Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, politics and economics, known widely as PPE, is one of the most intellectually ambitious combinations available at undergraduate level. Philosophy trains you to think with precision about the foundations of knowledge, ethics and political life. Politics gives you tools to understand how power is organised, contested and exercised in democracies and beyond.

Economics provides the theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding markets, behaviour and resource allocation. Together they give you a way of approaching almost any significant question with analytical depth from multiple directions simultaneously.

At Manchester Metropolitan University you will study all three disciplines with rigour, while being encouraged to challenge orthodox thinking and bring innovative approaches to problems in politics, ethics and the economy. You will examine contemporary issues including environmental challenges, inequality, democratic reform and global economic governance, developing the ability to argue from evidence and engage productively with contested ideas. The programme runs over three years full time and includes a sandwich year in industry alongside work placement opportunities, giving you professional experience to complement the academic depth of the degree.

PPE graduates are consistently found at the highest levels of public life, business and academia. The degree is well established as preparation for careers in politics and government, the civil service, law, policy research, economics, journalism, international organisations, management consultancy and finance. The combination of analytical rigour, ethical reasoning and understanding of political systems is valued wherever organisations need people who can think clearly about complex problems and communicate their conclusions persuasively.

Postgraduate study in public policy, law, economics, political science or philosophy is a natural next step for those seeking specialist or research-focused paths.