Politics, Philosophy and Economics

University of Stirling

United Kingdom, Stirling

University RankQS Ranking

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Home/United Kingdom/Stirling /University of Stirling/Politics, Philosophy and Economics

University of Stirling

United Kingdom , Stirling

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

L0V0

Campuses

on campus

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 48 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 19,500 / year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

Politics, Philosophy and Economics

About

Our Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree course was the first of its kind in Scotland, and combines three complementary subjects that give you a unique perspective on how the world works.

If you’re intellectually curious and passionate about understanding the complex challenges facing modern societies and economies, our PPE course is made for you. As you study, you’ll gain a broad insight into what makes the world tick, and also explore the big ideas that have helped shape Western society.

The course brings together highly-regarded teaching staff from across our faculties. You’ll benefit from the industry insights of our Stirling Management School. You’ll also learn from experts in Politics and Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, who will help to ensure you graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of intellectual ideas, politics and business.

Top reasons to study with us

We're ranked Top 10 in the UK for Politics (Guardian University Guide 2024) and Top 5 in Scotland for Philosophy (The Complete University Guide 2025)

Top 5 in Scotland for Economics (The Complete University Guide 2025)

2nd in Scotland for Philosophy (National Student Survey 2023*)

* Rankings are based on institutions within the Guardian University Guide

Prizes or awards

Our final year PPE students qualify for nomination for the following prizes:

The Murray Learmonth Prize

A prize of a £75 book token for the best dissertation in Single or Combined Honours Politics/ International Politics and PPE.

The Stephen Ingle Award

A prize of a £75 book token for best overall performance in Politics, International Politics and PPE Honours.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours

SQA Highers
AABB

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
28

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours

SQA Advanced Highers
ABB

GCE A-levels
ABB

IB Diploma
32

Essential subjects
To include Politics, Philosophy and Economics

Other Scottish qualifications

Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.

Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

SWAP access course - for mature students only.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Other qualifications

English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions

English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country

Advanced entry

Advanced entry is not available for this course.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

Career

Our PPE course offers a high level of intellectual stimulation with a down-to-earth understanding of the interface between political institutions, societal values and the economy. Whether you’re aiming for a career in business, politics, the civil service, the voluntary sector or journalism, leading background knowledge in the humanities and the social sciences will be of great value and unlock a huge range of professional possibilities.

Learn from visiting speakers who bring industry insights directly to you and graduate with a unique, well-rounded insight into how the world works – and how you can make your mark on it.

Preparing you for the world of work

As a PPE student, you’ll graduate with an in-depth knowledge of political institutions and the policy-making process; a comprehensive understanding of the big ideas that have shaped Western societies; and a firm grasp of how the economy works.

You’ll be skilled in argument evaluation, while also enjoying the ability to effectively express your own viewpoints. You’ll also develop valuable insight into the cultural, intellectual and moral pressures on decision-makers – which will make you a valuable asset to a wide range of companies.

Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market. We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at Stirling and develop the attributes required by employers.

We also have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and a Careers Service that work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.