PPE integrates the study of philosophy, politics, and economics, and explores questions from different perspectives where they overlap. Many pressing issues today – such as climate change, the reform of the international financial system, the distribution of income and wealth, democracy and democratisation – are best understood by combining insights from more than one discipline. By studying PPE, you will acquire the analytical skills and the theoretical and factual knowledge necessary to address these issues.

The PPE course provides a rigorous introduction to all three subjects in the first year, after which you may choose to specialise in two subjects or continue to study all three.

A feature of the Warwick PPE course is the “bridge model”: you do not just study the three disciplines independently, but are given ample opportunities – both formal and informal – to combine insights from the different disciplines.

Each of the three partner departments has an international reputation with a large academic staff. We can offer students a diverse menu of optional modules, allowing students to follow their own interests. Since our staff are active in research at the frontiers of their subject, teaching will draw on stateof-the-art knowledge.

Student Profile: Cosmo March,

3rd year, PPE

PPE is one of the most challenging and rewarding courses at Warwick. I didn’t want to narrow my studies to one subject, therefore the PPE degree was perfect for me. The course covers topics that are sometimes very different from each other, so you are surrounded by people with different interests, from extremely varied backgrounds who do not necessarily share your opinions. This can help you to appreciate alternative viewpoints which you can use in your academic work.

At Warwick, there are many clubs and societies. I am Vice-President of Warwick Snowsports, arranging trips to the Alps for 700 students every year. I am also President of the PPE Society, which organises inspirational talks and hosts dinners with members of academia and intellectuals from all over the world.

There are many extra-curricular events and opportunities that further enrich the student experience, such as lectures given by distinguished visiting academics, student-run events organised by the PPE Student Society, the Warwick International Development Summit, the Warwick Economics Summit and others.

In the first year you study introductory foundation modules in each of philosophy, politics and economics, plus quantitative techniques (mathematics and statistics) and an option. Most students choose their option from one of the three partner departments, such as World Politics, Introduction to Ancient Philosophy or Ideas of Freedom or The World Economy; but it can equally be from another department, for example, History or Psychology, or a language. At honours level, students choose a Pathway. On a Bipartite Pathway, you specialise in two subjects. On the Tripartite Pathway, you continue to study all three as core. Examples of core modules in the second year are Econometrics, Ethics, and a module in the history of political thought. In your third year you must take two interdisciplinary “keystone” modules. These modules are taught jointly by faculty from all three departments and aim at bridging the three disciplines. They focus on important areas of application, for example the ethics, politics, and economics of the governance of the global economy or policies on climate change. In both the second and third year, a broad range of optional modules allows students to deepen their studies in a chosen direction.

How Will I Be Taught?

Through a set of core modules students learn the techniques, content and major concerns of the three disciplines. Core modules amount to just over half of the required course work. In addition, you can choose from a wide range of optional modules in each of the three PPE Departments or from other Departments of the University. Each department is slightly different in how teaching is organised and you will experience diversity in teaching and assessment methods. In the first year students take five modules. Contact time varies according to the module, but 12 to 15 hours of lectures and classes per week are typical. In the rest of the time, students are expected to do a lot of reading as well as weekly exercises. In the second and third years students take four modules each year and timetabled hours will be around 10 to 12 hours per week. Most modules are taught by one or two lectures per week plus a weekly or fortnightly small group seminar or tutorial. Seminar groups for core modules have about 10–15 students; tutorials have 5 or 6 students.

How Will I Be Assessed?

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and exams, and in some modules you are allowed to choose the assessment method. In your final year, you can also choose to write a dissertation in the Philosophy or the Politics and International Studies Department, or undertake research in applied economics.

What Careers Can A Degree In PPE Lead To?

PPE equips you for a career in the public or private sector and the combination of subjects is wellregarded by employers. Some students have started careers in finance or in the Government Economic Service. PPE students are also successful in domestic policy think tanks and international institutions. Many students go on to postgraduate study at Warwick, at other prestigious UK institutions, or at universities across the world.

• More about Philosophy, Politics and Economics

• More about the three contributing departments: Philosophy, Economics, Politics and International Studies

Modules

• List of Philosophy modules
• List of Politics modules
• List of Economics Modules
• Breakdown of modules for Philosophy, Politics and Economics

UCAS Code: L0V0 MOD/PPE3

TYPICAL OFFERS

The typical offers listed below are for 2011 entry.

A level: A level: A*AA + AS level B

A levels in Applied Subjects and Mixed Portfolios: Candidates offering vocational awards considered. Grades required similar to those for candidates taking academic A and AS qualifications.

International Baccalaureate: 38 points. Applications from candidates with other internationally-recognised qualifications welcomed.

Scottish Qualifications: Advanced Higher AA + Higher AAA in three other subjects.

Cambridge Pre-U: D3 D3 D3.

Welsh Baccalaureate: See here

Overseas Qualifications: See here

Access Courses: Access to HE Diploma (QAA-recognised) including appropriate subjects with distinction grades in level 3 units.

Warwick HEFP: 3 distinctions including Maths and at least credits in all other modules.

General Studies/Critical Thinking: Offers normally exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking at A level. Critical Thinking accepted at AS level.

Extended Project: We welcome the Extended Project in lieu of an AS level.

ESSENTIAL SUBJECTS

Minimum GCSE Mathematics A (or equivalent).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Gap year: Applications for deferred entry welcomed.

Interviews: Applicants are interviewed only in exceptional circumstances.

Open days: All students who have been offered a place are invited to visit.

For further advice and information candidates are welcome to contact the Department before completing the UCAS form.
Email: PPEOffice@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)24 7652 2952

Admissions: (024) 7652 3723
Email: ugadmissions@warwick.ac.uk

More information for prospective PPE students

Undergraduate study in Philosophy

Undergraduate study in Politics & International Studies

Undergraduate study in Economics

Prospectus Entry