Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Placement Year) BA Hons

Philosophy, Politics and Economics, known as PPE, is a joint degree delivered by the department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion and the department of Economics.

You will explore philosophical, economic and political ideas in relation to one another. For example, the study of Philosophy provides a historical background and gives you the opportunity to develop your critical reasoning skills and understanding, which are directly relevant to Politics and Economics.

In Politics, you will examine the history and basis of political ideas and critically reflect upon the nature and activities of political institutions. You will have the chance to learn how political decisions concern, and are influenced by, economic matters. You will also critically engage with a range of economic models and theories.

The first year of your degree is designed to enable you to develop a firm grounding in each of the three disciplines through the core modules: Introduction to Philosophy; Politics in the Modern World, and Principles of Economics.

In your second and fourth years, you’ll develop your skills and knowledge, choosing from a range of optional modules in the three subject areas. For example: Modern Political Thought: Liberty, Theory and Practice; The Ethics of Belief and Ignorance; Managerial Economics, International Economics and Issues in Contemporary Politics and Philosophy.

You will have the opportunity to spend Year 3 on a placement with a public, private or voluntary organisation in the UK or overseas.  This experience should boost your employment prospects and help you to decide on your career direction and the kind of organisation in which you want to work once you graduate. You will be doing a real, responsible job – with all the satisfaction that brings.

Applying for a placement is a competitive process and our Placements Team will support you in finding and applying for a suitable placement. The preparatory modules you will complete in years one and two are designed to give you the best chance of success in both your placement applications and the placement itself.

One of the aims of the placement year is to enhance your understanding of the connections between theory and practice which could benefit your final year of study. Placements provide an exciting opportunity to build up experience and transferable skills, as well as to make contacts with potential employers, which can place you a step ahead in the graduate recruitment market.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities for which you would be welcome to apply.