Available in Clearing
Join one of the most prestigious PPE degrees in the UK. And get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be selected for our Westminster placement.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics degrees have produced political leaders, thinkers and commentators. From David Cameron to Christopher Hitchens to Robert Peston.
Hull’s version is one of the best established. And ours offers the chance to study abroad or work with an MP in Parliament. Take on the challenge of this classic combined programme to gain a wider perspective on modern society.
95% of students
in work or further study 18 months after graduating
HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2026
1st in the UK
for Academic Support
Philosophy, National Student Survey (NSS) 2026, HEIs only
3rd in the UK
for Teaching Quality
The Times Good University Guide, 2026
1st in the UK
for 'How good are teaching staff at explaining things'
Philosophy, National Student Survey (NSS) 2026, HEIs only
The UK's biggest
Westminster placement programme
Study abroad
in Europe, the USA, or Hong Kong
Industry-standard
software in our Bloomberg suite
Political internships
that open doors
Access to exclusive seminars
presented by senior Parliamentary officials
About this course
This is one of the longest-running courses of its kind in the UK, and a flagship programme for Hull. We attract some of the highest-calibre students. And many of them go on to successful political careers.
We'll train you not merely to absorb information. But to engage, debate, influence and lead. You’ll develop your portfolio of skills and knowledge relevant to public life through small-group tutorials and one-on-one supervision.
All our 3-year courses offer the option to study abroad for a trimester. Whether in Europe, the USA or Hong Kong. And through our internship opportunities, you’ll get access to Parliament or another politics-related placement.
At Westminster, you spend three months working with an MP or peer. Our links with a large pool of MPs mean we can likely match you with a politician whose role reflects your area of political interest. While on placement, you'll enjoy access to our exclusive seminar series presented by senior Parliamentary officials including Black Rod and the Speaker.
The first uni outside of Oxford to teach PPE. Changemakers.
Foundation year
A foundation year at the University of Hull gives you a solid grounding of knowledge and boosts your academic skills, so you can progress on to your chosen programme with confidence.
The foundation course you enrol on may not be an exact match to your chosen degree, but don’t worry. Our foundation courses combine content from multiple related courses in the same subject area, giving you more flexibility and choice about the degree path you take.
For example, if you apply for a Music Foundation Year, you’ll join our Media Foundation course. So, if you decide to switch - say, from Music to Graphic Design - you can do so without restarting your foundation year.
Module options
Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.
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Preparing for Learning in Higher Education
This module is designed to give you the best possible start to your university studies, making sure you have all the essential skills you need to succeed. Through lectures and workshops we will teach you how to write in an academic style, how to find quality sources, and how to reference work, culminating in writing up a mini-research project.
core
20 credits
Introduction to Study in the Humanities
This module equips you with a suite of analytical and theoretical tools to support you as you progress along your academic journey. You'll develop an interdisciplinary understanding of approaches to study in the humanities by working with a variety of resources, including novels, films and aspects of the visual arts.
core
20 credits
Research in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education
This module will equip you with the necessary skills to conduct and analyse research in a specific interest, supported by academics within your subject. You'll navigate through the research process, from identifying an area of interest to presenting findings to your peers.
core
20 credits
Group Challenge (Humanities)
Formulate and execute a group led enquiry into texts, cultural artefacts, film, music or dance. You'll explore their topics in groups at supervised workshops and develop questions on the cultural object relates to the living world of human experience, as well as developing your own methods to answer these questions.
compulsory
20 credits
Foundation in Data Analysis
Develop a strong foundation in data collection and analysis. This module will introduce you to qualitative and quantitative data and how to analyse it; the collection of primary and secondary data; the production of high-quality graphics; and report writing.
compulsory
20 credits
Academic Writing Skills
Developing confidence in expression, oral as well as written, is a key feature of this module, which aims to familiarise you with university submission and assessment procedures. This is a clear building block towards your degree programme and places you at a distinct advantage when you move into the following year.
compulsory
20 credits
Introduction to Political Ideologies
Political action is collective action among people who share beliefs. This module explores the most important formulations of these collective views. It explores political ideologies that defend the status quo, those who wish to reform it, and those that seek a radically different political reality.
compulsory
20 credits
Introduction to Philosophy
You'll explore traditional topics in philosophy through contemporary authors and everyday perspectives. For instance, you'll examine what constitutes ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sex and explore the nature and limitations of notions of consent; critique the Aristotelian concept of friendship in the era of vicarious, internet friendships and social media; and analyse Cartesian scepticism through the prism of ‘race’.
compulsory
20 credits
An Introduction to Economics
This introduction covers both microeconomics (the affairs of individual consumers, firms and government) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole).
compulsory
20 credits
Our facilities
Watchlist
BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Course overview
1 min
Westminster placements
Student Story
3 mins
Daniel Wilton - Your course in their words
Student Story
2 mins
Life on campus
University life
2 mins
Featured academics
We're here to inspire you to realise your potential. And to leave the world in a better condition than you found it.
Dr Christopher Fear
Lecturer
Christopher’s recent research focused on conservative political thought; historical and contemporary. Some of his publications in this area have appeared in the Journal of Political Ideologies, History of European Ideas, and The Review of Politics.
Dr Dawn Wilson
Senior Lecturer
Dawn’s multi-stage account of photography was internationally recognised as a new direction in the philosophy of photography. She works with research networks on photography, art, perception, image-theory, and cultural conservation projects.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
- The foundation year is designed for applicants whose qualifications and experience do not allow direct entry to the undergraduate degree.
- We expect applicants to demonstrate an experience of a related subject and an aptitude for academic work which may be determined by an essay and/or interview alongside the application.
- For applicants with A levels in subjects other than those key to the degree, we will usually require a minimum of 80 points from Level 3 qualifications.
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Tuition fees for 2027 entry have not been confirmed. Please use 2026-27 information as a guide.
For UK students, our standard course fee is £9,790 per year. Keep in mind that some courses are longer - for example, spending your third year abroad will make your degree four years in total.
If you choose to study a foundation year as part of your course, the fee is £9,790.
How do I pay for it?
You can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your course. Once you’ve successfully applied for this, you don’t need to do anything else – the money is sent straight to us.
You can also take out a maintenance loan of up to £10,544 a year to cover your living costs, depending on your household income.
Remember, you won’t start paying your loans back until you’ve left university and earn more than £25,000 per year.
See our full fees and funding information for more details and to find out what support we can offer.
Foundation Year Fee
£9,790
Standard Tuition Fee
£9,790 / year
The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index.
Future prospects
This degree is for those aiming at leadership in public service. Our students have a variety of professional career destinations in mind. Finance, law, journalism and, of course, politics. In fact, so many of our graduates now work in Westminster that they’ve become affectionately known as ‘the Hull Mafia’.
You’ll gain the skills to research and examine information, and critically analyse evidence and construct robust arguments, so many of our graduates also go on to work in the Civil Service, HM Armed Forces, and intelligence services. Graduates also go on to work in teaching, publishing, the media, public relations, charities, and international organisations.
Become part of the next generation of futuremakers
Like what you've seen? Then it's time to apply.
The standard way is to apply through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skills qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing us with your academic qualifications.
Not ready to apply yet?
Visit our next Open Day, and see all that the University of Hull has to offer. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.
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All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.