Philosophy (to be renamed Philosophy in Practice in 2026)

Principles of Selection: This module is obligatory. To complete the module, (full-time) students must complete all 3 courses of the module in their first semester. These courses are prerequisites for courses in the Philosophy in Application module.

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to ensure that all students’ skills in philosophical writing and knowledge of key philosophical debates are of a sufficiently high standard that they can productively engage with each other in later parts of the degree. This process is important given that the degree is open to a wide range of academic backgrounds.  

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the module, the student:

• is able to write a clear, argumentative text which sets up the question to be addressed and provides a compelling argument for an answer to this question, acknowledging any weaknesses;  
• is able to engage productively in philosophical conversation aimed at clarifying, critiquing, and improving a philosophical thesis and arguments put forward in its favour;  
• has a clear understanding of contemporary debates and classical texts in fundamental areas of philosophy.

Courses:

• Advanced Introduction to Ethics and Epistemology (8 ECTS)
• Advanced Introduction to Mind and Language (8 ECTS)
• Learning from the History of Philosophy (8 ECTS) 

Principles of Selection: This module is obligatory. It contains 9 courses that are taught every other year: 4 in one year, 5 in the next, and so on. Students must complete 6 of these 9 courses in order to complete this module. If a student chooses, it is possible for them to take the remaining 3 courses as part of the Diversification module.

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to endow students with knowledge of multiple problem-areas in philosophy (sufficient to enable the student to engage productively with experts in those problem-areas) and an understanding of where and how this knowledge is needed to address real-world challenges.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the module, the student:

• is capable of identifying philosophical questions that need to be addressed in order to make progress on real-world challenges and is capable of defending answers to such philosophical questions;
• has further enhanced the philosophy-specific written and oral communication and argumentation skills acquired from the Start module;
• has identified internship possibilities which provide a good basis for fulfilling the learning objectives of the Practice Placement Module.

Courses:  

• Applied Epistemology: Believing Badly and What to Do About It (6 ECTS)
• Ethics and the Other: Children, the Elderly, Animals, the Environment (6 ECTS)
• Well-being, Health and Medicine: Exploration of (Bio)Ethical and Interdisciplinary Aspects (6 ECTS)
• Legal Rules in the Wild:  Philosophy of Language and Law (6 ECTS)
• Limits of the International Order: State and Sovereignty in History and the Contemporary World (6 ECTS)
• Philosophy as a Way of Life: Stoicism Meets Buddhism (6 ECTS)
• Philosophy of Science in Practice (6 ECTS)
• Political Philosophy and Global Challenges (6 ECTS) 

Principles of Selection: This module is obligatory. To complete it, students must select 30 ECTS from four sub-modules: 

• More Philosophy sub-module (0-24 ECTS)
• Cross-Disciplinary sub-module (0-30)
• Estonian Language sub-module (0-6 ECTS)
• Study Abroad sub-module (if this submodule is taken at all, then at least 15 ECTS must be taken abroad). 

The Estonian Language sub-module is compulsory for students without any Estonian language competence.

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to give students the space to diversify their knowledge in four ways (depending on their preferences and circumstances): by widening the range of philosophical problem-areas on which students can engage productively with experts in those philosophical problem-areas; by developing non-philosophical knowledge and skills that help students apply philosophy in addressing the challenges of our age; by developing the ability to communicate in Estonian in simple everyday situations; and by doing some or all of the above whilst studying abroad.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the module, the student has, depending on the aims of the student:

• expanded the range of problem-areas on which they can engage productively with problem-area experts;

and/or

• acquired skills and knowledge from outside of philosophy that improve the student’s capacity to productively integrate philosophical theory into real-world settings.  

and/or  

• developed the ability to communicate in Estonian in simple everyday situations. 

More Philosophy Sub-Module (0–21 ECTS)

Principles of Selection: Students choose between 0 and 21 ECTS by selecting (a) from the 3 courses of the Philosophy in Application module that they didn’t take as part of the Philosophy in Application module and/or (b) the Research Ethics in Humanities and Social Sciences course (NB: the Research Ethics course is open to students studying on a wide range of curricula, so the student body in this course will be strongly multidisciplinary).

Objectives: The sub-module’s purpose is to give students space to diversify their knowledge by widening the range of philosophical problem-areas on which they can engage productively with experts in philosophical problem-areas.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the sub-module, the student has expanded the range of problem-areas on which they can engage productively with problem-area experts.

