Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics has been one of the most prestigious and intellectually demanding degrees in British higher education for nearly a century. It brings together three disciplines that together address the most fundamental questions about how societies are organised, how collective decisions are made, and what principles should guide them. Philosophy provides the tools for rigorous argument and the examination of foundational assumptions.

Politics analyses the institutions, processes, and power relations that determine how societies govern themselves. Economics supplies the analytical frameworks for understanding how resources are allocated, how incentives work, and how markets and governments interact.

At the University of Liverpool, this three-year, full-time programme includes a year abroad, allowing you to extend your engagement with these disciplines in a different academic and cultural environment. You will engage with political theory, the philosophy of mind and morality, and the principles of micro and macroeconomics, developing a range of analytical tools that can be applied to any of the major questions facing contemporary societies. The combination is ideal for students who have broad interests in government, society, markets, and the ethical dimensions of public life, and who want to approach those interests with rigour and depth.

Graduates of PPE pursue a remarkably wide range of careers. The civil service, politics, journalism, law, finance, international organisations, and management consultancy all draw on graduates with the analytical range and intellectual breadth this degree develops. Many go on to postgraduate study in philosophy, politics, economics, public policy, or law, building specialist expertise for research or senior professional careers.

The degree is widely regarded as one of the most effective preparations for roles in public and professional life.