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Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) (BA)

Course details
Fees / funding
How to apply

Course details

This exciting new course will provide students with the opportunity to study three disciplines that are crucial for an understanding of the complex dynamics of today’s world. Students study a common foundation in the first year, and an advanced seminar and dissertation unit in their final year that develops links across the three disciplines – a distinctive feature of the course. Students have great flexibility to vary their degrees in the second and third years in such a way as to graduate with one of three awards: BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics; BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics; and BA Politics and Philosophy with Economics.

The study of Politics will introduce you to political ideas and processes in countries throughout the world, allowing you to examine issues fundamental to our times. You will gain a solid foundation in politics and government in Britain and abroad, with the option to study further subjects such as democracy in Britain, modern political thought, comparative European political institutions, migration, ethnicity, and multiculturalism. The course's flexibility allows you to choose specialist subjects in fields such as European integration, internet politics, radical political thought, and regional politics in Africa, south Asia, and elsewhere.

The study of Philosophy will introduce you to key forms of philosophical enquiry, including logic, epistemology and metaphysics, which will in turn broaden your appreciation of why philosophical questioning is so important today. A wide range of second and third year options includes courses in ancient philosophy as well as contemporary analytic and continental philosophy.

The Economics element of the course offers a complete education in the theories and methods of economics, with a strong focus on analytical methods. You will develop skills in mathematics and statistics and learn to tackle economic problems, and, should you proceed to advanced level courses, have the opportunity to study courses in labour economics, game theory, economic history and more.

Key facts

Key facts about the course
UCAS code	L0V0 (subject to validation)
Qualification	Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Duration	Three year full-time
Typical A-level offer	AAA-AAB or equivalent
Department	Politics and International Relations; Economics

Fees / funding

Please visit the Fees and funding| pages for the latest information about tuition fees| and the different sources of funding which may be available to you.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time undergraduate degrees must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS|). Further information on making your application through UCAS is available on the Applying| section of our website.

If you are interested in applying to Royal Holloway, why not arrange a visit to our campus to see for yourself what academic and student life is like here. The College runs three annual Open days| which give you the chance to meet our students and teaching staff, and get a taste of what university life is really like.

Prospective students who receive an offer of a place are invited to attend a UCAS day, where they are shown around the department, given the opportunity to speak with academic members of staff and meet current students.

Entry requirements

Typical offers

Typical offers
A-levels	AAB (including B in AS level Mathematics), or AAA (including A in GCSE maths) or equivalent
International Baccalaureate	35 points, including 5 in standard level Mathematics
BTEC National Diploma	Distinction, Distinction, Distinction (with minimum A in GCSC Maths)
English language requirements	IELTS and TOEFL scores\| for non-native English speaking applicants

Applicants come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we accept a broad range of qualifications in addition to A-levels. Applications from students on QAA-approved Access to Higher Education Diploma courses are assessed individually on the basis of attainment, references and personal statement. A typical offer will require a Pass in the Access to HE Diploma as well as some evidence of mathematical or statistical competence. If you do not possess O level, GCSE or AS level Maths at grade B or higher, we require you to take at least some relevant mathematics or statistics courses as part of your Access course.

Students from overseas should visit the International| pages for further information on the entry requirements from their country and English language requirements. Royal Holloway International offers an International Foundation Programme and English language pre-sessional courses, allowing students the opportunity to develop their study skills and English language before starting their undergraduate degree.

We make decisions based on achieved or predicted grades, personal statements and references. More information on how your application will be assessed, and tips for your personal statement can be found on our Applying| pages.

Why choose this course?

You will be studying in a distinct and very flexible course that will allow you to focus on particular areas of politics, philosophy and economics but also develop links across the three disciplines.
You will be studying at top-ranking departments with outstanding research records and internationally-recognized academic staff.
The advanced curriculum reflects the most recent, cutting-edge research being undertaken in these disciplines.
You will study in an engaging environment with student-friendly academic and administrative staff, supported by a Personal Adviser who will guide you through your choice of course units, examinations and will advise you on your progress.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 70% of the Department of Politics and International Relations’ research outputs and 80% of those in the Economics Department were rated in the top three categories from ‘internationally excellent’ to ‘world leading’. Philosophy courses were introduced to Royal Holloway in 2007 and are now taught by staff who are nationally and internationally recognized for their work in philosophy and in philosophy’s relation to related disciplines.
You will gain a broad spectrum of transferable skills that can be applied in the workplace and enjoy excellent employment prospects.

What you'll learn

Each year you will take four course units in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Students will take a common first year consisting of introductory course units in the principles of economics, quantitative methods, politics and government, and fundamental questions in philosophy.

In the second and third years students will have the flexibility to focus their course units towards one or two of the main disciplines, graduating with one of three possible degrees: a BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics for students who take a sufficient number of advanced Economics course units; a BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics for students who take fewer advanced level Economics courses; and a BA Politics and Philosophy with Economics for students who do not proceed to advanced-level Economics.

All students take a final year advanced seminar unit in politics, philosophy and economics that culminates with a dissertation.

All undergraduate degree courses at Royal Holloway are based on the course unit system. This system provides an effective and flexible approach to study, while ensuring that our degrees have a coherent and developmental structure. In the case of combined degree courses, this approach also makes it possible to change the balance of your subjects during your time at Royal Holloway.

The websites of the Department of Classics and Philosophy, |Department of Politics and International Relations| and Department of Economics| give further information about the department and their research.

View the full course specification for Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) (BA) in the Programme Specification Repository

How you'll learn & be assessed

The course has a modular structure, whereby students take twelve course units at the rate of four per year. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year and final year marks do count, with more importance being given to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.

Employability & career opportunities

Royal Holloway offers rigorous degree courses, which will prepare you for a broad range of careers in both the private and public sectors and also for professional training in areas such as law, accountancy and management. Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different roles including the Civil Service, accountancy, management, journalism, broadcasting, computing, higher education, teaching, and politics and diplomacy themselves.

A substantial number of our graduates go on to further study, entering postgraduate courses at Royal Holloway or other prestigious institutions at home and abroad.