Courses:

Philosophy in Practice Module courses

• Applied Epistemology: Believing Badly and What to Do About It (6 ECTS)
• Ethics and the Other: Children, the Elderly, Animals, the Environment (6 ECTS)
• Well-being, Health and Medicine: Exploration of (Bio)Ethical and Interdisciplinary Aspects (6 ECTS)
• Legal Rules in the Wild:  Philosophy of Language and Law (6 ECTS)
• Limits of the International Order: State and Sovereignty in History and the Contemporary World (6 ECTS)
• Philosophy as a Way of Life: Stoicism Meets Buddhism (6 ECTS)
• Philosophy of Science in Practice (6 ECTS)
• Political Philosophy and Global Challenges (6 ECTS)
• The Future Mind (6 ECTS)

Supplementary Course

• Research Ethics in Humanities and Social Sciences FLFI.02.179 

Cross-Disciplinary Sub-Module (0–30 ECTS)

Principles of Selection: Students choose between 0 and 30 ECTS from the courses listed. Students can take courses (inclusive of courses taught in Estonian) not listed, if the module lead agrees that the preferred courses serve the objectives of the sub-module.

Objectives: The sub-module’s purpose is to give students the space to diversify their knowledge by taking courses from other disciplines that help students apply philosophy in addressing the challenges of our age.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the sub-module, the student has acquired skills and knowledge from outside of philosophy that improve the student’s capacity to productively integrate philosophical theory into real-world settings.

Courses:

Data Analysis: quantitative

• Corpora and Language Technology Tools for Finno-Ugric Languages (6 ECTS)
• Data Munging, Visualisation and Communication (6 ECTS)
• Digital Data in the Humanities (3 ECTS)
• Introduction to Data Science and Business Analytics (6 ECTS)
• Introduction to Digital Humanities (3 ECTS)
• Introduction to R Software (3 ECTS)
• Statistical and Econometric Methods (6 ECTS)
• Statistical Data Science (6 ECTS)

Data Analysis: qualitative

• Elements of Argumentation Theory (3 ECTS)
• Methods of Data Collection and Analysis - Part 1 (6 ECTS)
• Methods of Data Collection and Analysis - Part 2 (6 ECTS)
• Narrative Studies (3 ECTS)

Environment

• European Union Green Deal (3 ECTS)
• Readings in environmental humanities (3 ECTS)

Media and Society

• Big Data and Society (6 ECTS)
• Contemporary Media Society and New Publics (6 ECTS)
• Digital Cultures and Communication (6 ECTS)
• Media in the Era of Disinformation (6 ECTS)

Mind

• Artificial and Natural Intelligence (6 ECTS)
• Cross-Cultural Psychology (3 ECTS)
• Literature and Psychoanalysis (3 ECTS) 

Power

• Communication and Power (6 ECTS)
• Comparative Politics (6 ECTS)
• Gender Studies (3 ECTS)
• Political Folklore and Nationalism (6 ECTS)
• Political Theory and Ethics (6 ECTS)

Programming

• Introduction to Programming (3 ECTS)
• Introduction to Programming II (3 ECTS)

Social Memory

• Heritage and Cultural Policies (6 ECTS)
• National and Cultural Image Building Through Translation (3 ECTS)
• Reciprocal Images: Russia and Europe (6 ECTS)
• Theoretical Conceptualisations of Folklore and Cultural Heritage - Part 1 (6 ECTS)
• Theoretical Conceptualisations of Folklore and Cultural Heritage - Part 2 (6 ECTS)

Estonian Language Sub-Module (0–6 ECTS)

Principles of selection: A student who has no prior Estonian language competence must complete the course in this sub-module (FLLC.09.001) or an equivalent course.

Objectives: The sub-module’s purpose is to give students the space to diversify their knowledge by developing the ability to communicate in Estonian in simple everyday situations.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the sub-module, the student has developed the ability to communicate in Estonian in simple everyday situations.

