• You should enjoy reading complex texts and dealing with abstract reasoning.
• You should have an interest in engaging in discourse and be able to discuss complex issues both orally and in writing.
• You should possess a basic understanding of how arguments are structured in both written and spoken form. Being able to work in a structured manner is also important.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken German is necessary, as is the ability to read and understand older forms of the German language.
• English proficiency is needed to be able to work with specialist literature.
• Proficiency in an additional foreign language as well as in Ancient Greek or Latin is beneficial.

Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree with a standard period of study of at least six semesters and at least 55 credit points in philosophy/ethics courses earned at a university. Alternatively, proof of an equivalent higher education degree with an equivalent amount of subject-related examinations and coursework.

You must also provide proof of French language proficiency to be admitted to the program, either by

• having taken at least five years of French at school, in which you received a minimum of 5 points or the grade “adequate” (“ausreichend”),
• submitting certificates for French at a B2 level,
• presenting a university entrance qualification earned at a French-language school, or
• by presenting an Abi-Bac (simultaneous achievement of the German Abitur (Abi) and the French baccalauréat (Bac)).

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

The examination regulations can be found here.

1st semester in Mainz

• Lecture and practice class on culture and cultural encounters
• Language course or tutorial
• Advanced seminars on the history of philosophy
• Compulsory internship

2nd semester in Mainz

• Graduate Seminars on the Systematics of Philosophy and
• Specialization in the History or Systematics of Philosophy

3rd semester in Dijon

• Introduction à la communication interculturelle
• Philosophie générale
• Esthétique et herméneutique
• Histoire de la philosophie ancienne et moderne
• Séminaires thématiques
• Specialization course

4th semester in Dijon

• Intercultural communication theory
• Philosophie des sciences
• Histoire de la philosophie moderne et contemporaine
• Séminaires thématiques
• Mémoire
• Specialization course

Internships

We recommend completing the compulsory internship from the specialization module in the first or second semester.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

After studying in Mainz for the first two semesters, you will spend the following two (semesters 3 and 4) at the Université Bourgogne Europe (UBE) in Dijon. You will immerse yourself in the language and culture of France and learn how to think in French. Thanks to a variety of funding programs such as Erasmus+ and the Franco-German University’s mobility scholarships, it is possible to receive financial support during your stay abroad.

The Philosophy program in Mainz is practice-oriented and has an international focus, teaching you specific knowledge and skills that will enable you to pursue a career both in academic and non-academic professional fields. These skills include:

• Language skills
• Analytical skills
• Interpretive skills
• Public speaking skills
• Action competence
• Leadership skills
• Foreign language skills

Finishing this degree program certifies your historical and systematic knowledge of the subject of philosophy, as well as the necessary methodical, performative, and interdisciplinary competencies of a philosopher.

Potential professional fields:

• Research (e.g., university, higher education institutions, research institutions, projects)
• Social organizations (educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• Public services and administration (e.g., specialist consultant, public relations)
• Advertising, media and journalism
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, continuing education, libraries, archives, documentation)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, marketing, human resources, corporate training, media, and public relations)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.