BA Policy, Politics and Economics

at Birmingham Business School

On the PPE course you will undertake core introductory modules in all three of the social science disciplines - Social Policy, Politics and Economics - to establish a solid foundation in the three subjects before building on these in the second and third years.
 

Modules in first year
 

The modules in the first year are designed to provide you with a grounding in all three disciplines of Social Policy, Politics and Economics.
 

Compulsory modules
 

• Introduction to Social Policy

• Understanding Politics

• Principles of Economics

• Social Research Part I (PPE)

• Social Research Part 2 (PPE)
   

Choose one of the following modules

• Introduction to Mathematics for Economics  or

• Mathematics for Economics (for students with A-Level Maths at A/A*)
   

Optional modules
 

• Introduction to International Relations

• Introduction to Political Theory
   

Modules in second year
 

A core module which is at the heart of the Policy, Politics and Economics programme in the second year is 'Global Issues'. This interdisciplinary module will enable you to consider a range of important global issues and the responses to them at international, regional and local levels. Alongside this, you will take one module from Social Policy, one from Politics and one from Economics. You can also begin to tailor your degree to your developing interests, choosing from the optional modules.
 

Compulsory modules
 

• Global Issues: Perspectives from Policy, Politics and Economics

• Social Research II

• Comparative Politics
   

You must also take one of these following modules:

• Microeconomics or

• Macroeconomics
   

Optional modules
 

You must choose a further 40 credits from any of the three disciplines:

• Policy Analysis

• Managing Health and Social Care

• Contemporary Issues in Housing Policy

• Poverty, Class and Inequality

• Terror, Threat and Security

• Macroeconomics (if not already taken as compulsory subject)

• Microeconomics (if not already taken as compulsory subject)

• Development Economics

• Environmental Economics

• China and the World Economy

• Contemporary Issues in the UK Economy

• Behavioural and Experimental Economics

• Financial Markets and Institutions

• European Union Politics

• International Political Economy

• Public Policy Blunders, Stagnation and Bad Decision Making

• International Security

• Understanding Foreign Policy

• Exploring Europe: Politics, Economics and Culture

• Race, Empire and Modern Political Theory

• Elections and Voting in Britain

• Feminist Political Ideas

• History of Political Ideas
   

Modules in third year
 

The central component of your third year of study on the PPE course is the dissertation, where you will undertake research-based project on a contemporary theme. You will also choose from a substantial range of optional modules whilst meeting the requirements to undertake at least one module from each discipline. 
 

Compulsory module
 

• Dissertation 
   

Optional modules
 

You should select 20 credits from each discipline and 20 credits from across the range of optional modules.
 

Social Policy

• Harmful Societies: crime, social harm and social justice

• Drugs: Society, Politics and Policy

• Quantitative Data Analysis

• Prospects for British Social Policy
   

Economics

• History of Economic Thought

• Health Economics

• Economics of the EU

• Advanced Macroeconomics

• Advanced Microeconomics

• Advanced Behavioural and Experimental Economics

• Advanced Financial Markets and Institutions (Pre-requisite Financial MArkets and Institutions)

• International Trade Theory and Policy

• Monetary Policy and Dynamic Macroeconomics

• Public Economics
   

Politics

• Contemporary International Political Economy

• Gender in World Politics

• The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

• Law, Politics & the International System

• Media, Politics and Public Opinion

• Social Justice and Politics

• Contemporary US Foreign & Security Policy

• Topics in British Politics

• Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare

• Populism in Contemporary Politics

• Professional Development

Holders of the Indian Standard XII will be considered for entry to the first year of our undergraduate degree programmes. 

• A*AA = 90% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 85% West Bengal or 95% Other State boards

• AAA = 85% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 80% West Bengal or 90% Other State boards

• AAB = 80% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 75% West Bengal or 85% Other State boards

• ABB/BBB = 75% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra and West Bengal or 80% Other State boards
   

Where a programme requires a specific A'level subject grade please refer to the guidance below for Indian Standard XII equivalent.

• A* = 90% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 85% West Bengal or 95% Other State boards

• A = 85% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 80% West Bengal or 90% Other State boards

• B = 80% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra and 75% West Bengal or 85% Other State boards
   

TOEFL

80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing.

IELTS*

6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any band.

Pearson Test of English (PTE)

PTE 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills.
 

Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015)***

Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162in any component.
 

Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI)   

B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 25 in each skill
 

Trinity ISE II   

Distinction all skills
 

Trinity ISE III    

Pass in each Skill

 

Fees   BSc Accounting and Finance
 

• £9,250 (UK students)
• £20,280 (International

Our PPE degree is highly sought-after by employers. 84% of graduates go on to graduate employment or further study within 6 months of completing the programme (Based on data collected from 2016/17 leavers in the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey).
 

Our PPE graduates go on to work in a wide range of fields including:

• Government Modelling and Modernisation Manager – Welsh Government
• Policy Oversight Manager – Home Office
• Assistant Financial Analyst – Sky
• Senior Policy Advisor – Cabinet Office
• Graduate generalist – Civil Service Fast Stream
• Planning Executive – Carnival Cruises
• Outreach and Events Co-ordinator – Friends of the Earth
• Account Executive – Copper Consultancy (Engineering firm)
• Commercial and Private Banking Graduate – Royal Bank of Scotland
• With organisations such as BT, DEFRA, KPMG, Ofsted, Fidelity, UBS, Marsh Insurance.