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Studies & Degrees in Metaphysics

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that asks the most general questions about reality: what exists, what kinds of things there are and how they relate to each other. The subject is hard to pin down. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy opens its entry with the sentence "It is not easy to say what metaphysics is." The name comes from the collective title given to fourteen books by Aristotle. It does not mean a study that goes "beyond" physics; the same entry calls that impression mistaken.

Students meet two groups of problems. The older ones go back to ancient and medieval philosophy: being as such, first causes, the categories of being, universals and substance. The newer ones include modality (possibility and necessity), space and time, persistence and constitution, causation, freedom and determinism, the relation between the mental and the physical, and social metaphysics. Ontology, a central part of the subject, is as a first approximation the study of what there is. Teaching is based on close reading of primary texts, logic, seminar discussion and written argument.

Qualifications and levels

Metaphysics is rarely a degree in its own right. It is normally a compulsory or optional subject inside a philosophy degree, and a specialisation at master's and doctoral level.

  • Bachelor's degree. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid describes its 240-credit Grado en Filosofía as a degree for students drawn to fields such as metaphysics, anthropology, epistemology, logic, ethics, political theory and aesthetics. At the UNED the Grado en Filosofía has four years and 240 credits, and the third year includes two compulsory courses of 5 credits each, Metafísica I and Metafísica II.
  • Master's degree. Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 credits. Metaphysics usually appears as a module or as the topic of the final thesis in a master's in philosophy.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is the level at which a student works on one metaphysical problem for several years. In Spain, access to the doctorate requires 300 credits from the earlier stages.

Outside universities, the word "metaphysics" is also used for courses of a spiritual or religious kind. These are a different thing from the academic subject described here. Before enrolling in any programme with this name, read the syllabus and ask the school what accreditation and recognition the qualification has.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 1 active school under metaphysics, in the United States: Breyer State University, a distance-learning institution. Its website, checked in October 2026, uses the name Breyer State Theology University and states that it now offers programmes in Christian counselling, grief counselling and business only, and that its old programmes have been discontinued. Ask the school directly whether it still teaches metaphysics and what recognition its qualifications have.

For the academic subject, look at universities with a philosophy department, since a philosophy degree normally includes metaphysics. When comparing programmes, check the list of modules, the language of instruction, whether teaching is on campus or at a distance, and how much room the final years leave for optional courses in metaphysics, philosophy of mind or philosophy of science.

Careers

There is no profession of metaphysician outside the university. The direct route is teaching and research, and it is a long one: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary teachers typically need a PhD or other doctoral degree in their field. The same source counts 26,800 jobs for postsecondary philosophy and religion teachers in the United States in 2025 and projects 27,300 for 2035, so the academic job market is small.

Most philosophy graduates therefore work in other areas. The degree trains careful reading, logical argument and clear writing, which are useful in school teaching, publishing, public administration and further study in other fields. Each of these routes usually needs an additional qualification, such as a teaching master's.

Frequently asked questions

Is metaphysics a degree on its own?

Rarely. It is normally studied as part of a philosophy degree and becomes a specialisation at master's or doctoral level.

What is the difference between metaphysics and ontology?

Ontology is a part of metaphysics. As a first approximation it is the study of what there is, while metaphysics also covers topics such as causation, time, possibility and free will.

Does metaphysics have anything to do with physics?

Not directly. The word comes from the title given to fourteen books by Aristotle, and the idea that it is a study "beyond" physics is a misunderstanding, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

How long does a philosophy degree in Spain take?

Four years. A Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, and a master's adds 60, 90 or 120 credits.