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Philosophy and Economics BA

London, Bloomsbury

Gain a solid education in economics while developing your skills and knowledge that relate to logic, argumentation and reasoning. Taught by experts at two renowned UCL departments, the Philosophy and Economics BA combines these disciplines that have real-world relevance to many career paths and sectors. Many graduates secure employment in financial services, law and beyond.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 academic years
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£9,790
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£32,000
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
VL51

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
A*AA
Subjects
Mathematics A* required.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
A*BB more about contextual offers
Subjects
Mathematics A* required.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
39
Subjects
A total of 19 points in three higher level subjects including Mathematics grade 7, with no higher level score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.

Contextual offer

Points
36 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Mathematics grade 7, with no higher level score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma, with a minimum of 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D2,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Mathematics required at D2

A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher). Mathematics A1 required at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. Access UCL is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at UCL. We assess your eligibility for Access UCL based on the information contained within your UCAS application. We review and update our Access UCL eligibility criteria and datasets every year, so please check the requirements for the year you plan to apply.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

The first year includes several introductory modules in philosophy, which provide a foundation for later studies. In your second and third years, the programme provides the opportunity to cover political philosophy, examining questions about the state, liberty and laws; moral philosophy, questioning distinctions of right and wrong, and our motivation for choosing between the two; epistemology, which investigates the nature of knowledge and belief; metaphysics, which attempts to grasp the nature of things; and logic, which imparts principles of sound reasoning.

What this course will give you

You will be joining a highly prestigious philosophy department at a university ranked 7th in the world for arts and humanities (THE World University Rankings 2025 by subject).

The research interests of our academic staff are wide-ranging, covering all the main areas of philosophy. 60% of our overall research profile received the top grade (4*), the highest of any UK philosophy department, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

You will learn economics in one of the UK’s leading centres for research in the discipline. Students will graduate with an excellent understanding of economic matters, and benefit from the wide range of expertise within UCL Economics.

A rich array of extracurricular events to further your interests in philosophy and economics are available in London. As a UCL Philosophy student, you will be able to attend the meetings of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, the Aristotelian Society and the University of London's Institute of Philosophy, all located nearby. Undergraduate students also run a vibrant Philosophy Society and an Economics and Finance Society with on-campus events and activities.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Economics.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

In the first year of the course, students will divide their time equally between both disciplines. In Years 2 and 3, there is the option of weighting modules slightly in favour of one subject, although many students continue with equal weighting.

In both subjects, your first year offers introductory modules, which provide a foundation for later studies. These will provide a basis for your choice of modules in Years 2 and 3 of the course. There is the option to write a Dissertation.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules




Optional modules





Compulsory modules




Optional modules







Optional modules



Morality and Literature













Your learning

Our teaching is based on lectures and seminars that complement each other. In your first year, you will be introduced to the basic elements of philosophical reasoning and economics through lectures, seminars and (optional) small-group tutorial classes. In Years 2 and 3, your chosen modules will be taught by experts from within the two departments through a combination of lectures, related seminars and classes.

Typical weekly contact hours are approximately 8 hours made up of lectures and seminars. Students will also display a level of independent study, about 32.5 hours a week, for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the programme as well as preparing for examinations and coursework submissions.

This will vary depending on year of study, where for some level 6 modules to be taken by students in their third year of study the contact hours are all seminar based. These figures are typical of a student taking 60 credits per term, as standard, with the expectation for students to continue their studies outside of term time.

Assessment

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework (essays and/or shorter pieces of writing) and written examination. You may also elect to submit a dissertation as one of your philosophy optional modules in the final year of study.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Philosophy and Computer Science information video

Watch this video to find out more about Philosophy and Computer Science at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Philosophy information video

Watch this video to find out more about Philosophy at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

Philosophy's emphasis on rigorous argumentation, logic, and clarity of thought and expression makes philosophy graduates highly suitable for a wide variety of careers. The study of economics will also provide you with valuable quantitative understanding.

76.5% of Philosophy and Economics BA graduates were in highly-skilled work, further study or due to start work or study, 15 months after graduation. Recent UCL Philosophy graduates have entered sectors such as publishing (Oriel Square), journalism (TLDR News), finance (Bank of England, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank), the civil service and UK Government (Cabinet Office, Department for Education). Philosophy graduates are also sought after as programmers and systems analysts (Godija), while a good proportion of students go on to further study.*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2022 cohorts.

Employability

This programme will assist you in constructing and assessing philosophical positions and arguments, teaching you how to analyse and present complex ideas. Such skills are highly transferable to non-philosophical and professional contexts. Your knowledge of economics will also be a valuable asset in many professions.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £9,790
Tuition fees (2026/27) £32,000

UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases.

International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

While the department strives to keep additional costs low, students may incur expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, depending on their preferred way of working. The amount will vary per student. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library, either as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions, prices for book purchases will vary by retailer. Printing costs are available on the UCL website and will vary depending on the level of printing a student chooses to undertake. 

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for thinking rigorously about abstract ideas, developing solid arguments and who find the sorts of questions discussed in philosophy to be fascinating and exciting. For the economics side of the course, candidates should be proficient in maths and quantitative thinking, and should appreciate the importance of economics to an understanding of the world in the present day.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

In addition, applicants may be asked to provide further information, such as AS module results, or a response to a questionnaire.

Selection will be made on the basis of information contained in the UCAS application: achieved and predicted academic grades, the level of interest in, motivation towards, and experience of the subject as indicated in the personal statement, the reference supplied, and any relevant contextual factors.

Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Philosophy
Philosophy

philosophy@ucl.ac.uk

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