Oxford – PPL – Psychology and Philosophy

A three-year course with an optional fourth year, a PPL student will leave with great skills in statistical analysis, essay writing, critical thinking, and logic-based reasoning. Students apply for a course combination of 2 of the 3 subjects. After their second term (and first set of exams) most students follow what is called a ‘bipartite degree’ where they study only two of the three subjects to specialise in. If they wish to study all three and their college approves, they may also do this. PPL offers lots of choice in modules, and students can also add more weight to one of the two (or three) disciplines if desired. This is a small course, with an intake of 30 undergraduates a year. It’s competitive with just 12% of applicants being successful.

Students who choose Psychology must study a range of core topics, as well as attend practical classes, data training, and experimental design and method classes. Later on, they undertake practical training. The Philosophy course focuses on Logic, General Philosophy and Ethics in the first two terms. Once you’ve taken Prelims (exams), Philosophy modules include studies of the mind and cognitive science. A variety of Linguistics modules such as Sociolinguistics and Semantics are also available.

If a student decides to stay for a fourth year (MSci in PPL), they will undertake an extended project and submit a project report. After this, they will work on an extended project in Experimental Psychology or other related disciplines.

It is strongly recommended that you take at least one science (including Psychology) or Maths at A Level.