Logic and Philosophy of Science

Title

Degree

Expert in Logic and Philosophy of Science

Type

Degree program

Level

Master

Accreditation number

OH-FHF/756-4/2010.

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Institute

Institute of Philosophy

Department

Department of Logic

Language

English

Duration

4 semesters (2 years)

ECTS credits

120

Minimum number of students

Maximum number of students

Description

The program focuses on logic and its applications in the philosophy of science, particularly in the foundations of mathematics, physics, linguistics, and the social sciences. Beyond a few core courses and a joint four-semester seminar series providing a common background to all students, we offer the following four thematic groups of courses: Logic and the Philosophy of Mathematics, Foundations of Physics, Logic in Linguistics, and Models in the Social Sciences – the student has to choose 7 courses offered in these modules.

In general, the program is research oriented, aiming to prepare students for a PhD program. The program aims at developing research abilities of the students. Its central part is the Logic and its Applications Seminar at the Department of Logic, where students and staff members together discuss their work in progress. The most often occurring topics of the seminar are set theory and model theory in their philosophical connections, philosophy of mathematics in general, formalisation of physical theories, such as special and general relativity within different logical frameworks. Students get acquainted with the research work of the staff of the department and its partners and join a research program in order to write their own thesis. They are required to give two presentations on their work during the two years.

This program is recommended to applicants who are planning to pursue doctoral studies in philosophy, mathematics, physics, linguistics.

This program enables students to apply for doctoral programs in various areas: philosophy, mathematics, physics, linguistics.

Strength of program

The Department of Logic at ELTE has successful cooperation with the Algebraic Logic research division at Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Department of Theoretical Linguistics of the Research institute for Linguistics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

The department organizes and hosts two weekly colloquia: the Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics seminar (LaPoM) and the Theoretical Philosophy Forum. Our MA and PhD students regularly and actively participate in these events.

Find the detailed structure of the program on the site of the Faculty.

Career opportunities

The program is designed for those who want to continue their studies on the postgraduate level. Our graduates have good prospects for applying to PhD programs in philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, informatics, physics, economics and sociology. Our graduates have become successful PhD students and academics at Eötvös Loránd University and at several universities all over Europe and overseas, including institutions like MIT.

Job examples

Education and research
Teacher
Researcher

Tuition fee/semester

2,500 EUR

Application fee

The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/11/2024 - 30/11/2024 and between 01/02/2025 - 31/03/2025; The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2025-31/05/2025

Other costs

100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)

Tuition fee/semester

2,500 EUR

Application fee

Other costs

100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)

Offered for the next academic year

Yes

Start program

01, Sep, 2025

Deadline for applications - September intake

31, May, 2025

Is there a February intake

Admission requirements

Entry requirements

There are two ways applicants can fulfil entry requirements, (i) or (ii):

(i) Full credit acknowledgment of degree. The applicant holds a university bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc or an equivalent college degree) in one of the following fields: Liberals Arts, Sociology, Mathematics, Physics, Applied Economics or Computer Science. Applicants holding such degrees are automatically eligible to enter the program.

(ii) Itemized credit fulfilment. Applicants holding a university bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc or an equivalent college degree) within the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, economics and law are eligible to enter the program if they can show at least 50 credits (or equivalent) of course work spanning the following areas:

philosophy (especially logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, metaphysics)
mathematics (especially mathematical logic, set theory, universal algebra)
physics (especially classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics)
theoretical linguistics (especially semantics, formal semantics, logical foundations of formal semantics, mathematics, logic)
economics (especially probability theory, economic sociology, mathematical optimization)
sociology (especially theories of communication, foundations of social theory, organizational sociology)

For the itemized-credit option (ii), a transcript from the applicant’s bachelor's degree as well as course descriptions for the 50 credits will be requested.

The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities, Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.). Details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.

Language requirements

The language of instruction is English. Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a very good level of English-language skills.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 7.0
CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference): C1
TOEFL IBT (Internet-based test): 83-120
TOEFL IBT Home Edition: 83-120
Duolingo: 115

Documents to submit with application

Document	Comment
Online application form	-
Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate)	Notarized copy only on request.
Bachelor-level degree	An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree
Transcript of records
CV	In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo
Motivation letter	A maximum of 500 words.
Essay	5-15 pages total. This can be: an essay or parts thereof; alternatively, a thesis chapter or parts thereof. Please submit a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 pages (single spaced).
Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid)	Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid.
Copy of application fee transfer
Copy of the Entrance exam fee transfer
Language certificate	Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements.
Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English

Optional documents for admissions

Research Proposal
Please consult with the coordinating department for more information
Letter of Reference
Also called "Letter of recommendation." From a former instructor and/or employer.

Application procedure

Application deadlines

The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.

Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/11-30/11/2024 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2025 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2025 23:59 (CET)

The application procedure includes 3 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.

Procedure of the application

The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (100 EUR or 150 EUR depending on application period; non-refundable) has been transferred to the Faculty’s bank account.
For further information and details about transferring the application fee please visit our Faculty’s website: http://btk.elte.hu/prospective-students-financial-issues

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS OF OUR UNIVERSITY
IBAN Bank Account: HU 03 1003 2000 0142 6201 0000 0000
BIC/SWIFT code: HUSTHUHB
Name of the University: EÖTVÖS LORÁND UNIVERSITY, ELTE BTK
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4/a, Hungary
Name of the Bank: Hungarian State Treasury Ltd. (Magyar Államkincstár)
Address of the Bank: 1139 Budapest, Váci út 71.

PLEASE DO NOT MISS TO ADD IN THE MESSAGE SECTION:
Name of applicant
AY (for example: 2025/26/1)
The University’s sub-account number: AC9202/04

Entrance examination and selection process

When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs an entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly. The applications are examined by the Admission Board no later than after each application period and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system after the decision is official. Admission letters are sent out in the online application system within a few days.

Procedure of the entrance examination

The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. Successful applicants must have a good command of English to pass the entrance exam. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.

Program leader

Dr. Zsófia ZVOLENSZKY
Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University

Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.

More information
Website