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Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Our MSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) offers you a unique opportunity to explore the forces that shape our world. Designed for students from a variety of backgrounds, this interdisciplinary course equips you with analytical and critical-thinking skills essential for understanding complex global issues. Why choose this course?

  • It combines three influential disciplines - politics, philosophy and economics - into one comprehensive and integrated course.
  • Whether you’re aiming for a career in finance, policy, law or academia, this course provides you with a rigorous, flexible and intellectually stimulating foundation.
  • You will learn from leading academics whose research directly informs your studies, ensuring cutting-edge and relevant content.
  • You can tailor this course to your interests and career ambitions by choosing from a wide range of option modules and exploring a topic of your choice in depth for your dissertation.
What you will learn You will gain a deep understanding of how political institutions, philosophical ideas and economic systems interact to shape society. Through core and option modules, you will develop analytical, evaluative and reasoning skills that are highly valued across a wide range of careers. The course content is designed to build your confidence in applying interdisciplinary approaches to real-world challenges. How you will learn You’ll learn through a dynamic mix of lectures, seminars and interactive workshops that take place in the evening so are ideal for balancing your studies with work and other commitments. The course includes both theoretical and practical elements and is designed to encourage critical debate and independent thought. You will also receive individual dissertation supervision to support your academic journey and prepare you for research, professional advancement or further study. Highlights
  • This is the only PPE course available for part-time evening study in the UK.
  • Birkbeck has a strong international research reputation in politics, philosophy and economics.
  • Birkbeck Library has large politics, philosophy and economics collections, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.
  • You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library, which is five minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is also walkable from Birkbeck.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this MSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • critical thinking and the ability to evaluate complex ideas and arguments
  • strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting analysis clearly and persuasively
  • quantitative and qualitative research skills applicable to real-world issues
  • problem-solving and decision-making skills underpinned by interdisciplinary insights
  • confidence in working independently and collaboratively in diverse, professional contexts.
Studying this course will prepare you for a career path in a range of fields and professions including as a:
  • policy analyst in government departments or public agencies
  • political adviser or campaign strategist
  • journalist or political correspondent
  • international development officer
  • researcher or analyst in a think tank.
Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at:
  • the Civil Service and local government bodies
  • national and international media organisations
  • NGOs and international development agencies
  • political parties, advocacy groups and lobbying firms
  • research institutes, policy think tanks, and consultancies.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Essays, or examinations supplemented with coursework assignments.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in any subject; prior exposure to at least one of the three component subjects would be a distinct advantage, but it might be possible for able students to acquire the relevant knowledge as part of this course. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £5850 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5850 Year 1
Scotland £5850 Year 1
Wales £5850 Year 1
International £10170 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS