provides one with self-awareness, foresight, and a sense of purpose in life. It helps to cultivate individuality and self-esteem as well as expressive abilities. This field is ideal for those who are looking for a profession that will satisfy them intellectually. 

Skills required for pursuing a career in Philosophy

Philosophers are those who are able to think logically, come up with unique answers to issues, and communicate those solutions to others. Therefore the following skills sets puts students in a perfect position to pursue a variety of careers in philosophy.

  • Analytical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication skills (written and oral) 
  • Organizational skills
  • Research skills
  • Logical thinking 
  • Time management
  • Leadership skills
  • Inter-personal skills
  • Flexibility
  • Adaptability
  • Argumentative skills

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Philosophy

Philosophy has always been a popular subject since it allows for a wide range of professional options. Some of the best colleges offer the following degrees to students interested in pursuing a career in philosophy.

Bachelor’s Programs

A bachelor’s degree in philosophy typically teaches the basic principles of the field and how to adopt the important skills. Some of the popular bachelor’s degrees in philosophy are:

  • B.A. in Philosophy
  • B.A. in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
  • B.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics
  • B.A. in Religious Studies

Master’s Programs

A master’s degree in philosophy polishes and enhances all of the skills acquired throughout bachelor degree. Students can choose the following specializations for their master’s degree in philosophy:

  • M.A. in Philosophy
  • M.A. in Religious Studies
  • M.A. in Aesthetics
  • M.A. in Psychology
  • M.A. in Political Philosophy
  • M.A. in Theology

Doctoral Programs

Students who wish to enter academia and research can opt for a P.h.D degree in philosophy after completing their master’s degree. Doctoral programs are typically chosen for positions such as professor, assistant professor, or associate professor at universities or colleges. 

Specializations in Philosophy

The traditional specializations in the field of physiology are 

Metaphysics: It  is the study of reality beyond scientific concepts and includes physical metaphysics, ontology or general metaphysics, and psychical or religious metaphysics.

Epistemology: It involves the study of origin, nature, and scope of knowledge and wisdom. 

Ethics: Often known as moral philosophy, ethics is the study of what defines an ethical human life, including what is right, wrong, and evil. 

Logic: It studies the various reasoning and argumentation strategies.

In addition to these traditional specializations, students can opt for emerging specializations in philosophy such as

  • Philosophy of mind
  • Philosophy of science
  • Philosophy of religious studies 
  • Philosophy of aesthetics
  • Philosophy of language
  • Philosophy of psychology
  • Philosophy of law
  • Philosophy of Arts
  • Social and political philosophy 
  • Philosophy of computer science
  • Philosophy of logic and math
  • Cognitive science
  • Theology

Duration of Programs in Philosophy

The length of a philosophy curriculum is determined by the breadth and range of philosophical topics covered. The following is a typical timeline for the degree programs given by the finest colleges in the world:

Country Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree
USA and Canada 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years
UK 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years
Australia 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years

Career opportunities in Philosophy

Philosophy is a comprehensive subject of study that covers a wide range of topics from all walks of life. There is no limit as to what one can achieve with this degree in both the public and private sectors. In the end, your passion for a particular branch of philosophy will determine your career path.

Below is a list of jobs for philosophy majors:

  • Lawyer
  • Judge
  • Journalist
  • Paralegal
  • Human resources
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Professors and lecturers
  • Public policy makers
  • Marketing 
  • Finacial services
  • Heath care and social work
  • Writers and editors
  • Business professionals
  • Tech industry
  • Governemnt officer
  • Politician
  • Solicitors and advisors
  • Psychologist

Average salaries for Philosophers

Because there are so many distinct occupations to choose from in the discipline of philosophy, the salary opportunities are likewise quite varied. The typical salaries for philosophy majors are listed below.

Country Average salary in USD/year
Canada  67,573 (Source: Talent)
USA 61,422 (Source: Zippia)
UK 42,696 (Source: Totaljobs)

Top 50 Universities in the world for Philosophy based on ranking (Shanghai/QS/THE):

The following table contains a global list of some of the best universities to study philosophy based on rankings published by agencies such as Edu, QS, and THE. 