Courses:  

• Estonian for Beginners I, on the Basis of English, Level 0 - A1.1

Study Abroad Sub-Module (0–15 ECTS)

Principles of selection: Students can take courses from a foreign university (whilst studying abroad) and thereby fulfil some or all of the objectives of the Diversification module. Students choose courses of at least 15 ECTS when securing a period of study abroad at a particular university. The courses chosen must serve the objectives of the Diversification module. These courses may be philosophy courses that serve the objectives of the More Philosophy sub-module (0-30 ECTS), cross-disciplinary courses that serve the objectives of the Cross-disciplinary sub-module (0-30 ECTS), or Estonian language courses (0-6 ECTS). NB: the maximum number of credit points that a student studying abroad may collect for fulfilling the objectives of the More Philosophy sub-module or the Cross-Disciplinary sub-module are set at the full size of the Diversification module (30 ECTS). We have done this in order to give students studying abroad the freedom to fully exploit the course opportunities available to them there.

Objectives: The purpose of this sub-module is to give students the space to diversify their knowledge in the ways characterized in the objectives of the Diversification module whilst simultaneously undergoing the experience of making their way in a new cultural and social environment abroad.

Learning outcomes: The learning outcomes of this sub-module correspond to the learning outcomes of the sub-modules of the Diversification module, which the student has chosen to fulfil by studying abroad. 

Principles of Selection: This module is obligatory. Students can choose to either take all 6 ECTS from the Practice Placement (Philosophy in Practice) (or Practice Placement (Philosophy in Practice) Abroad) course or take 3 ECTS from Practice and 3 ECTS from a chosen entrepreneurship course as listed below. Students cannot take all 6 ECTS from entrepreneurship courses. NB: included within the 3 or 6 ECTS for Practice Placement is a Support Seminar, which supports students in their search for practice placements. Students can take more than 6 ECTS as practice placement if they wish (please speak to the Practice tutor to explore this possibility).

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to provide students with the experience of themselves applying and/or developing their philosophical knowledge and skills in an internship, traineeship or work environment: this could be an academic or a non-academic setting.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the module, the student:

• has experience in the process of identifying, and applying to, workplaces where philosophical knowledge and skills can be useful;
• has put the communication and argumentation skills acquired from the Start Module and Philosophy Module into practice in an internship, traineeship or work environment;
• has applied philosophical knowledge and skills acquired from the Start Module and Philosophy Module to solving problems in an internship, traineeship or work environment;
• has cultivated professional relationships, collaboration skills, and experience in environments they might consider for future career paths.

Courses:

• Practice (Philosophy in Practice) (6 ECTS)
• Practice Abroad (Philosophy in Practice) (6 ECTS)
• Developing Social Enterprise (3 ECTS)
• Entrepreneurship  (6 ECTS)
• Knowledge-Based Start-Up Entrepreneurship (3 ECTS)
• Principles of Entrepreneurship I (3 ECTS)
• Principles of Entrepreneurship II (3 ECTS)
• Technology Commercialisation and Academic Entrepreneurship (Seminar) (6 ECTS)

Principles of Selection: This module is obligatory. Both courses within it are obligatory.

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to develop students’ ability to carry out original research in philosophy to a high standard and to communicate this research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the module, the student has:

• the ability to use the knowledge and skills acquired from their MA studies (supplemented by additional relevant literature) to identify and formulate a philosophical research question for their MA project;
• the ability to use the knowledge and skills acquired from their MA studies together with additional relevant literature to construct a plausible defense of an answer to their chosen philosophical question.
• the ability to open-up the wider relevance and real-world context of their research, in written and oral form, and to communicate this to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Courses:

• MA Seminar (3 ECTS)
• MA Research Project (15 ECTS) 

Principles of selection: Students choose 6 ECTS from any courses available in the University of Tartu course catalogue (inclusive of the courses listed in the Cross-Disciplinary sub-module).

Objectives: The module’s purpose is to give students the space to pursue their intellectual curiosity.

Learning outcomes: After having successfully completed the sub-module, the student has fulfilled the learning outcomes of the chosen courses. 

The motivation letter must be submitted with your online application by 15 March at the latest. The motivation letter must be written in English and be 400-650 words long. We advise you to familiarise yourself with the details of the master’s programme before writing the letter.

The motivation letter is used to evaluate the applicant's motivation to study in the Philosophy in Practice master’s programme. With this in mind, please address the following questions in the letter:

• how do your interests, previous education and/or working experience (if applicable) make you suitable for the master’s programme Philosophy in Practice?
• how are your future plans and goals related to your intention to join the master’s programme in Philosophy in Practice?
• which research topics are you most interested in? Please indicate at least one research topic which might be suitable for your master’s thesis topic and indicate why it would be suitable for that purpose.

