Course summary

Our Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree programme trains students to combine different disciplinary perspectives in an instructive way. Tackling complex societal problems requires the multi-layered competencies that are developed by studying key related disciplines with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity. Taking a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) equips you to approach difficult societal issues in a rounded and nuanced way. We educate researchers, policy makers and professionals to examine an issue from different angles and to combine different perspectives in a creative, rigorous and constructive manner. The three PPE disciplines require different but complementary skills—the mathematical precision of the economist, the insistence on logical argument and the probing of key principles and concepts found in philosophy, and the need for solid evidence typical of all social sciences. Whether you are examining the lessons to be learned from financial crises and global pandemics, the challenges of a globalising world, or the appropriate response to climate change, a PPE degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently combine methods, frameworks and tools from philosophy, politics and economics to propose solutions and evaluate arguments, evidence and decisions. As a PPE student, you will become a interdisciplinary analyst, as well as a versatile and persuasive communicator of complex ideas. At York, there is a long-standing tradition of interdisciplinary PPE teaching and we have a suite of exciting interdisciplinary modules. Our programmes are designed to give you maximum flexibility to shape your degree according to your interests and aspirations. First Year will give you a grounding in the core approaches and debates in your three disciplines. Second Year enables you to start to specialise in the areas of Philosophy, Politics and Economics that interest you most. Third Year students select a PPE module that builds on, and enhances, interdisciplinary learning, and they can choose options from a wide range of research-led specialist modules across the three PPE Departments. As a graduate of the PPE programme at the University of York, you’ll be able to probe social problems from multiple angles, using different methodologies and intellectual frameworks. Graduates of our programmes have found stimulating and rewarding careers in a diverse range of fields: from journalism, local government and the civil service to media, NGOs, teaching and professional consultancy.