Politics, Philosophy and Economics bachelor

 This degree aims to: enhance your capacity to analyse and evaluate competing arguments about political events, ideas and institutions;
give you an understanding of economic systems and theories and place the study of economics in its broader institutional and political context
develop your ability to formulate rigorous arguments and philosophical positions.
All permanent members of philosophy teaching staff are internationally recognised researchers publishing their work in journals and books and giving talks around the world.

From 2015 Manchester is the new home of the British Election Study

Excellence in teaching: Politics Staff have won University teaching excellence awards (2010-11, 2011-12) and achieved national recognition, twice winning the Political Studies Association, Sir Bernard Crick Prize for Outstanding Teaching (2007, 2012).

Our students can also apply for a valuable summer work placement
in their second year through our Q-Step programme.

Our students

Philosophy students in figures (2014):
Students on the course came from 15 countries
Their ages ranged from 18 - 29
The male / female ratio was 63 : 37

Meet our students
Most course units feature formal lectures supported by smaller tutorials or seminars, in which you will be able to explore the contents of lectures and recommended reading in greater depth. Tutorials and seminars are also key elements in improving your written and oral communication skills through group discussions, essay-writing and presentations.
Students are assigned an Academic Advisor, an academic member of staff who takes a friendly interest in your progress and can advise you on selecting course units and career opportunities.
Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) uses a variety of assessment methods, including exams and assessed essay work, but you'll also get weekly worksheets (in Logic).
We are also piloting a range of new methods of assessment including seminar presentations and how you perform in tutorials.
In your final year you will complete a dissertation.
In your first year your studies are split equally across the three disciplines. The grounding you gain in each subject allows you to progress smoothly into your second year and gives you the requisite knowledge to make informed decisions about which courses to choose.
You would take 120 credits overall (or 8 individual course units) from:

Politics


Compulsory unit

Introduction to Political Theory

Optional units include

Introduction to Comparative Politics
Britain in the Globachelorl Context
Introduction to International Politics.

Philosophy


Compulsory unit

Critical Thinking

Optional units include

Values We Live By
Discovering Reality
Mind and World
Philosophy and Social Sciences

Economics


Compulsory units

Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Mathematics and Statistics
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalCritical Thinking
PHIL10041
20
Mandatory
Introduction to Political Theory
POLI10702
20
Mandatory
Further Mathematics
ECON10001
10
Optional
Microeconomic Principles
ECON10041
10
Optional
Macroeconomic Principles
ECON10042
10
Optional
Introductory Mathematics
ECON10061
10
Optional
Advanced Mathematics
ECON10071
10
Optional
Advanced Statistics
ECON10072
10
Optional
The UK Economy - Microeconomics
ECON10081
10
Optional
The UK Economy - Macroeconomics
ECON10082
10
Optional
Further Statistics
ECON10132
10
Optional
Introduction to Ethics
PHIL10021
20
Optional
History of Philosophy
PHIL10402
20
Optional
Introduction to Metaphysics and Epistemology
PHIL10622
20
Optional
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
PHIL10632
20
Optional
Philosophy & Social Science
PHIL10641
20
Optional
Study Skills
POLI10100
0
Optional
Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLI10201
20
Optional
Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLI10202
20
Optional
Making Sense of Politics
POLI10302
20
Optional
British Politics: Power and the State
POLI10402
20
Optional
Politics of the Globachelorl Economy
POLI10501
20
Optional
Introduction to International Politics
POLI10601
20
Optional
Introductory Statistics for Economists
SOST10062
10
Optional
Displaying 10 of 24 course units for year 1
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In your second year you deepen your understanding of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Your studies are again split equally over the three disciplines and there are compulsory course units in each, but you have more freedom to choose courses reflect your developing interests.

Politics


Compulsory unit

Freedom and Equality: Contemporary Debachelortes

Optional units include

The Politics of (in)Security
Questions about International Politics
Arguing about Politics
Chinese Politics Today
Politics of Policy Making
France under the Fifth Republic
National Politics of Germany and Mediterranean Politics

Philosophy


A compulsory unit from

Formal Logic
Ethics
20th Century Analytical Philosophy
Aesthetics

Optional units include

any of the other compulsory units
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Mind
Phenomenology
Philosophical Methods.

