BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

If you want a degree that doesn't just teach you facts but teaches you how to think about power, truth, and money all at once, PPE at Exeter is built exactly for that. It suits ambitious, big-picture thinkers who want to understand how government works, how philosophical ideas shape our lives, and how economies actually function, while still keeping their career options wide open across politics, business, law, and beyond.

Curriculum Structure

Year One: You'll get grounded in all three disciplines from day one, taking modules like Power and Democracy in politics, Economic Principles in economics, and choosing from core philosophy modules such as Knowledge and Reality or Philosophy of Morality. It's designed to give you a genuinely balanced foundation, so by the end of the year you're comfortable moving between political theory, economic reasoning, and philosophical argument without feeling out of your depth in any of them.

Year Two: Things get more specialised and more hands-on. You'll take modules like Political Philosophy and Intermediate Microeconomics, along with philosophy options such as Philosophy of Science or History of Philosophy, and you'll start shaping the degree around whichever discipline pulls at you the most.

Placement Year (optional): If you choose the four-year route, you'll spend this year either studying abroad at one of Exeter's partner universities or completing a graduate-level work placement in the UK or overseas. It's a great way to apply what you've learned in the real world and come back with a genuinely standout CV.

Final Year: You'll finish with a dissertation in Politics, Philosophy, or Economics, alongside advanced modules like Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Regime Change, Development Economics, or Ethics of Emerging Technologies. It's your chance to go deep on whatever excites you most and walk away with a substantial piece of independent work to show for it.

Focus Areas: Political theory and comparative politics, moral and political philosophy, micro and macroeconomics, public policy, and the connections between political power, ethical reasoning, and economic systems.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates come away with strong analytical and critical thinking, independent research skills, the ability to interrogate complex political and economic systems, and confident written and verbal communication. These are exactly the kinds of skills that are in demand across almost every sector.

Professional Alignment: This isn't a professionally-accredited degree in the way something like law or accountancy is, but it's built with real career relevance in mind, and plenty of graduates go straight into fields like finance, government, consultancy, and law. Students can also take part in schemes like the Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award, and get extra support from dedicated Employability Officers throughout the course.

Reputation: Exeter is ranked Top 15 in the UK for both Politics and Philosophy, coming in 13th for Politics and 8th for Philosophy in the Complete University Guide 2027, and Top 15 in the UK for Economics, ranking 11th in the Complete University Guide 2026 and 12th in The Guardian University Guide 2026. It's also ranked Top 100 in the world for Political Sciences in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025, and Joint 11th in the UK for Economics graduate prospects.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Exeter, the PPE degree is all about taking what you learn in lectures and putting it into practice. You won’t just be reading political theory or economic models — you’ll get hands-on with real projects, group debates, placements and research. This means by the time you graduate, you’ll already have experience applying your skills in the kind of situations you’ll face in your career.

Here’s how that looks in your degree:

Work together in seminars and projects – you’ll join lively debates, policy simulations, and team research that mirror the challenges faced by leaders and organisations today.
Dive into your own dissertation – in your final year, you’ll take on an independent research project on a topic you care about, showing employers you can investigate, analyse, and present ideas at a professional level.
Choose a placement or year abroad – you can spend a year working in a professional setting in the UK, or study and work abroad with one of Exeter’s international partners. Both options give you a real career edge and a global perspective.
Get expert careers support – the University’s Career Zone helps you find internships, placements, and networking opportunities through employer fairs, workshops, and one-to-one guidance.
Build extra skills beyond the classroom – through the Exeter Award and Leaders Award, you can earn recognition for volunteering, leadership and professional development activities.
Use top-class libraries and research resources – Exeter’s main library and subject collections give you access to specialist books, journals, and digital tools for your projects and essays.
Learn with data and digital tools – economics modules will sharpen your skills in statistics, econometrics, and real-world data analysis, preparing you for careers where analytical ability really matters.
Connect with active research centres – attend talks, guest lectures, and workshops across politics, philosophy and economics, keeping you in touch with current debates and experts in the field.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A PPE degree from Exeter sets you up for a wide range of careers where employers value sharp thinking, adaptability, and a strong grasp of how politics, economics and philosophy shape our world. Many graduates go on to careers in government, consulting, media, or finance. Typical roles include: policy analyst, management consultant, economic or financial analyst, and journalist.

And here’s how Exeter helps you make that leap into your career:

Dedicated careers support – the University’s Career Zone offers one-to-one guidance, CV checks, employer events and interview practice, alongside mentoring opportunities through schemes like Ask an Alum and the Career Mentor Scheme.
Impressive graduate outcomes – around 85% of Exeter PPE graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with the majority securing roles classed as “highly skilled.”
Strong employer links – Exeter graduates are recruited by top organisations such as EY, Deloitte, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and the NHS, as well as government bodies, think tanks and NGOs.
Competitive earning potential – median salaries for Exeter economics-related graduates are around £27,000+ just 15 months after graduation, reflecting the strong value of your degree.
Extra employability boost – you can enhance your CV through the Exeter Award and Leaders Award, which recognise volunteering, leadership and professional development activities.
A degree with lasting value – while PPE doesn’t tie you to a single profession, the mix of economics, politics and philosophy keeps your options open across law, business, public service and beyond.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re keen to keep studying, PPE gives you the flexibility to specialise. You could pursue a master’s in Public Policy, International Relations, Economics, Development Studies, or Philosophy, move into research degrees (MPhil/PhD), or even explore law conversion courses or business-focused programmes like an MBA.