BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Placement Experience

PPE at the University of Reading equips you with a wide range of key and complementary skills from the fields of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. This will enable you to critically assess and address some of the world’s most pressing problems from a theoretical, practical, and ethical point of view.

You will be a member of three departments, meaning you will receive support from each and benefit from optional modules which enable you to specialise in areas that interest you the most.

During your first year you’ll develop a strong grounding in philosophy, politics and economics and have the flexibility to continue with all three subjects in your second and final years or focus on two.

Philosophy

Explore and challenge some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality and ethical judgements while developing a deep understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems of philosophy. You will be taught by experts who research a wide range of areas spanning applied philosophy – from business ethics and the philosophy of law, to traditional areas of western and global philosophy.

Politics

Examine ethical and moral issues that arise when political authority is exercised and gain a strong grounding in political ideas and democratic processes. You will learn from academics who regularly feature in academic literature and the media, offering their expertise on current issues and engaging in real-world politics.

Economics

In economics, you will study both applied and practical issues, focusing on the relationship between economics and society. Benefit from research-led teaching by tutors who have informed policy decisions made by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank.

This course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content than some Economics courses do; instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still learn necessary maths skills in your core modules, but extensive support is available should you need it.

Why study PPE at Reading?

• The University of Reading is ranked 10th in the UK in Business and Economics subjects (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024, United Kingdom providers only).
• We are ranked 5th in the UK for politics (the Daily Mail University Guide 2025).
• We offer you a vibrant learning environment, expert teaching and dedicated individual attention. We are ranked 34th in the UK for Philosophy overall (Complete University Guide 2025).
• 95% of students said our teaching staff were very good or good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2023, 95% of respondents studying BA Politics and International Relations).
• 97% of our research outputs are rated ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in Politics and International Relations, meaning that the University of Reading is 6th highest in the UK for research outputs (Times Highter Education analysis of the latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 – Politics and International Studies, when scoring by GPA Output).

Professional placement

This four-year degree includes an integrated, year-long work placement between your second and final year of study.

Supported by our dedicated placement team, you'll gain real-world experience and a range of transferable skills that are highly valued in the workplace. Your placement will enable you to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, and also provide opportunities for you to build your network.

We have excellent links with a diverse range of employers from industry, the public sector and the charity sector, meaning that we can help you find placements for a variety of career paths.

Philosophy placements

Over the years, students in the Department of Philosophy have completed a wide range of placements. Roles have included:

• Education and Engagement Assistant
• HR Intern
• Communications Co-ordinator
• Azure Specialist.

Students have worked at organisations such as the House of Commons, the University of Reading, Microsoft, and Enterprise Mobility.

Recent placements have also enabled students to examine philosophical issues in the workplace – for example, working at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.

Politics placements

Previous politics students have found placement opportunities in organisations and settings such as:

• government departments, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, HM Treasury
• Microsoft
• Lloyds Bank
• The Office for National Statistics
• Johnson & Johnson
• Kia.

In addition, you can undertake a two-week placement as part of our module on British Government and Politics, giving you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience working with an MP, charity, pressure group, local councillor or media organisation.

If you would prefer to study this course without a placement year, you can choose our three-year BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics course.

Placement support

Our dedicated placement co-ordinator will support you throughout securing a placement, during the placement, and while transitioning back to university life.

From your first year, we will guide you through the career planning process and support you in identifying paid placements suited to your individual career interests. We'll also review your CV and application forms, build your confidence for interviews, tests and assessment centres, and help you prepare for receiving feedback.