Study politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) and graduate with a university degree

Are you considering a career as a politician, civil servant or journalist? Keen to study both humanities and social sciences?

With roots in three separate disciplines, this is the course for you. It combines intellectual stimulation with understanding what makes the world tick and is the first degree of its kind in Scotland. As befits this, you can even choose specifically Scottish options in all three areas.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.
General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

Semesters 1 - 3

In Semesters 1 - 3 you will study the following modules:

• Politics: Politics of the British Isles - This module explores major institutions and processes in British politics
• Philosophy: What is it all about? - An introduction to central philosophical problems concerning, for instance, knowledge, mind and body, freedom and determinism, morality and justice, the meaning of life
• Economics: Introductory Microeconomics - A broad introduction to microeconomics, which analyses how prices are set and resources are allocated in an economy
• Politics: Political Concepts and Ideas - This module offers an introduction to political theory by exploring ideas and concepts central to the political debate
• Philosophy: Mind, Value and Reality - An introduction to key metaphysical and ethical issues. What is it to be a person? Are we responsible for what we do? Can we be motivated by anything other than our own self-interest? These and other topics will be considered and some ethical implications explored
• Economics: Introductory Macroeconomics - Factors affecting the level of national income, unemployment and inflation, the balance of payments and the scope and limitations of government policy on these matters
• Politics: Introduction to International Politics - This module covers mainstream theories of international relations, analyses key international organisations (e.g. the UN and NATO) and explores contemporary issues and debates in world politics after the Cold War and 9/11
• Philosophy: From Plato to Existentialism - A philosophical examination of the relationship between the individual and society, looking at the works of Plato, Hobbes, Mill and Sartre
• Economics: Intermediate Microeconomics - A more formal treatment of the foundations of microeconomic theory - consumer choice and the theory of the firm

Semesters 4 - 8

In Semesters 4 - 8 you will study the following core modules:

• Politics: Great Political Thinkers - This explores some of the key issues in political theory by focusing on five influential writers: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill and Marx
• Philosophy: Moral Theory - An examination of the principal theories of normative ethics; or Logic: An introduction to the two formal languages of elementary logic and the logical concepts that they employ
• Economics: Intermediate Macroeconomics - A more formal treatment of the foundations of macroeconomic theory, including alternative theories of aggregate output, price, interest rates, inflation and unemployment

In Semester 5 you will take modules in each of the three disciplines. In Semester 6 you can either continue to study in each of the three subjects or you can choose from only two subjects. Semester 7 and 8 have further specialisation. (See entries on Economics, Philosophy and Politics respectively

Dissertation

A supervised project (equivalent to two modules) on a topic that combines elements from at least two of the disciplines.

Honours degree classification is based on those advanced modules undertaken in the final two years of the course. In general, (but with the exception of the dissertation) examination and coursework are weighted equally in each module.

Economics; Philosophy; Politics.

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

Teaching provision in Politics and Economics has been assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and achieved the highest possible rating of ‘commendable’ in all aspects.

Philosophy was ranked 2nd in Scotland and top ten in the UK, and Economics was ranked 4th in Scotland in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

This degree is the first of its kind in Scotland.

You will graduate with these advantages:

• Skills in evaluating arguments
• Knowledge of how private and public enterprises function
• Understanding of how resources are allocated
• Insight into the cultural, intellectual and moral pressures on decision makers
• Ability to express your own viewpoints clearly and effectively

Graduates are thus equipped for a wide range of careers including:

• The public service sector
• Private companies
• Voluntary organisations
• The media