Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives (BA)

Study Philosophy in a global context

Philosophy challenges you to question prejudices and to be open to different perspectives. This philosophy bachelor programme is unique in that it offers a cross-cultural dimension of comparative philosophy in which the world’s thought traditions mutually inform and enrich one another. Studying the philosophies of India, East Asia, and the Arab world alongside those of the West will give you a global context for thought. This programme will make you the kind of professional that today’s world urgently needs.

Why study Philosophy at Leiden University?

• Leiden is the only Dutch university, and one of only a few in the world, to offer a philosophy programme that combines Western perspectives with those of India, East Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
• The programme is taught in an internationally acclaimed academic environment.
• You will have the opportunity to tailor the programme to your interests.
• We work with small tutorial groups that stimulate in-depth discussion. The programme also offers excellent skills training, dedicated lecturers and mentoring by senior students. 
• We work with small tutorial groups that stimulate in-depth discussion and excellent skills training and mentoring by senior students and dedicated lecturers.
• You will have access to the University’s world-famous Asian Library, which features several unique collections.
• Within the programme, there is the possibility to study abroad for some time or to do an (international) internship.

Fanrong He

First year student

"When I was looking into what bachelor to choose, I came across this programme. I was attracted to the wide range of religions and cultures that are covered here and decided that this was going to be my bachelor. Now that I am actually a student in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives, I can say that it is a marvelous programme that offers so many opportunities to follow one's interests."

Anna van Hooijdonk

Second year student

"The atmosphere in this programme is great; there is a lot of personal contact with the lecturers, and many of them are very passionate about their subjects. For example, in the first year, I always looked forward to the tutorials in the Ethics course. We would engage in passionate debates, which was stimulated by the way the lecturers taught. If there's one thing I learned in my first year, it's that philosophers are never done talking and debating!"

Christa Laurens

Alumna bachelor Philosophy and master Modern European Philosophy

"During my studies, like many of my peers, I found the prospect of entering the workforce quite daunting. Many of us believed that finding a job with a philosophy background would be challenging, but this turned out not to be the case. Employers find a philosophy degree very intriguing. Studying philosophy has trained me to process and reflect on complex and abstract information and to perceive and make visible underlying structures or mechanisms. I have noticed that employers acknowledge this and are very open to bringing this kind of critical thinking and reflection to their team."

Is this the programme for you?

If you can answer “yes” to the following questions, we can safely say that the Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives programme is for you.

• Do you enjoy discussing current issues in science and society?
• Would you like to learn more about the history of the concepts we use to frame those issues and about alternative concepts used in other cultures?
• Do you enjoy high levels of abstraction?
• Do you often feel that current debates fail to address the right questions?
• Are you willing to challenge assumptions?

Check out the programme structure. 

Feminist theory & Buddhist Philosophy

University lecturer in Chinese and Comparative Philosophy Jingjing Li researches feminist theories within the Buddhist philosophy of consciousness-only. She examines how we can re-learn how to value the Buddhist feminine ideal in order to broaden the horizon of both Buddhism and feminism. Continue >

Online Experience Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives

Want to know if this is the right study for you? If you are thinking about enrolling in this programme at Leiden University, you can take an online student experience. The experience consists of online mini-courses with readings and a few assignments, just as if it were real first-year courses.

Go to the Online Experience

Chat with a student

Do you have a question about studying at leiden University or student life in Leiden? Do you want more information about the Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives programme? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!