Overview
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.
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.
Entry requirements
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.
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
32
Essential subjects
To include Politics, Philosophy and Economics
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
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.
Advanced entry is not available for this course.
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
Course details
From semester 5 onwards you will choose one of our three PPE streams, which will enable you to progressively specialise in two of the three subject areas. See detailed module information below.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course details
Throughout this course, you’ll be taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. You will study nine modules in Semesters 1-3, including: Politics of the British Isles; Introductory Microeconomics; and Philosophy – What’s it all about?
Semesters 4-8 will cover core modules in: Politics – Great Political Thinkers; Philosophy – Moral Theory; and Economics – Intermediate Macro Economics.
From Semester 5 onwards you will choose one of our three PPE streams. Each stream comprises a range of optional and core modules which will enable you to progressively specialise in two of the three disciplines.
Semesters 7-8 offer further specialisation. In your final year, you will bring together the different skills you have acquired in a dissertation that covers two of the subject areas.
Assessment for the modules on the course is either through coursework and or a combination of coursework and examinations. Coursework includes essays, tutorial presentations, participation in tutorials, role play exercises, case studies and book reviews. Your final Honours degree classification will be based on 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.
As a University of Stirling student, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.
Dr Andrea Baumeister, Course Director
Fees and funding
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
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.
