MA in Philosophy & Economics

Our MA program in Philosophy & Economics is one of Germany’s leading programs for graduate-level P&E education. The two-year international study course provides an intensive, high-quality, and rigorous education in core areas of economics and analytic philosophy.

Why study P&E in Bayreuth?

Interdisciplinarity & individuality

The Bayreuth P&E Programme is for the open-minded intellectual who wants rigorous training that cuts across disciplines, and who wants to innovate and engage with the world. A wide range of electives allows you to pursue your own academic interests, giving you the opportunity to carve out your own distinctive academic and professional profile.

Research-led teaching

The mission of research-led teaching is taken seriously in the P&E Programme: courses are taught by those whose research is close to the topic. P&E faculty bring their own research to the seminar room and explore novel ideas and methods with their students.

In addition, the regular research seminars and workshops organized by both departments offer you the chance to become familiar with top-level international research.

Small classes and intensive supervision

A major advantage of studying for a P&E degree in Bayreuth are small class sizes and the close contact with academic and program staff. We offer you an intellectual environment from a bygone age: peaceful and friendly, intense and personal, and highly investigative and stimulating.

Student Life in Bayreuth

University is not only about your studies. At UBT, you can get involved in a wide range of student organizations and initiatives. Or you can get creative in the arts, for example by signing up with the University choir, joining the University Orchestra, or playing swing music with our big band. On campus, you can visit movie nights, art exhibitions, theatre performances, the Glashaus culture cafe, or our annual outdoor concert, the Uni-Open-Air.

A modern degree for meeting modern challenges

The program views economics and philosophy and their integration as methods for analyzing allocation, distributive, and institutional mechanisms in a world that is in need of new global governance structures. Chief among these are pressing foundational and practical questions: What are the dimensions of equality and justice? What are the economic and moral challenges that regional trade agreements create for the WTO? What is a fair allocation of voting power? Who bears responsibility for climate change? How do we encourage corporate social responsibility?

Profile of the Master’s program

This two-year international program is jointly organized and taught by the Departments of Philosophy and Economics. It is an advanced degree for the prospective researcher, the national and international public policy analyst, and the concerned business professional. After having gained a solid foundation in micro-, macro-, and empirical economics as well as ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of the social sciences, the program allows you to specialize according to your individual interests and aptitude.

The programme is targeted at students with an interest in obtaining advanced analytical and quantitative training as a foundation for pursuing research-based careers in academia, public service, and business. In designing the degree we had in mind economists and philosophers as well as those with political scientists or those with a background in business or management studies who are intent on sharpening their abilities in normative reflection, on deepening of their knowledge of subjects they have pursued during their Bachelor’s studies, and on broadening and enhancing their methodological skills in key areas relevant to both disciplines.

Graduates of the MA in Philosophy & Economics pursue research careers in higher education or in the private and public sectors as well as taking up public and private sector leadership and consulting positions.

For those interested in pursuing a doctorate at one of the University's faculties, the University of Bayreuth Graduate school provides supervision, teaching, and training opportunities.

Doing a doctorate at the University of Bayreuth

The University of Bayreuth Graduate School supervises doctoral students of all subjects who are pursuing a doctorate in a structured program or at one of the University's seven faculties. We facilitate scientific exchange already in the earliest phase of independent research and complement the interdisciplinary education of doctoral students with additional teaching and training opportunities. Our aim is to create the perfect research and learning conditions for them.