This course, offered at Oxford but not Cambridge, brings together three of the most important aspects of our modern world. It encourages you to think about morals, government, and the economy, and at the same time, teaches you how to argue your ideas in an effective and thoughtful way. The annual intake is normally a little under 250, which makes it one of the largest courses in Oxford, of which less than 40% are female. It’s also one of the most competitive courses at Oxford with an average of 9.2 applicants per place. Popular amongst aspiring politicians, PPE was read by former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Edward Heath and former Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband and his brother, the former Foreign Secretary David Miliband. It’s so popular that there’s a Wikipedia entry “List of University of Oxford people with PPE degrees” listing over 80 UK politicians and 30 non-UK politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi and Imran Khan.
Students who study PPE will acquire an extensive range of skills, from the mathematical aspects of economics to the critical thinking required to consider philosophical questions. All of these skills can be used to analyse a diverse range of social and political ideas and history. This degree is perfect for someone who benefits from technical and humanistic approaches to learning.
The wide range of options allows students to spend more time studying areas of the degree that appeal to them. For example, a student may decide to specialise in only two out of the three disciplines at the end of their first year, or they may choose to continue with all three.
A typical week for a PPE student includes a number of lectures, meetings and tutorials. Students usually have to write essays or solve a set of problems for their tutorials.
It is recommended (although not essential) that potential applicants study Maths at A Level or equivalent. Studying History may be beneficial.