The motivation letter will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• compatibility of interests (including research topics), previous education and/or work experience with the goals of the programme (50%);
• the extent to which the candidate makes clear and convincing (30%) a) that the candidate has a broader plan of which the master’s programme is a carefully selected part, and b) how the master’s programme is instrumentally useful to pursuit of this plan;
• lucidity and self-expression (20%).

Maximum score for the motivation letter is 100 points and minimum positive score is 51 points. The applicant needs to receive at least 51 points for the motivation letter, in order to have the writing sample assessed.

The writing sample must be submitted with your online application by 15 March at the latest. Please add the writing sample as a separate file to the "Documents" section of the online application.

The writing sample should be a self-contained text which showcases the properties against which it will be evaluated (see below). This means it should, ideally, be an argumentative text, which provides a compelling defence of a claim. It need not be a paper from a philosophy course — though such papers fall into the genre we expect of the writing sample. It may be drawn from another area of study or work. But, again, if you want to receive a good score for your writing sample, it should exhibit the properties against which it will be evaluated. The limit for the word count is 2000-3000 words. The first page of the essay must include the following information: your name, date of completion of the writing sample, and a word count. NB! The admissions committee will not read any essay that turns out to be longer than 3000 words.

The evaluation criteria for the writing sample are:

• clarity of structure and readability (45%);
• problem setting and quality of argumentation (45%);
• use and reference of appropriate literature and terminology (10%).

Maximum score for the writing sample is 100 points and minimum positive score is 51 points.

The interview is designed to determine the applicant's readiness for continuous learning, professional development, and aptitude to study in the master’s programme.

The applicant will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• understanding of what philosophy is: of the areas of research it includes, of the methods that are employed, of the criteria philosophers judge each other’s work by, of recent developments in the area of philosophy of most interest to the applicant;
• readiness for continuous learning and professional development;
• skills in analysis, argumentation, and self-expression.

The duration of the interview is 20 min and it is conducted in English online. The interviews will be scheduled in cooperation with qualifying candidates in April when the motivation letters and essays have been evaluated. The interviews will take place on April 7-17, 2025.

Maximum score for the interview is 100 points and minimum positive score is 51 points.

General information regarding the online admission interview

The University of Tartu uses different video communication programmes to conduct an online interview (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Big Blue Button). The admissions committee will notify you, which software programme will be used and when does the interview take place.

The applicant needs the following for the online interview:

• A computer or smart device. The computer or smart device must have a web camera, earphones and microphone (built-in or separate). As the applicant must be visually identified at the interview, the use of the web camera is mandatory, not recommended;
• Internet connection with a speed of at least 1 Mb/s (upload/download) is recommended for the video call.

At the online interview:

• the applicant must have an identity document;
• the applicant has to ensure that the room where they stay is free from other persons or background noise;
• the applicant must take into account that they are not allowed to save the interview.

The application system opens on 2 January and closes on 15 March. The following documents must be submitted electronically via DreamApply by 15 March:

1. online application
2. motivation letter
3. official certified copy of the bachelor's diploma or its equivalent and Diploma Supplement (transcript) in the original language (must include a description of the grading scale). 
   NB! Applicants graduating in the upcoming spring/summer and having their diploma and final transcript issued later than the application deadline should electronically submit their most recent official transcript (including also the grades/results for the last autumn semester) by the application deadline. The transcript should be supplemented by an official statement from the issuing institution indicating current enrollment and expected graduation date. Admitted candidates are required to post certified copies of their graduation documents as soon as these have been issued (no later than by the end of July).
4. official certified translation of the bachelor’s diploma and Diploma Supplement (transcript) into English. As certified translations we consider 1) official translations made by the issuing institution (university) bearing their original signature, stamp etc, or 2) translations certified by a sworn translator or notary.
5. proof of English language proficiency
6. copy of the passport page stating the applicant’s personal particulars
7. confirmation/receipt of application fee payment (if applicable). All international applicants are required to pay the application fee EUR 100, unless they have completed the previous study level in Estonia. An application will only be processed after the fee has been received by the UT. 
    

Submitted applications can not be edited. It is only possible to upload new documents (e.g. graduation certificates). Applicants will receive feedback and notifications through the DreamApply system to their e-mail. Incomplete applications or those submitted by e-mail will not be considered for admission.

