Policy, Politics and Economics

The PPE programme will give you opportunities to examine and evaluate a wide range of social, political and economic questions. At the broadest, these issues might include considering the role of financial markets and the distribution of wealth; investigating the different forms and function of government, or questioning what such concepts as society and citizen might mean in the 21st century.

Unlike traditional single honours degrees, the Policy, Politics and Economics programme will enable you to encounter a variety of concepts, approaches and methods from the three disciplines of social policy, politics and economics. This offers you the opportunity to build a bespoke degree, drawing on the excellent research and teaching skills of three Schools within the College of Social Sciences.

In Year 1, you will undertake introductory modules in all three of the social science disciplines: social policy, politics and economics to establish a good social sciences foundation. A compulsory module, 'Global Issues, Global Responses' is at the core of the second year of studies. This interdisciplinary module will enable you to consider a range of important global issues and the responses to them at the international, regional and local levels. You can also begin to tailor your learning to your developing interests. Your third year will be spent abroad at a university in the EU or elsewhere in the world. There are a wide range of countries and universities from which you can choose. As well as a range of European universities, you may also choose from a range of current partners worldwide. These include countries in which a variety of different languages are spoken, including universities at which courses are taught in English. After completing your year abroad, you will return to Birmingham to complete the final year of your studies when you will complete a dissertation.