Delve into the issues that influence governments and develop your critical capacities - prepare to shape the future
Year of entry: 2021/22
L0V0
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAA (full entry requirements)
September 2021 (term dates)
Meet our undergraduate students and discover why the choice is York.
Discover YorkLearn from internationally respected experts from across three highly regarded departments. Build the understanding and analytical skills valued by top employers and become an agent of change.
Understand the forces at work where power and money intersect with ideals. Grapple with the problems that shape society, explore the theory behind policy and question the morality of competing systems of government. By what right do our rulers govern? What conditions create poverty and how does wealth interact with political unrest?
Our flexible course lets you tailor your degree to your strengths. You'll learn with a diverse and international student body. Our active Club of Politics, Economics and Philosophy (PEP) encourages debate beyond the classroom, and with opportunities to study abroad you can develop a truly global perspective.
It's difficult to overemphasise the Club's role in developing a unique sense of friendship and community.Marat, BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics
As one of the first Schools to offer a Politics, Economics and Philosophy (PPE) degree, we have established a strong reputation around the world.
With degrees in PPE, Economics and Philosophy, Economics and Politics, and Philosophy and Politics you can choose the right degree to develop your strength across these interconnected disciplines.
You'll benefit from a solid grounding in the core subjects of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, along with a range of interdisciplinary modules available across all three years.
You'll choose from a large range of option modules that will help you tailor the course to your own interests, meaning you can develop your strengths in your second and third years.
You can also choose between taking the 'standard' PPE route and the 'econometrics' route, which has been developed for those who intend to take statistics or econometrics as second or third-year modules.
Econometrics is usually a requirement if you wish to continue with an MSc in Economics. This route is available only if you have at least a B grade in Mathematics at A Level (or equivalent), but you do not need to decide which degree you'll take until you arrive at York.
It is reasonably easy to transfer between the courses in the School of PPE, subject to space being available on the course you want to move to and providing you have the required qualifications. It is relatively easy to change within the first few weeks of the first year. After this, you may have to wait until the start of the second year, and at that point you can move only into a course for which you have taken the relevant first-year introductory modules.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
The university-wide placement scheme gives you the chance to work for a year as part of your degree to prepare you for the world of work. Previous placements have included GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC, British Airways, DAI and Lloyds Bank.
You take 120 credits in your first year. You can choose a route within the PPE degree — the standard or the econometrics route.
You'll take a core PPE module, one Politics module, two Philosophy modules and two Economics modules. You can choose one further module in Politics or Philosophy.
You'll choose one or two of the following:
You'll also choose one or two of the following:
On this route you'll take two additional economics modules which will enable you to study econometrics in your second year. Please note that knowledge of econometrics is usually a requirement if you wish to pursue further study at postgraduate level.
You'll take one Politics module, two Philosophy modules and four Economics modules.
You'll study one core module:
You'll choose one of the following:
You'll also choose one of the following:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You take 120 credits of modules in your second year. The core modules you take will depend on whether you chose the 'standard' or 'econometrics' route in your first year.
You will take two Economics modules, one Politics module and two Philosophy modules. You'll have a further 20 credits to choose from either Politics, Philosophy or PPE.
You'll choose between 30 and 50 credits in Politics, including:
One 30-credit module - current options include:
Up to two 10-credit modules - current options include:
You'll choose between 30 and 50 credits in Philosophy, including:
At least one Key Ideas module - current options include:
Up to three short Key Ideas modules - current options include:
Up to one option module - current options include:
You can take up to 10 credits in PPE with our interdisciplinary module:
You'll take one 30-credit module in Politics. Current options include:
You'll choose between 20 and 30 credits in Philosophy, including:
One Key Ideas module - current options include:
Up to one short Key Ideas module - current options include:
Up to one option module - current options include:
You can take up to 10 credits in PPE with our interdisciplinary module:
Whichever route you chose in your first and second years, you will take 120 credits of modules in your third year and will choose from the same selection of modules.
You will need to take:
The remaining 40 credits may be taken in Economics, Politics, Philosophy, or PPE.
You may choose the PPE dissertation (20 credits) as one of your option modules. You'll write a 4,000-5,000-word dissertation bridging at least two of the disciplines covered in the School and receive one-to-one support from a supervisor throughout the year.
Examples of previous dissertation titles include:
There are a wide range of modules available across all three disciplines, as well as the interdisciplinary PEP modules. Examples of current modules include:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2021/22 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,350 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
There are no mandatory additional fees, but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available from the Library and online reading packs are available for most modules, but you may wish to buy your own copies. Each book typically costs £40.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)
We hope to deliver this course as advertised for 2021/22 entry, but it’s unclear when we’ll be able to return to a normal timetable. For an idea of how this course might be affected, see our changes for 2020/21 entry.
We teach in two main ways: seminars and lectures. The main focus of your coursework will be in seminar groups, normally of 10-15 students. In seminars you will produce and discuss your own work, under the guidance of a module tutor. Seminars are normally accompanied by lectures, attended by all of the students taking the module.
In the first year, you will take introductory modules alongside students from a wide range of degree courses. In the second and third year modules, lectures are smaller - often with as few as 20 students.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 8 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 0-2 hours per week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practise completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
The School of Politics, Economics and Philosophy is located in Derwent College, on Campus West. Teaching on this course takes place at various locations across Campus West including Vanbrugh, Derwent and the newly opened Spring Lane Building.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
The majority of your assessments will be either unseen examination papers or essays, which will vary depending on the department running the module. Most economics modules for example are assessed by exams, but in Philosophy and Politics there is more of a mixture of exams and essays.
Assessments occur throughout the three years of study, usually in the term immediately after the module has been taken. There are three assessment periods during the academic year: Week 1 of the Spring Term, Week 1 of the Summer Term and Weeks 5 to 8 of the Summer Term.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 75% | 65% | 75% |
| Coursework | 12% | 35% | 25% |
| Practical exams | 13% | 0% | 0% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree is a highly sought after by employers - 94.3% of graduates from the School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics enter further work or study within six months (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17 (HESA) (full-time UK students). With our diverse student body and opportunities for internships and study abroad you'll be prepared to enter the global marketplace.
The Club of PEP also provides a platform for students to meet with experts and industry insiders through their careers branch, YorkWorks.
Recent graduate careers include:
Others have gone on to work in:
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | Either AAA plus Mathematics GCSE Grade 7(A) or AAA including Mathematics A Level There are two slightly different routes open to students studying PPE with us, one of which (the 'econometrics route') is more mathematical in focus, and for this, A level Mathematics with at least a grade B is compulsory. For the standard route, we will accept GCSE Mathematics. You will choose between these two PPE routes when you start your degree at York. We don't accept General Studies. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD including Mathematics or in conjunction with an acceptable alternative Level 3 Mathematics qualification or with Mathematics GCSE 7(A) |
| International Baccalaureate | Either 36 points plus GCSE Mathematics Grade 7(A) or equivalent OR 36 including 6 in Higher Level Mathematics. |
| Other qualifications | We welcome applications from mature students (ie those aged over 21), and usually admit a number each year. In all cases we look for evidence of ability, interest and commitment, but we may not require specific formal qualifications. In most cases, we prefer to interview mature candidates before offering them a place. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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