Economics

You need to take 20 credits (or two courses) from:
Microeconomics IIA
Microeconomics IIB
Macroeconomics IIA
Macroeconomics IIB.
You can either choose the remainder of your courses from Micro/Macroeconomics or choose your remaining 20 credits from:
Managerial Economics, Operational Research, Economics of Environment Management, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, Marketing Research, Development Economics, Business Economics, Applied Environmental Economics, Policy Analysis.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalUnderstanding the Financial Crisis: Competing Perspectives
BMAN24091
10
Optional
Managerial Economics I
ECON20000
20
Optional
Environmental Economics IIA
ECON20101
10
Optional
Econometrics
ECON20110
20
Optional
Mathematical Economics I
ECON20120
20
Optional
Further Mathematics
ECON20281
10
Optional
Further Statistics
ECON20292
10
Optional
Development Economics IIA
ECON20321
10
Optional
Development Economics IIB
ECON20332
10
Optional
Business Economics 1A
ECON20341
10
Optional
Business Economics IB
ECON20342
10
Optional
Microeconomics IIA
ECON20351
10
Optional
Microeconomics IIB
ECON20352
10
Optional
Macroeconomics IIA
ECON20401
10
Optional
Macroeconomics IIB
ECON20402
10
Optional
Economics for Public Policy
ECON20431
10
Optional
Jurisprudence
LAWS20101
20
Optional
Philosophy of Religion
PHIL20021
20
Optional
Formal Logic
PHIL20042
20
Optional
Locke, Berkeley, Hume
PHIL20212
20
Optional
Ethics
PHIL20231
20
Optional
20th Century Analytical Philosophy
PHIL20242
20
Optional
Philosophy of Science
PHIL20261
20
Optional
Philosophy of Mind
PHIL20272
20
Optional
Philosophical Methods
PHIL20891
20
Optional
Aesthetics
PHIL20951
20
Optional
Existentialism
PHIL23002
20
Optional
The Politics of (in)Security
POLI20332
20
Optional
Questions About International Politics
POLI20521
20
Optional
Politics & Society in Britain Since 1940: From Blitz to the 'Big Society
POLI20531
20
Optional
Arguing About Politics: Political Theory in the World
POLI20602
20
Optional
Chinese Politics Today
POLI20611
10
Optional
The Politics of Globachelorlisation
POLI20711
20
Optional
The Politics of Development
POLI20722
20
Optional
The Politics of Policy Making
POLI20802
20
Optional
Ideals of Social Justice
POLI20881
20
Optional
Comparative European Politics
POLI20912
10
Optional
France under the Fifth Republic
POLI20921
10
Optional
National Politics of Germany
POLI20931
10
Optional
Mediterranean Politics
POLI20941
10
Optional
Comparative Politics of East-Central Europe
POLI20952
10
Optional
Challenges for Democratic Politics
POLI20961
20
Optional
Environmental Politics
POLI20982
20
Optional
What is Europe?
POLI20992
10
Optional
Market Research
SOST20042
10
Optional
Displaying 10 of 45 course units for year 2
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In your final year you can concentrate on two of the three disciplines, pursuing the interests that you have developed over the preceding two years.

Compulsory units

Topics in PPE - an interdisciplinary course designed specifically for PPE students
Dissertation

Optional units include


Politics
: Politics of the European Union; Pluralism, Democracy and Citizenship, The Politics of Hate, Business and Politics in Britain, News Media & International Crisis, International Political Economy, Globachelorl Justice, Politics of Social Policy, Terrorism and Political Violence in Europe, Contemporary Parliamentary Studies and British Political Tradition, Politics of Obscenity and Politics of Public Spending

Philosophy
: Jurisprudence, Philosophy of Social Science, Philosophical Logic, Metaphysics, Special Author: Wittgenstein, Philosophy of Language, Issues in Epistemology, Philosophy of Psychology, Philosophy of Action, Philosophy of Music and Personhood and Freedom of the Will