Edu Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor Programs Master Programs
1 4 1 University of Oxford UK Click Here Click Here
2 7 5 University of Cambridge UK Click Here Click Here
3 8 2 Harvard University USA Click Here Click Here
4 20 30 University of Edinburgh UK Click Here Click Here
5 11 18 University of Toronto Canada Click Here Click Here
6 10 7 Princeton University USA Click Here Click Here
7 24 10 University of Chicago USA Click Here Click Here
8 51-100 44 McGill University Canada Click Here Click Here
9 17 8 University of California – Berkeley USA Click Here Click Here
10 2 190 Rutgers University – New Brunswick USA Click Here Click Here
11 20 20 University of California – Los Angeles USA Click Here Click Here
12 1 26 New York University USA Click Here Click Here
13 13 183 University of Notre Dame USA Click Here Click Here
14 151-200 201-250 University of Sao Paulo Brazil Click Here Click Here
15 151-200 50 University of Manchester UK Click Here Click Here
16 51-100 47 University of Texas at Austin USA Click Here Click Here
17 26 58 University of Sydney Australia Click Here Click Here
18 18 4 Stanford University USA Click Here Click Here
19 9 35 King’s College London UK Click Here Click Here
20 3 140 University of Pittsburgh USA Click Here Click Here
21 22 18 University College London UK Click Here Click Here
22 16 9 Yale University USA Click Here Click Here
23 51-100 22 Cornell University USA Click Here Click Here
24 50 24 University of Michigan – Ann Arbor USA Click Here Click Here
25 101-150 58 University of Wisconsin – Madison USA Click Here Click Here
26 51-100 162 Durham University UK Click Here Click Here
27 41 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA Click Here Click Here
28 11 201–250 University of St Andrews UK Click Here Click Here
29 51-100 64 Brown University USA Click Here Click Here
30 101-150 801–1000 National Autonomous University of Mexico Mexico Click Here Click Here
31 51-100 127 University of Leeds UK Click Here Click Here
32 25 11 Columbia University USA Click Here Click Here
33 5 54 Australian National University Australia Click Here Click Here
34 NA 167 Indiana University – Bloomington USA Click Here Click Here
35 33 42 Catholic University of Leuven Belgium Click Here Click Here
36 NA 85 Ohio State University USA Click Here Click Here
37 151-200 13 University of Pennsylvania USA Click Here Click Here
38 151-200 401-500 State University of Campinas Brazil Click Here Click Here
39 51-100 150 University of Arizona USA Click Here Click Here
40 NA 201-250 University of Massachusetts – Amherst USA Click Here Click Here
41 101-150 105 University of Birmingham UK Click Here Click Here
42 NA 29 University of Washington – Seattle USA Click Here Click Here
43 51-100 110 University of Sheffield UK Click Here Click Here
44 51-100 52 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill USA Click Here Click Here
45 NA 105 Purdue University USA Click Here Click Here
46 101-150 141 University of Nottingham UK Click Here Click Here
47 51-100 62 Boston University USA Click Here Click Here
48 101-150 23 Duke University USA Click Here Click Here
49 NA 601-800 University of Pretoria South Africa Click Here Click Here
50 51-100 37 University of British Columbia Canada Click Here Click Here

Top Universities in the USA for Philosophy

Edu Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor Programs Master Programs
3 8 2 Harvard University USA Click Here Click Here
6 10 7 Princeton University USA Click Here Click Here
7 24 10 University of Chicago USA Click Here Click Here
9 17 8 University of California – Berkeley USA Click Here Click Here
10 2 190 Rutgers University – New Brunswick USA Click Here Click Here

Top Universities in the UK for Philosophy

Edu Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor Programs Master Programs
1 4 1 University of Oxford UK Click Here Click Here
2 7 5 University of Cambridge UK Click Here Click Here
4 20 30 University of Edinburgh UK Click Here Click Here
15 151-200 50 University of Manchester UK Click Here Click Here
19 9 35 King’s College London UK Click Here Click Here

Top Universities in Canada for Philosophy

Edu Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor Programs Master Programs
5 11 18 University of Toronto Canada Click Here Click Here
8 51-100 44 McGill University Canada Click Here Click Here
50 51-100 37 University of British Columbia Canada Click Here Click Here

Top Universities in Australia for Philosophy

Edu Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor Programs Master Programs
17 26 58 University of Sydney Australia Click Here Click Here
33 5 54 Australian National University Australia Click Here Click Here

Academic requirements for studying Philosophy

The following are the eligibility requirements for admission to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in philosophy as given by the top-performing universities around the world. 

Bachelor’s level

  • A high school diploma or equivalent with a GPA of 3.0
  • Academic transcripts
  • Good score in English language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL (minimum score requirement varies from university to university)
  • Letter of Recommendation (LOR) 
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Valid passport

Master’s level

  • A GPA of 3.0 or more in bachelor’s degree in philosophy or a comparable field. 
  • Academic transcripts
  • GRE score of 290 or above
  • Good score in English language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL (minimum score requirement varies from university to university)
  • Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Valid passport
  • Published research papers (preferable) 

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FAQ’s

Philosophy is a broad discipline that involves the rational study of life and existence whereas theology is concerned with the essence of God and religious belief.

Some of the top colleges offering philosophy courses in the USA are Harvard, Princeton, UChicago, UC Berkley, and Rutgers University. Top-ranked universities offering philosophy in the UK include Oxford, Cambridge, University of Manchester, King’s College London, and the University of Edinburgh.

Philosophers need a variety of skills, including

  • Analytical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication skills
  • Analysis
  • Research
  • Logical thinking
  • Debating skills

Metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic are the major subject areas in philosophy. 

Philosophy majors in Canada earn the highest wages, with a yearly salary of 67,573 USD/year. 

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