Philosophy, Politics & Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics is one of the most established and respected interdisciplinary degrees in British higher education. It brings together three disciplines that each illuminate different dimensions of how societies organise themselves and distribute power, resources, and opportunity. Philosophy develops habits of rigorous argument and conceptual clarity.

Politics analyses how power operates, how institutions are structured, and how collective decisions are made. Economics provides the models and empirical tools to understand how resources are allocated and how incentives shape behaviour. Studied together, the three disciplines offer a way of thinking about public life that is both analytically precise and broadly humanistic.

At King's College London, the programme is taught jointly by the Department of Political Economy and the Department of Philosophy, giving you access to scholars across both fields. The degree runs over three years full-time and includes a year abroad, which gives you the chance to study at a partner university overseas and bring an international dimension to your understanding of political and economic institutions. You will engage with the great texts of political philosophy, the models and methods of economic analysis, and the empirical study of political institutions and behaviour, developing the ability to move fluently between different modes of intellectual inquiry.

The typical entry tariff reflects the competitiveness of the programme and the calibre of students it attracts.

Graduates from PPE programmes are among the most sought-after in the country. The degree leads into careers in politics, law, public policy, the civil service, finance, journalism, international organisations, consultancy, and the media. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in economics, political science, philosophy, law, or public administration, and the degree's combination of analytical breadth and intellectual rigour opens doors in virtually every field where clear thinking and communication are valued.