Economics
: Advanced Macroeconomics, The Macroeconomics of Labour Markets, The Chinese Economy, Natural Resource Economics, Mathematical Economics, Mathematical Economics, Cross Section Economics, Business Forecasting, Mathematical Finance, Time Series Economics, Financial Economics, Development Economics, History of Economic Thought, Money, bachelornking & Financial Markets and Economic Policy Analysis.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalTopics in PPE
SOCS30001
20
Mandatory
Dissertation in Economics
ECON30100
20
Optional
Dissertation (20 credit)
PHIL30000
20
Optional
The Politics of the European Union
POLI30031
20
Optional
Russian Politics
POLI30072
20
Optional
Gender, Sex and Politics
POLI30231
20
Optional
Elections and Voters in Britain
POLI30241
20
Optional
Political Morality
POLI30271
20
Optional
Ethical Issues in World Politics
POLI30322
20
Optional
Political Ideologies in Modern Britain
POLI30362
20
Optional
Politics of Hate
POLI30452
20
Optional
News Media & International Crisis
POLI30691
20
Optional
Introduction to International Political Economy
POLI30721
20
Optional
Gender, War & Militarism
POLI30791
20
Optional
Political Communication: Language and Power
POLI30842
20
Optional
Africa & Globachelorl Politics
POLI30861
20
Optional
War, Genocide, Terror: Understanding Organised Violence
POLI30892
20
Optional
Comparative Protest Politics -Voting with their Feet
POLI30921
20
Optional
Ideologies of Globachelorl Capitalism
POLI31002
20
Optional
War Memories and Reconciliation in East Asia
POLI31011
20
Optional
Children, Family and Social Justice
POLI31032
20
Optional
American Politics: Why Do They Do That?
POLI31061
20
Optional
The Politics of Climate Change
POLI31072
20
Optional
Knowledge Production in Peace-building: Practices and Processes
POLI31082
20
Optional
Anarchy and Authority
POLI32031
20
Optional
Contemporary Parliamentary Studies and the British Political Tradition
POLI32041
20
Optional
Politics of Obscenity
POLI32051
20
Optional
Fear and Loathing in International Relations: The Problem of Identity and Difference
POLI32061
20
Optional
Fear and Loathing in International Relations: The Problem of Identity and Difference
POLI32062
20
Optional
Between War and Peace
POLI32071
20
Optional
Sex, Bodies and Money: Gendering International Political Economy
POLI32092
20
Optional
Theories of Rights
POLI32122
20
Optional
Displaying 10 of 32 course units for year 3
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'Choosing my degree programme was the biggest investment decision I had made at that stage in my life. I wanted to make sure that I left university with a respected degree that is highly regarded by graduate employers. PPE certainly does that.'

Tom Danaher
, PPE student.
'My favourite thing about studying PPE has been that in the first couple of years I had the opportunity to study a broad range of topics across the social sciences so when it came to third year I really knew what interested me and have had the chance to specialise accordingly. The PPE society acts as a brilliant support system both socially and academically and has been a massive part of my University experience.'

Catherine Boggild
, PPE student.
'If you are looking for a broad and deep understanding of contemporary affairs then PPE at Manchester is for you. There is also a lot of flexibility on the programme so if you want to specialise in a particular discipline, two or all of the fields you can tailor what you do around your interests and future plans. Aside from the brilliant teaching there is also a really active and intimate student society which can really help when make friends at the university.'

Matthew Fright
, PPE student.
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A wide variety of extra-curricular facilities all in the heart of the UK's most popular student city


Take a 360 tour
of where you will be studying
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
A degree in  Politics, Philosophy and Economics
 would give you the skills and knowledge that you need to able to succeed in the future.

Graduates from PPE
are highly sought after and are able to use their skills and knowledge in a wide range of different areas. Some examples of what our recent graduates have gone on to do are (Source: DLHE):

Employers:
Thomson Reuters, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, bachelorrclays, The University of Manchester, Alliance Financial Group, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Department of Education, New Economic Development and Shelter

Job Roles:
Senior bachelornking Executive, Trainee Tax Accountant, Commercial Officer, Economic Analyst, Policy Advisor, Trainee Manager.

As the PPE degree brings together the three interrelated disciplines of Politics, Philosophy and Economics you would develop and unrivalled range of transferable skills 
throughout your time at Manchester.

Studying Politics
means that you can analyse the behaviour of government from local, national and international perspectives and provide an understanding and rationale behind policy decisions that affect all of us. Studying politics shows that you are capable of researching and referencing your argument and that you are capable of using rhetoric to reinforce your position in a debachelorte.

In Philosophy
you would learn to develop and express rational arguments and use logical reasoning and critical analysis to defend your position and critique opposing viewpoints.

Economics
gives you the tools to analyse the economic environment around us. You would gain a grounding in quantitative methods such as Mathematics & Statistics or Econometrics - which would be highly applicable elsewhere - as well as help you develop an understanding of the spectrum of the wider economy from the reasoning behind macroeconomic government policy to the microeconomic behaviour of individual firms .