BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

If you’re curious about how societies are governed, how economies function, and the ideas that shape our world, Exeter’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree is a fantastic choice. It’s designed for students who want to ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and learn how to connect theory with real-world challenges.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year lays the foundations across all three disciplines. You’ll study Power and Democracy in politics, explore ideas like ethics and reasoning through philosophy, and gain a solid grounding in economics with Economic Principles or Basic Quantitative Methods. Alongside these, you’ll be able to try optional topics such as Globalisation of World Politics or Introduction to Behavioural Economics—perfect for testing where your interests really lie.

Year 2
In the second year, you’ll start to see how the subjects interlink. A good example is the module The Economics of Politics, which brings together political and economic thinking. You’ll also study Political Philosophy and develop your economics knowledge with Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics. Philosophy options like Philosophy of Mind or Moral Agency in Social Context will keep pushing you to think critically and independently.

Final Year (Year 3, or Year 4 if you study abroad or take a placement)
Your final year is all about specialising in what excites you most. You’ll complete an independent dissertation in politics, philosophy, or economics, guided by an expert academic. On top of this, you can dive into modules such as International Political Economy, Political Psychology, Behavioural Economics: Theory and Practice, or Philosophy of Emotion. If you choose the study abroad or placement year, you’ll get invaluable experience in another country or professional setting before returning to complete your dissertation.

Focus areas

Politics, Political Philosophy, Economic Theory & Policy, Public Policy, Ethics

Learning outcomes

Critical, cross-disciplinary thinking; strong independent research skills; ability to analyse political, economic and ethical challenges; articulate well-reasoned arguments; and confidence with both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Although PPE isn’t a professional licensing degree, it’s widely respected by employers and directly relevant to careers in government, policy-making, finance, consulting, NGOs, journalism, and law. The combination of analytical, numerical, and communication skills makes you stand out in the job market.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Top 15 nationally in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics subjects in the Complete University Guide 2026.
Top 15 for graduate prospects in Economics.
Global top 150 for Political Sciences.
Exeter is a Russell Group university, meaning your degree is recognised for academic excellence and career value worldwide.

👉 Explore the official Exeter PPE p

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.