We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Explore and analyse contemporary issues and complex dynamics in today’s world using three disciplinary perspectives on our BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) degree.
PPE at the University of Reading equips you with a wide range of key and complementary skills from the fields of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. This will enable you to critically assess and address some of the world’s most pressing problems from a theoretical, practical, and ethical point of view. You will be a member of three departments meaning you will receive support from each and benefit from optional modules which enable you to specialise in areas that interest you the most. During your first year you’ll develop a strong grounding in philosophy, politics and economics and have the flexibility to continue with all three subjects in your second and final years or focus on two.
Explore and challenge some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality and ethical judgements while developing a deep understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems of philosophy. You will be taught by experts who research a wide range of areas spanning applied philosophy – from business ethics and the philosophy of law, to traditional areas of western and global philosophy.
Examine ethical and moral issues that arise when political authority is exercised and gain a strong grounding in political ideas and democratic processes. You will learn from academics who regularly feature in academic literature and the media, offering their expertise on current issues and engaging in real-world politics.
In economics, you will study both applied and practical issues, focusing on the relationship between economics and society. Benefit from research-led teaching by tutors who have informed policy decisions made by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank.
This course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content than some Economics courses do; instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still learn necessary maths skills in your core modules, but extensive support is available should you need it.
Placements provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience. If you choose to take a placement, you will have support from our dedicated Placement Coordinator.
You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your studies. For example, a previous Philosophy student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
You can also choose our four-year BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Placement Experience course, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third year of study.
In Politics, you can undertake a two-week placement as part of our module on British Government and Politics, giving you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience working with an MP, charity, pressure group, local councillor or media organisation.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
