Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economy

NA On Campus Bachelors Program

Pompeu Fabra University

Program Overview

The Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (FPE) is a unique interdisciplinary program designed to equip you with comprehensive analytical tools across the social sciences, helping you understand today's complex political, economic, and philosophical challenges. This program is ideal if you're genuinely curious about how societies work, how power operates, and how economic systems shape our world—and you want to develop critical thinking skills that employers across sectors deeply value.

Curriculum Structure

First Year (Barcelona, UPF)

Your foundation year immerses you in the interdisciplinary core of social sciences. You'll study across three complementary perspectives, building your analytical toolkit through philosophy, political theory, and economic foundations. This year establishes the conceptual frameworks you'll apply throughout your degree, ensuring you have a solid grounding before moving into more specialized content.

Second Year (Madrid: UAM and UC3M)

During your second year, you'll split your time between two prestigious Madrid institutions, deepening your knowledge across specialized modules. This mobility experience exposes you to different teaching approaches and academic communities while you develop stronger competencies in advanced political analysis, economic theory, and philosophical reasoning.

Third and Fourth Years (Your Enrolled University)

In your final two years, you'll complete your degree at your home institution, where you have greater flexibility to tailor your studies. The curriculum integrates advanced coursework across all three disciplines, and importantly, UPF includes optional practical credits that allow you to apply your theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Focus Areas

Multidisciplinary social science analysis combining political science methodologies, economic frameworks, and philosophical perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

Students gain the ability to analyze social issues from multiple disciplinary angles, developing critical thinking and the capacity to see complex problems from different perspectives—a skill employers consistently value.

Professional Alignment

The program opens doors across diverse sectors: public administration, policy analysis, international organizations, business strategy, non-profit work, and research. UPF maintains bilateral agreements with international universities, allowing you to study abroad—an experience companies actively seek when recruiting.

Reputation & Employability

UPF's political and social sciences programs are recognized among Spain's top undergraduate offerings, and the university's strong international partnerships enhance graduate competitiveness in global job markets.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), the Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economy immerses you in hands-on learning right from your first year on the vibrant Ciutadella Campus, where the Political and Social Sciences Department is based. You'll build practical skills through interactive seminar sessions in smaller groups, complementing lectures with real-world application of concepts like political analysis and economic techniques—gaining tools to tackle society's biggest challenges. The campus itself, just steps from Ciutadella Park and the sea, offers refurbished historic buildings like Jaume I and Roger de Llúria, buzzing with social sciences students and packed with resources to support your growth.

Here's how experiential learning comes alive for PPE students, with facilities tailored to the program at Ciutadella:
- Seminar groups for practical work: Smaller, hands-on sessions (1.5 hours weekly) where you apply lecture concepts through group discussions and exercises, assigned randomly at term start to foster collaboration—perfect for debating philosophy, politics, and economics in real time.
- CRAI Library services: Dedicated academic resources and orientation sessions just for Political and Social Sciences students, helping you dive deep into research with expert guidance on tools and materials.
- Self-service photocopiers, scanning, and printing: Access from UPF computers or your laptop for quick production of notes, reports, or project materials—extended hours at term start to support intensive group work.
- Reprography and copy shops: On-site at Ciutadella for professional printing needs during group projects, open extended hours in the first two weeks of each term.
- Bookshop and stationer's: Right on Ciutadella (Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm and 4-7pm) for all your supplies, making it easy to prep for seminars and practical assignments.

This setup at UPF's Ciutadella Campus equips you with the real-world edge employers love in PPE grads. Imagine applying these skills across your program's unique structure: year 1 in Barcelona at UPF, year 2 splitting time between UAM and UC3M in Madrid, then returning for advanced years—plus mobility grants available to make it all seamless. It's a confident path to stand out in policy, consulting, or global affairs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics are prepared to understand complex social, political, and economic challenges and to contribute to decision-making in both the public and private sectors. This interdisciplinary training helps you develop strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to evaluate issues from multiple perspectives. Typical career paths include Policy Analyst, Economic Consultant, Public Affairs or Government Advisor, and Strategic Analyst in international organisations, NGOs, or private companies.

University services that support employment:
The university provides dedicated career guidance, CV and interview workshops, networking events, and support for finding internships and job opportunities. Students also have the opportunity to complete external internships, gaining valuable professional experience while studying.
Employment opportunities and outcomes:
Graduates are prepared for careers in public administration, international institutions, consultancy firms, journalism, diplomacy, think tanks, and corporate strategy roles. The programme equips you with transferable skills that are highly valued across sectors, increasing your long-term employability.
University–industry and institutional connections:
The degree is delivered in collaboration with partner institutions, giving students access to a broad academic network and opportunities for mobility and exchange. This strengthens your professional connections and expands your international perspective.
Long-term value and recognition:
The interdisciplinary structure of the programme follows a globally recognised model, ensuring strong academic credibility and flexibility. The combination of philosophy, politics, and economics provides a solid foundation for competitive postgraduate studies and leadership roles.
Graduation outcomes:
By graduation, you will be able to analyse complex problems critically, interpret data and policy information, communicate clearly, and contribute effectively to strategic decision-making in diverse professional environments.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can pursue master’s programmes in public policy, international relations, economics, political science, law, data analysis, or related fields. Many graduates also continue with research-oriented postgraduate studies if they wish to work in academia or specialised policy research. This pathway opens opportunities in international organisations, government institutions, consultancy, and advanced analytical roles.