With three subjects making up a PPE course, you will likely have a preference for one of them.
Studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) is a great opportunity for you to apply a wider variety of knowledge and academic skills to your studies.
We look at the Politics aspect of a PPE course, and how it differs from university to university.
How Much Of PPE Is About Politics?
Each university will have a different approach and therefore give a different weight to each subject. Out of thirty universities in the United Kingdom that offer PPE, only one of them – Royal Holloway University of London – gives less emphasis to the Politics subject. However, keep in mind that this information is only true for your first year of undergraduate.
This might be the reason why PPE is often thought of as a requirement for a career in Politics.
The table below includes every university in the UK and shows how much weight is given to a particular subject by each university.
| Subject Weight | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Politics | Philosophy | Economics | |
| Durham University | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Goldsmith's, University of London | 40% | 20% | 40% |
| King's College London | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Lancaster University | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Loughborough University | 50% | 25% | 25% |
| LSE | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| New College of the Humanities | 50% | 25% | 25% |
| Open University | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| Oxford | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Queen's University Belfast | 25% | 25% | 50% |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | 20% | 40% | 40% |
| Swansea University | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| The University of Liverpool | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| The University of Manchester | 25% | 25% | 50% |
| UCL | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Aberdeen | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Buckingham | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Essex | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Exeter | 30% | 30% | 40% |
| University of Highlands and Islands | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Hull | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Leeds | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| University of Nottingham | 40% | 30% | 30% |
| University of Reading | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Southampton | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| University of Stirling | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Sussex | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Warwick | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| University of Winchester | 25% | 50% | 25% |
| University of York | 33% | 33% | 33% |
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is PPE the right course if i want to go into politics?
Yes. For most of the universities that offer PPE, you will find that Politics is either the dominant subject or it has the same weighting as Philosophy and Economics.
However, keep in mind that PPE will not go into as much detail as some other undergraduate courses. So, to reiterate, if you are exclusively interested in Politics and do not care for both Economics and Philosophy, then you should reconsider studying PPE.
Why do so many politicians study PPE at oxford?
Around 85 politicians have studied PPE at Oxford. The rationale behind such phenomena can be due to many reasons including:
- PPE is a quite general course that covers three important subjects: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. These are essential for any politician since they consider a wide range of issues that are bound to arise when working within the government.
- Oxford is a prestigious university. Attending Oxford is an achievement, one that “proves” you’re the best from the best. As a politician, you will be an active participant in how things are run in the country and, as such, are expected to be a brilliant professional. The Oxbridge prestige helps achieve this.
- Teaching methods. Oxford’s approach to teaching varies significantly from other universities in the UK. For example, on top of your normal lectures you will have tutorials, which are essentially a one-on-one class with your tutor.
- Oxford Professors are the best of the best. You will be taught by experts that have helped develop theories or written the books you will be reading.
However, it is important to note that the university you attend is not the most important about your degree. Not everyone can attend the most prestigious universities in the UK – for a multitude of reasons – and that is okay. You will have plenty of opportunities to prove yourself and become a successful graduate.
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What are the universities that give more emphasis to politics?
Contrarily to Royal Holloway, which gives Politics the least amount of “attention”, there are six universities that prioritise Politics. These include:
- Goldsmith's, University of London
- Loughborough University
- New College of Humanities
- Open University
- University of Leeds
- University of Nottingham
Some of these universities spend as much as 50% of the entire first year of the course focusing on Politics. So, if Politics is the subject you are most interested out of the three, we would recommend researching the above universities in more detail.
However, always bear in mind that if you are only considering PPE because of Politics then it is probably wiser to choose a course that focus strictly on Politics. You might spend less time focussing on Philosophy and Economics at some of these universities, but you will still be learning about these subjects so make sure you have some interest in them.
Should I apply to PPE?
If what you have read in this article appeals to you, then yes. PPE is exciting and broad and you will have flexibility to choose optional modules, which means you will tailor the course to suit your interests and career ambitions.
It is definitely not an easy course since you will be studying three subjects simultaneously, but if you have a genuine interest for any of the subjects, it is worth considering.
Do your research and look at university websites or speak with our admission consultants. Is PPE appealing to you the more you read about it? Then the answer to ‘Should I apply to PPE?’ is yes! And if you need help with your personal statement, here is a great example.
Conclusion
We hope this article gave you an overview of the Politics side of PPE, and helped to give you a more solid understanding of what is in store.
PPE is a rewarding course, but you must be prepared to put the work in. You may find yourself enjoying the subject that was your least favourite – there are countless opportunities.
With the ability to tailor the degree to your interests, PPE offers great flexibility that other degrees do not offer.
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