Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc
London, Bloomsbury
Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc (2024)
The Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc (PPE) aims to provide breadth and depth in understanding social and political phenomena and the principles informing, and consequences following, policy choices. Teaching across UCL's highly regarded Departments of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics combines an education in social sciences and philosophy with a comprehensive grounding in research methods.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
Programme starts
September 2023Application deadline
25 Jan 2023UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- A*AA
- Subjects
- A* in Mathematics.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- A*BB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A* in Mathematics.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
- Points
- 39
- Subjects
- A total of 19 points in three higher level subjects including 7 in Mathematics, 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 grade 7 in Mathematics, 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
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades A*AA. A* in Mathematics required.
A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), to include Mathematics at A1.
D2,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Prinicipal Subjects, with D2 in Mathematics.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
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. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.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
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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
In year one, students take modules introducing the three disciplines and the principles of social and political analysis.
In years two and three, students choose modules in two disciplines (politics and philosophy or politics and economics concentration) and in research methods. A limited number of study abroad placements may be available (subject to first-year grades and a successful application) for students who wish to study abroad in year three, transferring to a four-year programme at the end of the second year.
The final year includes a dissertation or independent research project and brings the three disciplines back together in a multidisciplinary capstone course on policy problems.
A sustained policy and methods focus distinguishes the UCL PPE and, for students wishing to specialise, there is a separate Quantitative Methods (QM) stream, provided by the UCL Q-Step Centre.
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, students on the mixed method stream will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, students on the Q-Step stream will be awarded a Bsc (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Social Data Science.
What this course will give you
Enjoy a learning environment created by UCL's internationally recognised research departments of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics.
Acquire applied and policy knowledge with UCL's PPE programme, housed in UCL Political Science - home of our Policy and Practice Seminar Series with its eminent list of speakers.
Gain the skills needed to provide evidence for policy problems and prepare for research and work inside and outside academia. Study a breadth of methods or choose the Quantitative Methods stream.
Take a degree inspired by UCL's founding tradition in political economy and its historic Bloomsbury location.
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 BSc (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics 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 are 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.
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In year one you will take modules introducing the three disciplines and the principles of social and political analysis.
In years two and three you will choose modules in two disciplines (politics and philosophy or politics and economics) and in research methods. A limited number of study abroad placements may be available (subject to first year grades) for students who wish to undertake a year abroad, in year three of a four year programme.
The final year includes a dissertation or independent research and brings the three disciplines back together in a multidisciplinary capstone module on policy problems.
A sustained policy and methods focus distinguishes the UCL PPE and for students wishing to specialise there is a separate Quantitative Methods (QM) stream, provided by the UCL Q-Step Centre (www.ucl.ac.uk/q-step).
Optional modules
Your learning
Teaching is based on lectures and seminars across the three participating departments. Normally lectures are accompanied by small-group seminars or tutorials that allow for an in-depth and participatory approach to the topic.
Assessment
Assessment includes essays, examinations and an independent research project or dissertation. Graded coursework and comments prepare the students for the dissertation and independent research projects.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
The foundation of your career
The degree combines an education in social sciences and philosophy with a sustained treatment of the methods of social and normative inquiry. Drawing on multiple lines of inquiry, the degree prepares students for the contemporary and increasing likelihood of a multi-career working life.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc is the gold standard of multidisciplinary degrees for those seeking careers in the public sector, the media and the policy community.
Employability
The Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc programme exposes students to the modes of reasoning, types of evidence, and methods used by the three disciplines, a concentration in two disciplines, and case examples of the contributions of a multidisciplinary approach to complex problems.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £29,000 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2023/24 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs for this programme.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. 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.
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
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.
Selection is made on the basis of information contained in the UCAS application and the reference supplied.
Got questions? Get in touch
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