Does globalisation undermine social solidarity? Does populism threaten our democracies? How do we encourage corporate social responsibility? And how can we rise to the challenge of climate change?

Read on to learn how studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics helps both the student and the society.

The degree of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) is a springboard to a career in politics, finance or the media. The three complementary subjects have deep historical connections yet have developed as independent disciplines with distinctive methods. PPE students will leave the programme with an understanding not just of modern societies and their political institutions, but how rigorous critical evaluation can bring about significant social and political change.

History Of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics as an interdisciplinary program began in the early 20th century at the University of Oxford. The goal was to ensure that scholars were ready to apply their learning in practical, governmental, legal and business contexts to become leaders and change agents.

Historically, the disciplines we know today as political science and economics descend from what was previously called “political economy” — the application of philosophical reflection and criticism to issues in markets and politics. It considered how societies decided what goods should be produced, under what conditions they were produced, and ultimately how those goods would be distributed and enjoyed. PPE today acknowledges the insight that is often lost in the separation of politics and economics, and is devoted to the idea that re-engaging them will inspire and empower students to leave an impact on the world.

What is Philosophy, Politics and Economics Graduate Program?

Our world today faces complex challenges that cannot be tackled by one discipline alone. We need an approach that cuts across boundaries. A selective one-two year Master’s programme in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) offers this interdisciplinary approach. The programme aims at ambitious students with a wide range of interests – students who want to explore the philosophical dimensions of political and economic issues and develop and apply their critical thinking tools. If you are interested to work at the interface between politics, economics and philosophy, this is your master’s programme.

What will you learn? The programme will equip you with the central theoretical and methodological tools from PPE that allow you to understand and critically examine complex problems ranging from global poverty to the financial crisis. You will learn to analyse the political and economic complexities of organisational structures. You will see what is at stake in theories of democracy, collective decision‐making, rational choice, social inequality and economic growth. And you will learn how to apply theoretical insights to concrete policy problems both locally and globally.

Those who wish to work in business, public policy, government, or social science may wish to consider a philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) program. This interdisciplinary field offers students the chance to study how powerful social forces interact with each other.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

More on philosophy, politics, and economics graduate program

Earning a master’s degree exposes students to a world of opportunities. These particular degrees are sometimes referred to as graduate degrees because their programs are usually reserved for those who have already graduated and earned a bachelor’s degree.

What is a Master in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)? Philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) is an interdisciplinary field which combines two major social sciences with one of the world’s oldest academic disciplines. This is an excellent choice for students hoping to enter public service.This multilayered degree gives students a comprehensive overview of the three aforementioned subject areas. Topics such as comparative government, supply and demand, ethics, and political science will be discussed at length. The overall objective of the program is to show students how the three separate academic fields influence and diverge from each other. Additional courses in history, sociology, and literature may also be required for graduation from some programs.

Those who earn a master’s degree can expect to reap a variety of benefits after graduation. Many students, especially those who are already employed, earn higher salaries and gain access to an increased number of career advancement opportunities.

The cost of earning a master’s will depend on a multitude of factors. Geographic location and institutional rates have the most profound impact on program costs. For additional information, students should contact their program of choice directly.

After earning this degree, the majority of graduates choose to work in the academic field. A great deal of them elect to become university professors or instructors. They may also be expected to publish literature and provide commentary on relevant issues. Many professors prefer to devote the majority of their time to researching various topics and subjects. A small percentage of graduates choose to work for government agencies, helping officials make important economic decisions. 

You will have a vast array of educational options to choose from when it comes to earning this degree; some prefer to earn their degree entirely online. To learn more about your options, search for your program below and contact directly the admission office of the school of your choice by filling in the lead form.

PPE was born of the conviction that study of the great modern works of economic, social, political and philosophical thought would have a transformative effect on students’ intellectual lives, and thereby on society at large. This conviction remains as firm today as it was then. As the world has evolved, so has PPE. The course brings together some of the most important approaches to understanding the world around us, developing skills useful for a wide range of careers and activities.

PPE is a highly flexible degree which allows you to shape your own path through it: you may choose to specialise in two branches at the end of the first year, or continue with all three. You can also explore a wide variety of disciplines under the overarching headings of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics – for example, you can specialize in Sociology or International Relations by choosing the relevant Politics options. 

Studying philosophy develops analytical, critical, and logical rigor, enabling you to apply these skills to deep, puzzling questions such as “what can we (really) know?” and “why be moral?”

In turn, the study of politics provides a thorough understanding of the impact of political institutions on modern societies. It helps you to evaluate the choices that political systems must regularly make, to explain the processes that maintain or change those systems, and to examine the concepts and values used in political analysis.

Economics is the study of how consumers, firms and government make decisions that collectively determine how resources are allocated. An appreciation of economics has become increasingly necessary to make sense of governmental policy-making, the conduct of businesses and the enormous economic transformations throughout the world. All three branches of PPE at Oxford have an international reputation, supported by more than 200 renowned scholars. 

