International Studies in Philosophy, full-time, first cycle

International Studies in Philosophy (ISiP) is a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme taught entirely in English which took off in October 2007. All tutorials, lectures, seminars, and exams take place in English. The teaching staff are young, well-prepared and have a wealth of teaching experience both within Poland and in other countries.

During the three–year period of study, ISiP students obtain a thorough grounding in the current state of research in various philosophical disciplines. They are also familiarised with the main historical traditions within European philosophy, with particular attention to analytical philosophy and the Lvov-Warsaw School. According to the tradition of that school, the basis for a philosophical education lies in ontology and epistemology. Courses in these branches provide a broad overview of the world and cognition: compatible with but deeper and more general than that offered by the natural sciences. At the same time, the main accomplishments of the latter are also studied. Supplemented by tutorials on the history of philosophy, all these courses make it possible to understand the content and evolution of the most important ideas and research of the Western civilization. Courses in ethics and aesthetics develop a theoretical understanding of the realm of values as well as emotional and moral sensitivities. They cultivate respect for civic responsibilities and show the interrelations between legal, moral, and religious normative domains. Courses in logic and logical semiotics (areas in which the work of Polish philosophers has had a world-wide impact) teach thinking skills—significant both within science and public life. Together with philosophy of language, they also provide the tools to formally analyse natural language and the structure of scientific theories. Studying philosophical anthropology, social philosophy and philosophy of culture allow ISiP students to comprehend intricate relations between a manner of living, the dominant intellectual culture, and the goals of social elites in diverse times and societies. Other specialist and interdisciplinary courses give students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with issues in such fields as philosophy of action, philosophy of mind, political and legal philosophy. Studies end with preparing bachelor’s thesis and passing the bachelor’s exam.

The broadening of students’ intellectual horizons is promoted by a varied programme of lectures, tutorials, and seminars. During lectures, students obtain knowledge of a subject, while during the tutorials and other classes they learn how to actively participate in philosophical debates, how to analyse basic philosophical ideas, and how to individually formulate and deal with challenging theoretical problems.

Philosophy develops students’ intellectual abilities like no other academic discipline. It trains intelligence, the ability to assimilate and understand new information, the capacity for understanding other people and cultures; philosophy teaches how to interpret the behaviour of individuals and societies correctly. It fosters imagination and, most of all, makes it easier to put together a coherent and general worldview as well as to determine the purpose of human existence. Philosophy graduates are seen by many employers as particularly important and valuable employees. They find employment in various educational institutions, publishing companies, PR firms, marketing agencies, mass media and, on top of that, in government offices, political organizations and local government institutions.

Those philosophy graduates who are not native speakers gain a fluent command of English which makes them more employable in Poland and the European Union. Their qualifications can provide a good basis for applying for prestigious grants and scholarships as well as for places in MA and PhD programmes across Europe and beyond.

Most classes take place in the Department of Philosophy building located at 3 Krakowskie Przedmieście St. in Warsaw. They are taught on weekdays, mostly from 9.45 am to 16.30 pm. The Department of Philosophy, University of Warsaw, has a well-supplied library—the best philosophical library in Central and Eastern Europe.

Website: www.philosophy.uw.edu.pl

Admission rules

1. Only persons who have passed at least the first year of philosophy studies at another academic institution are eligible to apply for transfer.

2. The candidates must submit:

• a document certifying that they have passed at least the first year of studies;

• a transcript of records and syllabi of all the classes passed by the candidate certified by the dean of the institution.

3. The candidates who fulfill the criteria specified in points 1 and 2 above will be invited to an interview held in English. The interview will cover the topics included in the syllabi submitted by the candidate.

4. Criteria of assessment:

• the ability to formulate clear statements (max. 20 points),

• the ability to identify philosophical problems (max. 20 points)

• the ability to critically analyze philosophical arguments (max. 20 points).

5. The maximum sum of points a candidate can obtain in the interview is 60. The necessary condition of acceptance is obtaining at least 10 points in each of the categories enumerated in point 4. The candidates will be admitted based on the ranking list.

6. The candidates admitted to studies may be required to make up for differences in the program of studies.

Checking the Candidates' competence to undertake studies conducted in the English language

With respect to certification of the language competence to study in the language of the program the general rules stated in the UW Senate resolution concerning recruitment for the academic year 2023/2024 apply.

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Deadlines

Qualification interview: 23rd of September, 2024

Announcement of results: 24th of Seprember, 2024

Reception of documents: 

• I round: 25st-26th of September, 2024
• II round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during I round): 27th, 30th of September, 2024
  

Payments

Student's ID payment (ELS)

The studies are payable for citizens of Non-UE/EFTA countries (EEA parties) and Switzerland - tuition fees

Required documents

List of required documents submitted by candidates qualified for studies

Additional information

Contact data to the admissions coordinator responsible for transfers from other universities: mgr Alicja Chybińska, a.chybinska@uw.edu.pl, (22) 55-23-702

Find us on the map: Faculty of Philosophy