Queen's University Belfast

Source: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/politics-philosophy-economics-ba-lv00/ Parent: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/

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Undergraduate 2027

Undergraduate 2025

BA | Undergraduate

Politics, Philosophy and Economics

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Entry year : Academic Year 2027/28

Entry requirements : AAA

Attendance : 3 years (Full-time) \

UCAS Code : LV00

Overview
Course content
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The Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree is based on the view that, to understand public phenomena, one must approach them from several disciplinary directions. This degree illuminates how these three areas complement one another:\ \ • Politics acquaints students with the institutions and processes that produce decisions governing our lives,\ • Philosophy develops analytical rigour, the ability to reason logically, critically and ethically,\ • Economics helps in understanding government policy and the choices facing businesses, governments and society.

Although the PPE degree only began at Queen’s in 2009, it has already been successful in placing graduates in top positions in business and government.

Course highlights

Global Opportunities

QUB students, uniquely in the UK, still have the opportunity to spend part of the course studying in other European universities, through our Erasmus programme. There are also opportunities to study at partner institutions in the USA and Canada.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/mitchell-institute/

Professional Accreditations

Although practicing politics, philosophy, or economics does not usually require professional accreditations, many of our staff and students are members of many of the key professional associations in these subject areas. This includes the Political Studies Association, the British Philosophical Association, the Political Studies Association of Ireland, The Association for Social and Political Philosophy, the American Political Science Association, and the Royal Economic Society.

Career Development

Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers. Studying for a PPE degree at Queen‘s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers and academic institutions. To this end, there are opportunities in final year to undertake a part-time placement with a local organisation to gain direct experience of policy-making and political decision-making.

PPE graduates from Queens have moved into areas such as further postgraduate study (internationally and in Britain and Ireland), banking, consultancy, the civil service, and politics. Recent graduates have gone on to work for employers such as the Bank of England, major companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers, and major political parties.

Queen's is ranked 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2025).

Politics and Philosophy are ranked in the top 200 in the world (QS World Rankings by subject 2024).

Internationally Renowned Experts

The School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen‘s has over 70 full-time academics, making it the largest institutional centre for the study of these subjects in Ireland and one of the largest in the UK.\ \ The School also boasts the following:\ • Democracy Unit\ • Centre for Gender in Politics\ • Centre for Public History\ • Institute of Cognition and Culture\ •The Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice\ • Institute of Irish Studies\ • Two International Summer Schools (the Irish\ Studies Summer School; and the Conflict\ Transformation and Social Justice Summer\ School)\ • Centre for Public Policy and Administration

Professor David Phinnemore is an expert on EU Treaty reform and EU enlargement, which led to his secondment as an advisor to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Professor John Garry is an internationally recognised expert in the areas of citizens’ political attitudes and voting behaviour. His research has informed governments both in Belfast and Dublin on offering ordinary citizens the chance to have greater input on policymaking.

Student Experience

Our uniquely supportive pastoral care/ personal tutor system is equalled only by the academic guidance available. Our vibrant PPE Society provides a welcome and stimulating environment for new students. We have students from around the UK, Ireland, Europe and the wider world, ensuring a rich mix of students with different experiences and backgrounds.

Queen’s currently has over 4400 international students from over 90 different countries (Queen’s Planning Office, 2024).

17% of the Queen’s student population are international students (Queen’s Planning Office, 2024).

https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/happ/student-experience/undergraduate-opportunities/

Further Study Opportunities

For those wishing to pursue further study after their first degree, the School provides a range of MA programmes, each of which can be taken either full-time (one year) or part-time (two years). PPE graduates are also equipped to pursue further study in the field of economics.

“The School is of not too large a size as to be impersonal, and therefore the relationships between the students and with the staff were strong and highly inclusive. The relatively small intake of the PPE programme meant that across all three years there were plenty of opportunities to interact with the other students, and the PPE society always had great socials as well as academic events.”\ Ed Livingstone

NEXT \ Course content

[##### Take a Virtual Tour of Campus

Explore our immersive 360 degree tours of campus buildings, facilities, accommodation and Belfast city.](https://virtualexperience.qub.ac.uk/)

[##### Undergraduate Events

Join us for an insight into life at Queen's and advice on your journey to university.](https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/events/)

[##### Your Future Career

Queen’s is ranked 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).](https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/careers-and-employability/)

[##### Student Accommodation

The most affordable, purpose-built student accommodation in Belfast.](https://www.qub.ac.uk/accommodation/)

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History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

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