Master’s in Logic: UvA or LMU?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently trying to decide between two Master’s programmes in logic and would really appreciate some advice.
I recently finished my BSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Amsterdam, and next year I will finish my BA in Philosophy at the same university. I’m now looking at Master’s programmes to continue my studies, particularly at the intersection of logic, AI, and philosophy.
The two programmes I’m currently considering are:
- MSc Logic at the University of Amsterdam (ILLC)
- MA Logic and Philosophy of Science at LMU Munich (MCMP)
My interests in logic are mainly dynamic epistemic logic, knowledge and belief revision, multi-agent systems, and knowledge representation. This is pretty much the kind of research covered by the Epistemology & Philosophy of Science (EPS) research unit at the ILLC.
However, I’m not sure whether these are necessarily topics that would be best studied at UvA, or whether LMU/MCMP might actually be a better fit. The topics I’m interested in seem to lean somewhat more towards the philosophical side of logic rather than the mathematical side, and in general I’m a little less attracted to the more mathematical aspects of logic.
This is where I’m having trouble deciding. The ILLC seems to be a very strong research environment for logic, and the EPS unit seems particularly relevant to my interests, but I don’t know whether that actually means that my interests would be best pursued at UvA.
I have the impression that the ILLC may be somewhat more prestigious internationally in logic, although I’m not sure how important that actually is when choosing a Master’s programme.
I’m hoping to pursue an academic career and eventually do a PhD, so the research environment, opportunities to get involved in research, and preparation for PhD-level work are important considerations for me. If I eventually want to pursue a PhD, does one of these programmes offer a meaningful advantage?
There’s also the fact that I’ve studied at the UvA for my entire university education so far. I’m somewhat attracted to the idea of going abroad and experiencing a different academic environment, which makes LMU appealing for that reason.
For context, my overall grades are:
- BSc Artificial Intelligence: 8.0
- BA Philosophy: 7.6 (hoping to bring this to an 8.0 as well when graduating)
I’d also love to hear what the two programmes are actually like in practice: how mathematical/formal they are, how much room there is for philosophical work, how closely Master’s students interact with the research groups, and how well each programme prepares students for eventually doing a PhD.
Thanks!