Philosophy is a discipline that seeks to answer fundamental questions. It’s all about exploring the tenets of reality, knowledge, existence, mind, and values.

If you’re looking to study Philosophy, then it’s best to do so abroad. Here are some of the best countries to study Philosophy abroad. There are a handful of top-notch universities worldwide that offer the best Philosophy programs in the world.

Best Countries to Study Philosophy Abroad

1. Germany

  • Reasons: Topnotch universities, Home of famed Philosophers, Student exchanges

Germany is home to many prominent philosophers, including Immanuel Kant, Karl Max, and Friedrich Nietzche, to name a few. So if you’re looking to specialize in the works of these individuals, then Germany should be the best country to study Philosophy.

As the home of world-class philosophers, it’s not surprising that Deutschland is home to many reputable Philosophy schools. These include the QS-ranked Humboldt University, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, and Goethe University Frankfurt, to name a few.

Take the case of Humboldt University, home to the illustrious Department of Philosophy. Here, students may specialize in many areas, including Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Practical Philosophy, and Classical German Philosophy.

Even if you don’t get into this prestigious institution, you may still take some courses in it. As long as you’re from an Erasmus+ university, you may participate in a Philosophy exchange study in Humboldt.

2. United Kingdom

  • Reasons: World-renowned universities, Joint course offerings, Renowned Philosophy alumni

Topping this list of the best countries to study Philosophy is the UK, home of some of the best Philosophy schools in the world. Here, international students can choose from highly-ranked institutions, such as the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, or the University of St. Andrews.

Take the case of Oxford, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK. It’s home to a prominent Faculty of Philosophy, which educates its students with Early Modern Philosophy, Ethics, and its branches. It offers the Philosophy of the mind, science, or religion, plus the Philosophy of Math, Logic, or Cognitive Science.

Oxford students are also free to take joint courses in Computer Science, Physics, or Math.

To date, Oxford has produced many prominent philosophers, including John Searle and Barry Smith.

Add to that, UK universities are very generous with scholarships. Here, students may have discounted tuition at UCL, the University of York, or even Oxford.

3. France

  • Reasons: World-class institutions, Home of renowned modern philosophers, Affordable tuition

France is another European country that has a solid Philosophical history. From medieval scholasticism proponent Peter Abelard to the founder of modern philosophy, Rene Descartes, France is a bulwark of several Philosophy branches.

These influences make France a perfect study destination for many aspiring Philosophers. Unsurprisingly, many French universities are recognized as some of the best Philosophy schools in the world. They include PSL University, University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, and Sorbonne, to name a few.

The best thing about studying in French Philosophy schools? The low tuition fees. At the reputable PSL University, international students living outside the EU only need to pay about EUR 2,280 ($2,635) a year.

4. China

  • Reasons: Reputable universities, Home of Chinese Philosophy, Interdisciplinary programs, cheap tuition fees

If you’re looking to specialize in Asian Philosophy, then China should be your study destination. It is the birthplace of the influential Chinese Philosophy, which has been in existence for thousands of years.

China is home to many world-class Philosophy schools, including the Renmin People’s University of China, Fudan University, and Peking University.

At Peking, students may specialize in Philosophy, Philosophy of Science & Logic, or Religion. Teaching methods include lectures and small group discussions. It also encourages interdisciplinary education, promoting joint projects with the Departments of Literature and History, among many others.

Even with this type of quality education, Chinese education is not that expensive. Here, international students only need to pay about $4,660 a year. China is one of the best countries to study Philosophy because of the cheap tuition and excellent education.

5. United States

  • Reasons: Top-ranking universities, Extensive courses, Distinguished faculty, Scholarships

The United States is one of the favorite destinations for international students. And why not? It is home to a handful of the world’s best universities, including those that teach Philosophy.

According to the QS World University rankings, most of the globe’s best Philosophy schools are in the US. These include New York University (NYU), Rutgers, and the University of Pittsburgh, to name a few.

At NYU, for example, the undergraduate program tackles Logic, Greek & Roman Philosophy, and European Modern Philosophy. There are also courses in Ethics, Epistemology, and Philosophy of Mind. Here, students may even take a joint major in the study of Language and Mind.

NYU also features a stellar Philosophy faculty, including David Chalmer and Thomas Nagel.

Many scholarships are available in schools such as Colorado State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Utah.

6. Greece

  • Reasons: Birthplace of Philosophy, Historic universities

Being the birthplace of Philosophy, Greece is undoubtedly one of the best countries to study Philosophy.

Here, students may choose from various World University-ranked Philosophy schools, such as the University of Crete and the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. In fact, there’s also a reputable university named after a famed Greek philosopher: the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUT.)

AUT is home to the School of Philosophy & Education, which was founded in 1984. It offers an undergraduate degree in Philosophy & Education, with a specialization in either area. It also offers MA and Ph.D. programs to qualified international students.

7. Australia

  • Reasons: World-class Philosophy schools, Joint courses

Australia is another destination you should consider if you want to major in Philosophy. Many of its universities are ranked by QS as some of the top Philosophy schools. They include the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Sydney, and Macquarie University, to name a few.

Leading the charge is the ANU School of Philosophy, which specializes in six Philosophy disciplines: Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind, Asian Philosophy, European Philosophy, Epistemology, and Logic & Metaphysics.

Apart from its Honours program, ANU offers a sought-after multi-disciplinary course: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

 

We hope this article on the best countries to study philosophy was informative and insightful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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