Guide to submitting an electronic application on DreamApply.

NB: The University of Tartu has no official partnerships with agents or educational representatives. We strongly recommend applying directly to the university without the help of unauthorised third-party entities. Should you use such a service, please ensure that your application's contact information is your personal details (your e-mail, phone number, etc.).

The evaluation of applications will be made based on the electronic copies added to DreamApply. A general ranking list will be formed based on the electronically submitted applications and admission results (including offers) will be announced to all applicants personally via DreamApply by April 30 at the latest. Admitted candidates are expected to accept or decline the offer in DreamApply in 7 days. If the decision is not communicated to UT via DreamApply by the stipulated deadline, UT reserves the right to withdraw the admission offer.

NB! It is not possible to postpone the beginning of studies to the next academic year.

Terms and conditions of the admission offer

Admission offers are conditional. This means that there are conditions in the offer which the applicant needs to fulfil in order to be admitted (e.g. sending application documents by post; obtaining the required level of education). If the conditions are not met, UT has the right to withdraw the offer. Also, UT reserves the right to withdraw or amend any offer or revoke the matriculation of a student, if it becomes evident that the application contains fraudulent information, the qualification does not provide access to the chosen study programme or the student is found to have omitted key information from the application. Should such circumstances occur, UT will not be liable for any material or immaterial loss which the student may suffer as a result.

Once the admission results have been announced, all admitted students are required to send the application documents by post to: Student Admissions, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18-133, Tartu 50090, ESTONIA.

The documents are expected to be mailed only by those receiving the admission offer (unless instructed otherwise by the admissions staff). The documents must reach the university within 3 weeks from the announcement of the offer. If the application documents do not reach us by the deadline, the university has the right to withdraw the admission offer. Applicants will be informed when their documents have arrived.

Requirements for educational documents

All copies of educational documents (diplomas and Diploma Supplements/transcripts) must be officially certified. By certified we mean that the copies should bear an original signature and seal of the authority certifying that these are true copies of the original document(s). The copies can be certified either 1) by an authorised official of the issuing institution, or 2) by a notary, or 3) with an Apostille attached. NB! Country-specific requirements may also specify the way documents from certain countries must be certified. 

Please note that UT does not accept simple copies made on the basis of already certified copies (primary copies are needed).

All admitted students are required to present their original qualification certificates upon arrival (unless these were sent directly from the issuing institution).

Paying the tuition fee (applicable to those receiving a fee-based study place offer)

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are required to pay the fee for the first semester once they arrive in Tartu (by 20 September at the latest after signing the fee contract, please read more here).
• Admitted students from other countries are required to pre-pay half of the first semester's tuition fee. The invoice along with the pre-payment deadline and payment details will be sent to applicants via DreamApply after they have accepted the admissions offer and the University has received the hard copies of the application documents. Second part of the fee is due on 20 September. NB! The official admission letter (necessary for visa application) will only be issued once the University of Tartu has received the pre-payment.
• NB! Once you have been offered a fee-based study place, be aware that it will not be changed into a fee waiver study place. By transferring the pre-payment to the university, you confirm that you have informed yourself about the process of the visa and temporary residence permit application and you are able to arrive in Estonia by the start of the academic year. If you have any questions please contact studentvisasupport@ut.ee.

The official admission letter will be sent to admitted students electronically via DreamApply only after the admissions office has received and reviewed hard copies of the application documents, and received the tuition fee pre-payment (if a pre-payment was required, please see Step 3 for more details).

NB! The electronic admission letter is also sufficient for non-EU students for applying for visa/residence permit at an Estonian embassy.

Once the admission letter is issued, accepted students may proceed further with arranging their arrival. All non-EU students should first consult information on the process of visa and temporary residence permit application to be sure, as where and when the relevant documents need to be applied. Note that housing at the UT dormitories can be applied during a limited period of time, unless specified otherwise on the website. 

NB! Admitted students who are not citizens of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland need to make sure they obtain the Estonian long-term visa on time in order to be able to participate in the orientation programme for international students held in the last week of August. They are also required to visit the Admissions Office in person to complete their arrival registration by September 1, 2025, at the latest. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their admission decision and visa.

For housing alternatives please find further information on Tartu Welcome Centre website.  
Travel information can be found here.

Based upon common queries, the most important information has been summarised into a pre-arrival information website UT Getting Started.