Call for applications: PhD program in Philosophy, Universidad Diego Portales (Chile)
Admission is open for the PhD program in philosophy offered by the Instituto de Filosofía of Universidad Diego Portales. The deadline for applications is September 12, 2025.
The program has been accredited by the Chilean Ministry of Education, which allows admitted students to apply for the scholarships offered by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID). To those students who do not obtain a scholarship from ANID, Universidad Diego Portales offers a full scholarship (tuition and living expenses) for the entire duration of the program (four years), such that students can dedicate themselves exclusively to their research.
The PhD program is intended to be a space for the research and discussion of contemporary philosophical problems. The areas of specialization of the program are modern and contemporary philosophy, both theoretical and practical.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for the program, applicants must hold a Master’s degree from a Chilean or foreign university. In exceptional and duly justified cases, students are admitted who only hold a Bachelor’s degree.
Applicants must complete the online application form at https://udp.my.salesforce-sites.com/admisionpostgrado?cod=5116 and provide the following documents:
1) Curriculum vitae.
2) Copies of the applicant’s academic diplomas (Bachelor’s and Master’s).
3) Transcripts of the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate studies.
4) A certificate of the ranking of the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate grades (if applicable).
5) A letter of motivation which explains the applicant’s reasons for applying to the program.
6) Two letters of recommendation.
7) A writing sample which demonstrates the applicant’s ability to conduct research at the graduate level.
8) A dissertation proposal containing: a) a research problem; b) a literature review; c) a hypothesis; d) a methodology; and e) a work plan. The proposal must be no longer than eight pages and be written in Times New Roman, font size 12, line spacing 1.5.
9) A certificate of oral and written proficiency in English (through TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, or other) or in another relevant foreign language (German, French, or Italian), suitable for the development and completion of the thesis, depending on the proposed doctoral research topic. The program will evaluate the admission of students who do not meet the minimum language requirements, subject to a statement from the student indicating the actions they will take to remedy this weakness.
The documents should be sent to [email protected].
Selection criteria
The admissions committee evaluates the applications by means of a guideline that considers the following aspects:
1) The dissertation proposal (50 % of the total score). The proposal must
a) present clearly the philosophical problem to be investigated and explain its relevance for the current debates in the respective field;
b) propose a clear and well-founded hypothesis;
c) present arguments and/or evidence to the effect that the proposed hypothesis is original within the field;
d) develop a methodology that is coherent and based on the nature of the problem to be investigated and of the proposed hypothesis;
e) include a discussion of the relevant bibliography that allows to evaluate the applicant’s knowledge of the field;
f) a work plan that lays out the general stages of the project during the four years of the program.
2) The writing sample (25 % of the total score). By means of the writing sample, the admissions committee will evaluate whether the applicant possesses the analytical and rhetorical abilities necessary for carrying out the proposed project. It is recommended to submit a text that was written previously (for example a published article or seminar paper).
3) The curriculum of the student (25 % of the total score). This criterion considers the applicant’s academic career: the prestige of the universities from which the applicant received their degrees, the grades, the letters of recommendation, and the curriculum in general.
For additional information about the program, see https://institutodefilosofia.udp.cl/en/programas-de-estudio/doctorado-en-filosofia/
