Your Course
The BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) provides rigorous training in all three disciplines whilst maintaining flexibility so that students to tailor the programme to their academic interests and career ambitions. Students will interact with and learn from internationally respected experts from across the three disciplines, gaining the capacity to understand and critically assess philosophical theories and ideas, political events and ideologies, and multiple aspects of the economy.
The first year of study is designed to provide all students with a strong foundation in each discipline upon which to build further in-depth subject-specific knowledge in later years. The guided exploration structure of the second year of the programme gives students the freedom to follow their interests across the three PPE subjects while also continuing to equip them with core skills and knowledge in each. The third year allows students greater freedom to explore, allowing them to forge their own path as they embark upon their final year of study.
The programme also has an optional international variant, which includes a study abroad year after Level 2, and an industrial variant, which includes a work placement year after Level 2. At Levels 2 and 3, students will have the option to combine philosophy modules with Discovery modules from other subjects in the university.
Your Future
Our programme provides an excellent education in each discipline and allows students to build the integrative thinking skills required to tackle many political, social and economic issues. Students benefit intellectually from the cross-disciplinary character of the programme, which prepares them for tackling wider problems at both the national and global level. Through the study of the three PPE disciplines, students gain skills in analytical thinking, independent research, critical engagement, and logical rigour, an understanding of how political institutions operate, and knowledge about how consumers, firms, and government bodies make decisions about such things as the allocation of resources. These transferable skills and substantive knowledge position PPE students to be future leaders and agents of change across a variety of different sectors and along multiple career paths.
Our World
The programme emphasises a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how human societies work, and how they might be made to work better, adapting to the many challenges that they continue to face. The skills and knowledge gained by studying core concepts and theories across Philosophy, Politics, and Economics will have a transformative effect on how students interpret and assess the world around them. The carefully curated modules that students complete, alongside those tailored to their academic interests and career ambitions, equip them with intellectual tools that are crucial for drawing relationships between academic study and the wider world. Students will be well-positioned to critically reflect upon the societies around them and how they might reshape the world for the future.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits.
Candidates must pass all modules designated as PFP.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS1285 | Mathematics and Statistics for Economics and Business 1B | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| LUBS1951 | Economic Theory and Applications | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PHIL1555 | Philosophy for PPE | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED1110 | Comparative Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED1601 | Freedom, Power and Resistance: An Introduction to Political Ideas | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates without A-Level Maths will be required to study the following module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS1275 | Mathematics and Statistics for Economics and Business 1A | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates with A-Level Maths will be required to take 10 credits of Discovery modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits. They must pass a minimum of 100 credits including all modules designated PFP.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS2140 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| LUBS2610 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study ONE, and no more than one, of the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2601 | Revolution and Reaction: Political Problems in the 20th Century | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2602 | Justice, Community and Conflict | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least ONE of the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2906 | Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2915 | How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
NOTE that PIED2602 and PHIL2915 are mutually exclusive. Candidates may NOT study both.
Candidates can take all their remaining credits from the following optional modules, with at least TWO of the three PPE disciplines represented, and may choose to study 20 credits of Discovery modules instead of an optional module.
Philosophy optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2525 | Past Thinkers: History of Modern Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2605 | Why Trust Science? Topics in Philosophy of Science | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2615 | How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2631 | God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2925 | Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Politics optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2161 | Media and Democracy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2301 | Politics and Policy in the EU | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2448 | Politics of Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2455 | State and Politics in Africa | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2463 | United States Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Economics optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS2042 | The Evolution of Economic Ideas | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS2230 | Mathematics for Business and Economics 2 | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS2281 | Macroeconomic Policy and Performance | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS2430 | Economics Research Methods | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS2575 | Statistics and Econometrics | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LUBS2590 | Labour Economics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS2675 | How to be a Successful Policy Economist | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS2680 | Ethics and Economics | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
LUBS2430 Economics Research Methods is a prerequisite for LUBS3302 Economics Joint Honours Final Year Project
Candidates may study 20 credits of discovery modules
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits. They must pass a minimum of 100 credits including any modules designated PFP.
Candidates must study ONE of the following modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS3302 | Economics Joint Honours Final Year Project | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED3775 | POLIS Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3000 | Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3001 | Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3700 | External Placement: Beyond the University | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates can take their remaining credits from the following optional modules, with at least TWO of the three PPE disciplines represented.
Philosophy optional modules:
Candidates may choose from either basket.
Basket A: Generalist:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3011 | Philosophy of Language | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3014 | Truth | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3015 | Non-Western Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3125 | Continental Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3322 | Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Basket B: Applied:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3113 | History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3016 | Philosophy of Work and Play | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3865 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 20 | Not running in 202627 |
Politics optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3170 | The End of British Politics? | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3171 | The Politics of national identity in the UK | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3261 | Violence and Reconciliation in Africa | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3343 | Gender, Violence and Security | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3590 | The Global Politics of Climate Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3605 | Confronting Tyranny: Adventures in Democratic Theory | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3612 | Rethinking Resistance | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3640 | Ethics and Politics of Human Rights | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3810 | Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Economics optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS3005 | Advanced Microeconomics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS3330 | Economic Development | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LUBS3365 | Environmental Economics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS3370 | Applied Econometrics | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS3375 | Behavioural Economics | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS3505 | Advanced Macroeconomics | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS3590 | International Economics: Integration and Governance | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LUBS3925 | The Political Economy of Work | 10 | Not running in 202627 |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study 20 credits of discovery modules
Last updated: 14/05/2026 16:39:37
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