Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

Last updated: 1Β year, 3Β months ago


A very flexible course, with options in 2nd and 3rd year that range from Econometrics to the Politics of sub-Saharan Africa!

Course Resources

Here are some general resources related to Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).

Overview

Overview πŸ”— 🌟 A good overview of the course, with an outline of its structure, entry requirements, and more.

Alternative Prospectus page πŸ”— 🌟 A colourful overview, written by students.

More things to explore

More detail on structure πŸ”— Links to the student handbooks, which provide more information about course structure, as well as other details. This isn't necessary reading at all, but it's available for the curious.

'PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS & ECONOMICS AT OXFORD UNI' interview πŸ”— Despite the CAPITALISED title, this is actually just a relaxed interview with a PPE student, which you can watch to learn a bit more about PPE.

β€˜Studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at St John’s College, Oxford' πŸ”— In this short video, a second-year PPE student at St John's College shares her experiences.

β€˜Studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford | Balliol College JCR’ πŸ”— Some Balliol College PPE students talk about why they applied and how they have found PPE. (Note: At the time of writing, you do NOT need AS-level Maths or equivalent, although it may be very useful.)

Application Resources

Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) information πŸ”— 🌟 If you're applying for PPE you'll have to take the TSA. This page has information about the test, how to apply, and practice materials.

Alternative Prospectus interview page πŸ”— Three students talk about their interview experiences.

Economics-related reading suggestions πŸ”— Some reading recommendations to get you started from the Cambridge Economics Faculty.

'Good mock interview for Oxbridge Economics' video πŸ”— An interesting example interview, although typically interviewers won't expect as much specific knowledge as in this example.

InsideUni PPE interview experiences πŸ”— 🌟 Current students talk about their interview experiences, as well as sharing some tips. We're biased, but we think they're useful!

Jamie Miles' YouTube channel πŸ”— 🌟 A fun and digestible combination of application advice, vlogs about life at Oxford, and study tips created by a PPE-ist.

Official 'How to Prepare' page πŸ”— 🌟 A good introduction, with introductory reading suggestions; an overview on the Personal Statement, school subject choices, and the Thinking Skills Assessment; and useful links to more resources.

Philosophy FAQs πŸ”— These Frequently Asked Questions are on undergraduate Philosophy at Oxford in general. The answers are clear and detailed, and #20 gives some reading suggestions.

Note: Don't stress about having an encyclopaedic knowledge of world politics, but as a PPE applicant it's good to stay on top of current affairs. Ideally, read a range of news sources with different perspectives, and think critically about the arguments they make.