Details
The Policy, Politics and Economics degree offers you the opportunity to critically engage with and consider a range of 
contemporary real-world issues. Unlike traditional single honours degrees, the PPE programme enables you to encounter a variety of concepts, approaches and methods from the three disciplines of social policy, politics and economics. This offers students the opportunity to build a bespoke degree, drawing on the excellent research and teaching skills of three Schools within the College of Social Sciences.
Year 1
Students undertake compulsory introductory modules in all three of the social science disciplines: social policy, politics and economics. In doing so, students establish a good social sciences foundation upon which subsequent year modules build. Example modules include 'Social Theory and Social Policy', 'Political Analysis' and 'Critical Organisation Theory'.
Year 2
A compulsory module, 'Global Issues, Global Responses' is at the core of the second year of studies. This interdisciplinary module enables students to consider a range of important global issues and the responses to them at the international, regional and local levels. Indicative examples of such issues include risk and terror, ethics in policy and practice, climate change and technology amongst others. Alongside this, students are required to take one module from each of social policy, politics and economics. Students can also begin to tailor their learning to their developing interests, choosing from more than fifteen optional modules, including 'Comparative European Government', 'Business Law', 'Crime, Victims and Society', 'New Migration and Superdiversity' and 'International Politics of East Asia'.
Year 3
There are two key aspects to the third year of study: one is the dissertation, the opportunity to create a bespoke learning programme. For the dissertation, students will undertake a 10,000 word research-based project on a contemporary theme which includes elements of the three main disciplines of the programme. Students choose from a substantial range of optional modules whilst meeting the requirements to undertake at least one module from each discipline. The choice includes modules such as 'Employment and Business Development and Policy in the EU', 'International Ethics', 'Gender in World Politics', 'Knowledge, Innovation and Global Business', and 'Politics and The Media'. This flexibility enables the student to gain a broad education at the same time as developing in-depth knowledge in a specific discipline.
If you want to take advantage of a unique opportunity to be supported with a work placement opportunity as part of your final year, this course includes the opportunity to undertake a 'Professional Development' module as part of your optional module choices.
Students undertake their dissertation and then choose from a substantial range of optional modules, whilst meeting the requirements to undertake at least one module from each discipline. The dissertation will offer the student an opportunity to undertake a 10,000 word research-based project on a contemporary theme which includes elements of the three main disciplines of the programme. This will encourage the student to have both a broad education and in-depth knowledge in a specific discipline.
Why study this course
Studying Policy, Politics and Economics at the University of Birmingham will provide you with a highly stimulating educational experience, support from academics whose work is internationally recognised, and your learning will take place in state-of-the-art, high-tech teaching and learning environments.
Your experiences as a student will of course be enhanced by the fact that you will undertake your studies on a beautiful campus, situated in 256 acres of parkland, at a University with outstanding cultural, sporting and social facilities. You will also benefit from studying at a University which is within easy reach of a vibrant, modern City which has so much potential to contribute to your learning experiences as a Social Policy student.
Modules
Modules in the first year
The compulsory modules in the first year are designed to provide students with a grounding in all three disciplines of Social Policy, Politics and Economics.
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20 credits - Introduction to Social Policy A + B
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20 credits - Foundations of Politics
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20 credits - Finding out about Social Policy: Research Methods
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20 credits - Principles of Economics A + B
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20 credits - Quantitative Economic Methods A + B (Advanced or Introduction, depending on A-levels)
Optional modules
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20 credits - Introduction to International Relations
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20 credits - Introduction to Political Economy
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20 credits - Social Issues and Social Policy
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20 credits - Introduction to the European Union
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10 credits - Personal Skills for Business Management Students
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10 credits - Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Behaviour
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10 credits - Organisation and Management
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10 credits - The Firm and the Business Environment
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10 credits - Introduction to the Economy, Business and Government
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20 credits - Optional MOMD at Programme Director's discretion
Modules in second year
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20 credits - Global Issues, Global Responses
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20 credits - Social Theory and Social Policy A + B
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20 credits - Social Research Methods
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20 credits - Political Analysis
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20 credits - Choice of Macroeconomics A + B
Optional modules
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20 credits - Crime, Victims and Society
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20 credits - Social Inclusion
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20 credits - Managing Health and Social Care
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20 credits - New Migration and Super-diversity
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20 credits - From Beveridge to the Clegg-Cameron Coalition Government
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20 credits - Social Policy into Practice
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20 credits - British Politics
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20 credits - The Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe A + B
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20 credits - Comparative European Government
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20 credits - Institutions, Politics and Policies of the European Union
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20 credits - Modern Political Ideologies
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20 credits - International Politics of East Asia
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20 credits - International Security
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20 credits - Macroeconomics A + B (if not already taken as compulsory subject)
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20 credits - Economic Development A + B
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20 credits - Environmental Economics A + B
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10 credits - Managing in B2B Markets, contracts, negotiations and conflict resolution
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10 credits - Operations Management
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10 credits - Project Management
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20 credits - Optional MOMD at Programme Director's discretion
Modules in final year
Optional modules
If you want to take advantage of a unique opportunity to be supported with a work placement opportunity as part of your final year, this course includes the opportunity to undertake a 'Professional Development' module as part of your optional module choices.
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20 credits - Prospects for British Social Policy A + B
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20 credits - Your Money or Your Life
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20 credits - New Migration and Super-diversity
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20 credits - International Ethics
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20 credits - Contemporary International Political Economy
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20 credits - Modern European Political Thought
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20 credits - Comparative Social Policy
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20 credits - Agency and Morality
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20 credits - Politics and The Media
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20 credits - Gender in World Politics
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10 credits - International Business Management
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10 credits - LH Change Management
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20 credits - Strategic Management
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10 credits - Critical Analysis in Management
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20 credits - Knowledge and Creative Economies
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10 credits - Knowledge, Innovation and Global Business
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20 credits - LH Advanced Business Economics (for those with A-level Maths)
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20 credits - Employment and Business Development and Policy in the EU
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10 credits - Global Business Ethics
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20 credits - Applied Economics of the European Community A + B (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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10 credits - Economic Policy and Political Economy (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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10 credits - Introduction to International Trade (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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10 credits - International Trade Theory and Policy for Europe (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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20 credits - History of Economic Thought A + B
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10 credits - Economics of Financial Markets (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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10 credits - Health Economics
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10 credits - Monetary Policy (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
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10 credits - Open Economy Macroeconomics (pre-requisite Macroeconomics)
Fees and funding
Entry requirements
Typical offer: AAB
Required subjects and grades: GCSE Maths Grade B
General Studies: Accepted
Additional information:
International students:
International Baccalaureate Diploma: 35–36 points to include English
Standard English language requirements apply
Learn more about international entry requirements
Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in the Birmingham Foundation Academy, a specially structured programme for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on the foundation academy web pages.
How to apply
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