Philosophy, Politics and Economics
PPE allows students to combine philosophical speculation, the technical challenges of economics, and the more eclectic approaches used in politics to understand how the world works – or doesn’t! Although it provides a basic grounding to all three disciplines in the first year, students are subsequently given increasing choice over the direction their work will take. Students can develop as much expertise in a single discipline as if they were taking a single honours degree at another University, or they can sustain a wide range of interests across the full range of the disciplines. As such, it is very much a degree whose final form students design for themselves.
What makes a good PPEist? Given the choices available, any answer to this is going to be simplistic, but what all three disciplines demand from students is intellectual curiosity, sharp analytic thinking, a willingness to work out what is in the box and then think outside it – and a passion for argument and discussion! Because these are the characteristics we look for in students, we are less concerned about the subjects applicants take in their advanced work in school. The one subject that is especially useful is Maths, but it is not a requirement to have to have studied it at a higher level. Oriel PPE graduates include a Nobel Prize winner in Economics, a Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a Secretary General of the TUC, but they also include academics, journalists, broadcasters, financial analysts, lawyers, accountants, politicians, political activists, business professionals, and those in a wide range of other careers. What employers value in PPE graduates is their capacity to absorb and process information and to come up with a series of arguments about how one should understand a situation. They regard this as a hugely valuable set of skills.
Although a background in Mathematics is not formally required for admission, PPE applicants should have sufficient interest in, and aptitude for, mathematics to cope with the mathematical elements of the course. Mathematics is a particular advantage for the Economics component of the course, as well as for the first year logic course in philosophy, and for understanding theories and data in politics.
Last year around 90% of the applicants who were offered places for PPE had studied Maths to at least AS-Level, or equivalent. You may like to consider taking Maths to AS-level, or an equivalent qualification such as IB Standard Level, even if you do not pursue it further. It is useful to have learnt the basics of differentiation before starting your university course in PPE.
Tutorial Fellows:
Dr Oliver Pooley, Prof. Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra (Philosophy), Dr Mark Philp (Politics), Dr Chris Bowdler (Economics)
College Lecturers:
Dr Simon Rippon (Philosophy), Dr Richard Coggins (Politics), Mr Andrew Farlow (Economics), Ms Abigail Adams (Economics)
Admissions:
Applicants are not required to submit written work. All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) in early November, normally at their own schools / colleges. Separate registration for this test is required and prospective applicants should refer to the test website for further information. Conditional offers: normally AAA at A-level (or equivalent).
Places: 9
Subject web pages:
Philosophy at Oriel, Economics at Oriel, www.ppe.ox.ac.uk, www.politics.ox.ac.uk, www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk, www.economics.ox.ac.uk