PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics)
A comprehensive guide to studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics) at university.
- “I definitely enjoy the variety above all else - I didn’t want to narrow down my options when choosing a degree and PPE gives that flexibility! Also, you don’t need to be that person who reads every news story, it’s never too late to start reading if you’re interested in PPE. It’s not necessary to have studied philosophy, politics or economics at A Level. I think PPE is more about having the relevant thinking, maths and english skills over having subject specific knowledge.”
- - 1st year student, BA PPE, Oxford
- - “The workload is very manageable - I had a few essays for each politics and philosophy module, some readings to do before seminars/lectures and exercises for economics. Contact hours are about 10 hours a week so I had tons of time to prepare for classes and organize my notes throughout the week. For example, I had the time to fully commit to a university sports club!”
- -2nd year student, BA PPE, York
- “Although first year mostly consists of introductory modules, there’s so much flexibility in choosing modules and scope to specialize from second year onwards. At some universities, you’re able to drop one of the subjects after the first year and you’re able to choose how many modules you do of each subject. So you can still specialize in the subjects you prefer whilst still having a good foundation in all three!”
- - 1st year student, BA PPE, Warwick
- “You graduate with both literate and numerate skills so you can enter the job market able to do data/stats work and research/human skills work. You also get the opportunity to deep dive into academic papers and learn the statistical methods behind them - this gives you the skills needed to critique other theories and even do your own research if you want to before you even graduate.”
- - 3rd year student, BA PPE, Oxford
- "Economics at university has a lot of maths involved and is very different to A Level economics. If you don’t like maths, then economic problem sheets can be a struggle to complete! I would recommend studying Maths A Level if you are thinking about applying to PPE. That being said, not all PPE universities require Maths at A Level and offer extra maths classes for students who have not studied it.”
- - 1st year student, BA PPE, Oxford
- “Especially in first year, the course is very much theoretical and can feel very abstract. I was surprised how dry politics could be and expected a lot more about current affairs!”
- - 2nd year student, BA PPE, Warwick
- “I wish I knew how distinct the three courses were. Although it is a multidisciplinary course, PPE definitely feels like studying three entirely separate subjects. There aren’t many modules that actually combine the different disciplines together.”
- - 2nd year student, BA PPE, Oxford
Studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at a UK university offers a unique interdisciplinary experience. PPE students explore the fundamental questions of ethics, politics, and economics, gaining a deep understanding of how these fields intersect.
In Philosophy, you'll delve into moral and political theory, studying the works of influential thinkers like Plato and Nozick. The Politics component covers political systems, institutions, and policies, often with a focus on current political issues. Economics introduces key theories and methods, applying them to real-world problems.
The mix of all three disciplines sets students up to tackle complex real-world issues in an interdisciplinary capacity.
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Assessment typically involves essays, exams, and sometimes group projects or presentations. PPE is known for its rigorous academic standards and encourages critical thinking and analytical skills. Graduates pursue diverse careers in politics, finance, law, and beyond, equipped with a broad understanding of the world and its complexities.
PPE is a very broad degree, so it opens a wide range of career paths and teaches a large number of transferable skills- including mathematical and quantitative skills, critical thinking, communication and writing skills. Although you have probably heard of a lot of high-profile politicians that have studied PPE, there are many more future careers available to PPE graduates that are not in government! 🏛
PPE graduates have gone on to successful careers in professional services such as consultancy, marketing 💻 and PR, HR and other business-related roles.
Due to the economics component, other popular career choices include economists, banking and finance and accountancy.
Of course, many graduates are interested in working within the government or the public sphere. Common career destinations include the Civil Service, think tanks, political parties, NGOs, political research, teaching, journalism and media.
Some PPE students choose postgraduate study or go on to study a law conversion course to pursue a career in law 👩🏻🏫
Some of the most notable employers include: Civil Service, Bank of England, House of Commons, investment banks such as JP Morgan, think tanks such as the Institute for Public Policy research, consultancy and law firms such as Accenture and Allen & Overy.