Program Overview

Master's in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy

The Master's program in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy (PLEP) at the University of Bern aims to provide a context in which students from different countries can address questions concerning the relationship between politics, economics, morality, and law. This interdisciplinary degree is designed to allow students to study the ethical dimensions of public policy, corporate and non-governmental action in fields as diverse as health policy, employment relations, the environment, and international relations.

Program Details

• The program is a Mono-Master Program (120 ECTS credit points) available as a two-year, full-time course of study.
• Students can enter the program each semester, in spring as well as in autumn.
• The PLEP Master's program offers an interdisciplinary analysis of practical political questions and problems of the social world.
• It allows students to engage in intensive debate on normative dimensions of state action, non-state action, and economic action.

Curriculum

Coursework

• 3 Seminars in Philosophy (8 credit points each)
• Colloquium "Methods of Practical Philosophy" (4 credit points)
• Colloquium "Master's Thesis" (4 credit points)
• 1 Compact Course from the philosophy department (4 credit points)
• 1 Project on a philosophical topic (paper dealing with a freely chosen topic in consultation with the supervisor, ca. 8000 words, may contain preliminary work for the Master's thesis) (6 credit points)
• Freely chosen courses or achievements in Philosophy on the Master's level for a total of 18 credit points
• Courses in Economics, Political Science, and Law on the Master's level for a total of 30 credit points

Master's Thesis

• The Master's thesis (ca. 25000 words, excluding bibliography, 30 credit points) is a more comprehensive treatment of a specific topic from the areas of political philosophy, philosophy of economics, philosophy of law, or of the ethics of public affairs.
• It has to be written (and finished) during the last term and is supervised individually.
• The topic can be freely chosen in consultation with the supervisor.
• The Master's thesis has to be presented and discussed in the mandatory Master's Thesis Colloquium.
• It can be written in German or English.

Example Curriculum

Scientific Board

The structure and curriculum of the PLEP program are supervised by a Scientific Board, composed of internationally renowned scholars from philosophy, politics, and economics.

• Prof. Samantha Besson, Professor of Public International Law and European Law at the University of Fribourg
• Prof. Francis Cheneval, Professor for Political Philosophy at the University of Zurich
• Prof. Stefan Gosepath, Professor for Practical Philosophy, Freie Universit酹 Berlin
• Prof. David Miller, Professor of Political Theory, University of Oxford, Nuffield College
• Prof. Fabienne Peter, Senior Tutor for Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Warwick

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with 90 ECTS credits in the branch of studies Philosophy or Political Sciences or Business Administration/Management and Economics or Law.
• Language requirements: English language skills (TOEFL Internet 92, TOEFL Paper 580, IELTS 6.5, Cambridge First Certificate in English).
• German language skills: If applying with a foreign academic qualification, sufficient proficiency in German comparable with the German test regulations set out by the Executive Board of the University of Bern.

Application and Admission

• Application deadlines and procedures for Swiss and international students.
• Recognition of academic achievements.
• Steps from application to registration.

Scholarships, Grants, Financial Support

Please check the website of the University of Bern for information on scholarships, grants, and financial support.

After Your Master's

The interdisciplinary degree in Political, Legal, and Economical Philosophy (PLEP) is designed to allow students to study the ethical dimensions of public policy, corporate and non-governmental action in fields as diverse as health policy, employment relations, the environment, and international relations.

• Private/Public Sector Positions: Examples of positions held by PLEP graduates.
• Example Academic Positions: Examples of academic positions held by PLEP graduates.