Why PPE?

Philosophy, Politics and Economics is one of the most prestigious courses at Oxford, if not the very most. This is evidenced by its references in the media (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/feb/23/ppe-oxford-university-degree-that-rules-britain; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11136511), as well as the highly prestigious careers PPE graduates find themselves in. It is well-known that PPE has been studied by numerous UK politicians, both past and present, but it is less well-known that world leaders from the United States, Pakistan, Thailand, Peru, Myanmar, Australia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, and others also studied PPE at Oxford. However, an Oxford PPE degree is not just for aspiring politicians. It is also found among authors, journalists, business executives, philosophers, actors, linguists, historians, financiers, and even US Supreme Court Justices!

One of the great things about the PPE course is the amount of freedom afforded to those who take it, both in what they study, and how they study. In the second and third years of study, students choose a total of 8 modules which will be examined in their final exams, and they generally choose to drop one of philosophy, politics, and economics, thus studying 8 modules across 2 subjects. As such, students more inclined towards quantitative disciplines may choose to pursue economics and politics, and choose more quantitative modules. On the other end of the spectrum, students who, at the end of their first year decide that they much prefer to think creatively and study great thinkers, might choose more humanities-based modules, for example pursuing philosophy and politics and choosing political philosophy module within politics. Furthermore, as almost all of the study is carried out independently, there is a great deal of freedom in how you structure your week, as long as your essays are completed in time for your tutorials. There are generally only two compulsory contact hours each week, and so you can choose how to spend your time based on how you work best, whether it’s attending lectures, going to the library all day, or simply relaxing and then working in the evening.

In addition to the prestige and the freedom the course affords, it is a fantastic course simply because of the subjects it covers. It benefits all types of thinkers, as long as you enjoy thinking deeply and discovering more about the world. This leads to an interesting and intellectually diverse PPE student population, and it will leave you with interests that stay with you throughout your life. Now, the one downside to the attractiveness of this course is how competitive it is to get a place on it. Of the roughly 2200 bright and motivated students who apply each year, only 11% are accepted, making it one of the most oversubscribed courses at Oxbridge. As such, tutoring or other consulting services can be essential in securing a place.

If you wish to learn more about the course, or are unsure whether you’re well suited to it, book a private consultation to find out.

This article was also published by Avalon Education and can be read here: https://www.avaloneducation.co.uk/post/why-study-ppe.