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (P.P.E.) is a thoroughly interdisciplinary graduate program that incorporates courses from all three fields of inquiry, offering a plan of integrated study that enhances your understanding of each discipline in relationship to the others. Courses in Philosophy emphasize individual rights and dignity while also cultivating a personal sense of responsibility not only to other individuals but to society as a whole. Government and Politics and Economics and Finance courses highlight issues of social justice and foster a commitment to finding ways, through public policy, of helping those that are least fortunate.As a student in the M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, you select two graduate-level courses from each of the three constitutive disciplines, as well as one program elective, in consultation with a faculty advisor. You also undergo a two-semester interdisciplinary seminar in your final year. To culminate your degree, you have the option to complete either a thesis project or practicum to enhance your research skills and professional development. 

Career Outcomes

With an interdisciplinary degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, you may pursue careers in law, business or public policy in the public and private sectors. Studying politics, philosophy and economics together makes you start to see each subject’s limitations. Understanding ethics helps your study of politics, studying politics and philosophy can put your study of economics into perspective. In my view, the more you benefit from studying across different disciplines, the more critical and curious you become. With its combination of a generalist PPE foundation and its opportunities for specialisation, our Master’s prepares you for a broad range of careers. The programme provides you with the knowledge, insight, and skills to work in organisations as diverse as national or international public administrations, governmental and non‐governmental organisations, private businesses and banks, journalism, think tanks and research institutions.

Many graduates will choose to pursue a career straight after completing the PPE programme. Given the intensity of our programme and its interdisciplinary character, there are many career opportunities that PPE students can take. Some, although not all, examples, include a career in:
 

• Politics
• Law
• Banking and economic sector
• Policy advise
• Research analysis
• Academia
• Civil service
• Diplomatic service
• Journalism and media
• Education
• Strategy consultant

For example, after graduating in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, you could work at the World Bank, where you’d be able to:

• contribute to the preparation of economic policy papers, policy notes, and reports
• see your work within the organization’s broader strategic framework
• prepare periodic economic updates and briefs
• support dialogue on policy reform with government and development partners
• present your work via written reports, big data presentations, website development, and visual media campaigns
• convey your work effectively and confidently in multimedia presentations to colleagues, to government officials, and to the public
• organize events for stakeholders and the public
• show leadership in team and group projects

Why choose the Philosophy, Politics and Economics?

Because you will:

• earn an American and Austrian bachelor’s degree in four years
• enjoy the American college-style undergraduate experience, in Europe
• live in Vienna, the world’s most livable city
• study in another country via study abroad in year 3
• benefit from a private university education at a reasonable cost
• address fundamental questions about reality and our place in it
• learn to do both quantitative and qualitative research
• examine complex concepts, arguments, and world views
• present your analysis and ideas in a variety of ways

You’ll be challenged to think critically and creatively about the complex social, political, and economic developments of our time. You’ll delve into some of the big questions about society and the world around us, gaining a variety of perspectives, solid knowledge, and analytical tools in order to come up with your own answers

Philosophy, Politics and Economics Entry Requirements

Qualifications

General Entry Requirements

• 2023 Entry
• 2024 Entry

SQA Highers

Standard: AABB

Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

Minimum: BBB

Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.

Adjusted: BB

Applicants who have achieved BB, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

A LEVELS

Standard: BBB

Minimum: BBC

Adjusted: CCC

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

Irish Leaving Certificate

5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

PLEASE NOTE: National 5/ Standard Grade/ GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics  (or Applications of Mathematics) is required in addition to the requirements noted above.

Philosophy, Politics, And Economics Major Curriculum

Students in the PPE major begin their studies with PPE101, an interdisciplinary, discussion-based course that examines how the three disciplines work together to tackle real-world problems. Students develop a clear understanding of the “PPE perspective” and apply it to current issues such as world poverty, inequality, press freedom, war, patriarchy, racism and human rights violations.

In the interactive seminar capstone course, PPE450, students work with an instructor as they evaluate public policy proposals, research or theoretical perspectives using the tools, arguments and methods drawn from the three fields. The curriculum also includes core courses and electives across a range of disciplines:

Philosophy Courses

Philosophy courses in the major are focused on establishing a powerful set of logical reasoning, writing and dialogical skills oriented toward questions in ethics, logic, philosophy of law, and social and political philosophy. PPE students take two upper-level philosophy seminars and may take more as electives. Recent seminars have included Objectivity in Science, Rawls and Political Liberalism, The Dialogues of Plato, Marx’s Philosophy and Theories of Sustainability.

Politics Courses

The major’s politics courses constitute a solid foundation in political science, covering a variety of topics that include comparative politics, history of political thought, qualitative or quantitative research methods, theories of justice, American foreign policy, social protest movements and more.

Economics Courses

The economics courses are designed to give the student a foundation for profound analysis and insight. Topics explored include microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic ideas, public finance, and electives chosen from courses that include Game Theory and Applications, Economics of Small Business, Labor Economics, Comparative Economic Systems, Resource and Environmental Economics, and more.

Elective Courses

PPE majors also take electives courses in many disciplines, choosing from courses like Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality, Wealth and Power, Gender and Society, Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South, Environmental Justice and more.