Philosophy and Economics

Philosophy and economics is a combination that rewards the intellectually ambitious, because both disciplines are united by a commitment to rigorous argument and a willingness to question assumptions that others take for granted. Economics provides powerful tools for understanding how individuals, firms and markets behave and how policy decisions affect welfare, growth and distribution. Philosophy asks the deeper questions that economics sometimes takes as given, about rationality, value, justice and the ethical dimensions of economic life and its institutions.

Together, they form one of the most challenging and respected joint degrees in the humanities and social sciences.

At the University of Bristol, this three-year full-time programme treats both disciplines with full seriousness. The economics component is technically rigorous, requiring you to build strong analytical skills through mandatory units in microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics. You will learn to construct and test economic models, to work with data and to engage with the frontier of economic research.

The philosophy component develops your capacity for precise conceptual analysis, logical argumentation and critical engagement with the ideas of major thinkers across metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and the philosophy of mind and language. A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the combination of analytical rigour and academic preparation the programme demands.

Graduates from philosophy and economics programmes are among the most analytically capable in British higher education. They pursue careers in economic policy, financial services, consulting, law, think tanks, international organisations, the civil service and academia. The unusual combination of quantitative rigour and philosophical depth is particularly valuable in roles that require both technical analytical skill and the capacity to reason clearly about values, ethics and the normative dimensions of economic and social decisions.

Postgraduate study in economics, philosophy, political economy or public policy is a natural continuation for those who wish to specialise or pursue research.