Politics, Philosophy and Economics – PPE (B.A.)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Karlshochschule International University

Program Overview

The Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree combines political science, philosophy, and economics into one interdisciplinary program that prepares you to understand and shape complex global challenges. You'll develop practical skills in policy analysis, ethical reasoning, and economic thinking while working on real projects that connect theory directly to the world around you.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Building Your Foundations

Your first year establishes a strong foundation across all three disciplines. You'll start with Introduction to International Relations, Political Philosophy, and Global Economy, giving you core knowledge in how nations interact, how political systems work philosophically, and how economics functions at a global scale. You'll also take Introduction to Pluralist Economics and Comparative Politics, alongside language training and an Introduction to Science and Empirical Research course that teaches you how to gather and analyze data—essential skills for any analyst or policymaker.

Second Year: Deepening Your Expertise

In your second year, you'll move into more specialized content while maintaining breadth across disciplines. Courses like Sustainable Development, Area Studies, and Economic Institutionalism show you how political, philosophical, and economic ideas actually apply to real regions and pressing global issues. You'll participate in a Community Project and Social Impact that spans your third and fourth semesters, letting you work on meaningful problems alongside coursework in Ethics and Planetary Economics.

Third Year: Specialization and Professional Experience

Your final year combines advanced study with practical experience. You'll take electives in Politics or Philosophy, along with an Economics Elective tailored to your interests, plus an International Project that often involves working abroad or with global organizations. An 18-credit Internship gives you real professional experience before you complete your Bachelor Thesis, ensuring you graduate not just with knowledge but with practical experience employers value.

Focus Areas

Brands & Stories, Human Resources & Diversity, Digital Media, Sustainability & Urban Development, and Globalization, Governance & Trade—you choose which areas align with your interests.

Learning Outcomes

You'll learn to use politics as a practical tool of reason, manage cultural differences as economies globalize, examine complex transnational contexts, and develop professional expertise alongside interdisciplinary skills like resilience, innovation, teamwork, and critical reflection.

Professional Alignment

Karlshochschule is state-recognized with system accreditation and holds a top position in the CHE ranking, meaning the degree is fully recognized across Germany and internationally.

Reputation & Employability

Graduates pursue careers as consultants, diplomats, political advisors, PR specialists, politicians, and civil servants. The university's strong practice-oriented approach—combining internship semesters, real company projects, and close cooperation with organizations—positions you well for employment or further Master's studies.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Karlshochschule International University, the Politics, Philosophy and Economics – PPE (B.A.) program stands out for its hands-on approach, where you'll build real-world skills right from year one through projects, simulations, and direct community engagement. You'll dive into practical experiences like policy simulations and international projects that mimic professional challenges in politics, philosophy, and economics, all while collaborating in an international environment that sharpens your teamwork and global perspective. This isn't just theory—it's designed to prepare you for careers where you can make an impact, with built-in opportunities to test ideas in real settings.

Here’s how experiential learning comes to life in the PPE B.A., drawing straight from the program's structure:
- Community Project and Social Impact (12 ECTS, 3rd and 4th semesters): Work on real community initiatives over two semesters, creating social impact and applying politics, philosophy, and economics to solve actual societal problems.
- Policy Simulation (4 ECTS, 3rd and 4th semesters): Step into role-playing scenarios that simulate political decision-making, honing negotiation and strategy skills in a dynamic group setting.
- International Project (6 ECTS, 3rd year): Collaborate on global challenges with peers and partners, bridging theory with cross-cultural practice.
- Internship (18 ECTS, 3rd year): A full semester dedicated to professional placement, giving you invaluable on-the-job experience in organizations aligned with PPE fields like policy, NGOs, or economics firms.
- Autonomous Module (6 ECTS, 2nd year): Design your own project to explore personal interests in politics, philosophy, or economics, fostering independence and innovation.

These elements ensure you're not just learning about the world—you're actively shaping it, with strong employability outcomes thanks to our practice-oriented focus. Imagine applying to PPE and stepping into this vibrant program—your application is the key to unlocking these opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At Karlshochschule International University, the Politics, Philosophy and Economics – PPE (B.A.) program stands out for its hands-on approach, where you'll build real-world skills through projects, simulations, and direct engagement with global challenges. From day one, you'll dive into practical modules like Policy Simulation and Community Projects that mirror professional scenarios in politics, ethics, and economics, all while collaborating in an international environment that sharpens your teamwork and critical thinking. This isn't just theory—it's designed to prepare you for impactful careers by linking classroom insights to actionable experience.

Here’s how experiential learning comes alive in PPE::
- Community Project and Social Impact (12 ECTS across 3rd and 4th semesters): Work in teams on real community initiatives, creating measurable social impact while applying politics, philosophy, and economics to solve local and global issues.
- Policy Simulation (4 ECTS across 3rd and 4th semesters): Step into roles as policymakers, negotiating and strategizing in group simulations that build negotiation skills and practical political insight.
- Internship (18 ECTS in the third year): Gain professional experience through a full semester-long placement, tailored to PPE themes like sustainable development or international relations, with strong university support for placements.
- International Project (6 ECTS in third year): Collaborate on global projects that involve cross-cultural teamwork and real-world application of your studies.
- Strategic Practice (4 ECTS in first year): Early hands-on module focusing on strategic decision-making in economic and political contexts through group exercises.

These elements, backed by the university's practice-oriented ethos, will give you a competitive edge—employers love our grads for their readiness to lead change.