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Successful Personal Statement For PPE At Oxford

Author: Adi Sen

  • Personal Statements
  • Successful Personal Statement For PPE…

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a PPE applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The PPE Course at Oxford brings together some of the most important approaches to understanding the world around us, developing skills useful for a wide range of careers and activities.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines and perspectives of PPE. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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PPE Personal Statement

I have been fortunate enough to have spent half my life overseas and to have attended eight different schools in five different countries and as a result I have engaged with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Having enjoyed these experiences immensely, I am determined to build on this foundation by studying for a degree that will increase my understanding of how trans-national and cross-cultural transactions work. One of the key factors in these transactions, undoubtedly, is human nature.

I was very interested, therefore, to read Jonathon Wolff’s ‘An Introduction to Political Philosophy’, particularly the contrasting interpretations of the ‘state of nature’ that rose dependent on the interpretation of mankind. In my experience there is a parallel between inter-personal and international relations and I want to understand the ways in which states and people operate. My background has made me more aware of complex international issues, such as Australia’s current problem in reconciling the fact that its major trading partner has the potential to become its biggest adversary. Because of my interest in this situation I delved deeper into China’s rise, through the medium of an extended project which discussed whether China poses any threat to the USA. Research for this project caused me to question whether there is any justification for the Western ethical preference for a ‘free’ economy over command economies. This work made me realise that I need economic knowledge in order to better understand the complexities of international relations and encouraged me to fast track an A level in economics.

My research touched on the question of the apparent commonality of cultural morals and delving into this issue led me to reflect on the arguments for universal morality that J.S. Mill presents in ‘Utilitarianism’. His claim that public convictions and general happiness are the basis for a viable moral authority appears to reflect the operation of democratic governance. I would argue, however, that there is a strong, external ethical pressure that acts regardless of happiness, a knowledge of base morality that is followed for its own end. The complexity of such issues has always appealed to me, which is perhaps why I was so enthused by the mathematical elements of philosophical logic that Blackburn presents in ‘Think’. The notion of reducing rational questioning to formulaic equations was completely new to me and I found it very compelling. I was equally intrigued by the attempts, particularly of Descartes in ‘Meditations’ and Anselm in the ‘Proslogian’, to develop an irrefutable argument based purely on reason; the notion of an a priori argument that could establish what empiricism cannot is a profound possibility. I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in unknown and foreign situations. This probably stems from my travels across the globe, which took me from childhood in Moscow to my more recent time in Canberra.

Through school and college I have sustained an ability to balance my academic studies with a hectic social life, part-time jobs and my sporting commitments. I have been elected to the captaincy of two football teams and have played a consistent role in promoting youth involvement, through coaching a junior football team and being involved in the Olympic FLAMES programme. I am happy to lead or work within a team and can negotiate with difficult individuals, whether they are complaining customers or disaffected youngsters. I am eager to pursue a career path that will take me into an international and cross-cultural environment. This is why I feel strongly drawn towards a degree where I can use my experiences and ambitions to better prepare myself for the multinational market of the future. I want to develop an academic arsenal which will best establish me as a positive contributor in an increasingly trans-national, interlinked world – where global understanding looks set to become an essential attribute.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

The student demonstrates a clear interest in all three subjects and does especially well in linking the three together, detailing how their interest in one politics issue lead to studying Economics, which lead to readings in Philosophy. They give the impression of an individual who has naturally come to the conclusion that PPE is the right area of study for them and they back this up substantially with both their personal history and academic studies.

The balance between discussing their academic interests and other areas of their life is just right, and they use the latter to reinforce their worth as a student. The statement flows naturally while the conclusion rounds it off nicely with a look to the future and what they wish to do with their degree.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

At times, the student dwells on explaining their exact response to each book mentioned and their current position on each area of study. This is not particularly useful as those reading it will be more interested in how you think and how your reading developed your thought, rather than whether you, for example, tend towards consequentialism or deontology, as you don’t have nearly enough space in a personal statement to back up a philosophical position in any substantial or interesting way.

The statement also ought to be broken down into smaller paragraphs. This will improve the overall structure and will make for a much more natural read.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an excellent statement edging very closely to 5 stars; it ties the three subjects together and clearly conveys why each is personal to the student and what they want to achieve by studying them.

The candidate ought, however, to focus more on how their background has affected their way of thinking, rather than listing their positions on various issues.

Finally, the formatting could have been improved to make it easier to read, but this is a smaller point. 

And there we have it – an Oxford PPE Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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Top Tips for an Oxford PPE Personal Statement

Oxford philosophy, politics, and economics personal statement – top 10 tips : dos and don’ts.

The Oxford Personal Statement is a crucial component of your PPE Oxford university application as it presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are, providing a platform to bounce off questions during your interview. 

Some of the Oxford interview PPE questions will be tailored to your personal statement and include personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. To guide you through the arduous university application process, our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Personal Statement tips– dos and don’ts– for your Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Personal Statement . 

General Advice for your Oxford PPE Personal Statement

Self-explanatory in its title, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics is a course that comprises three main branches. Philosophy shapes and demands critical thinkers, and the study of it involves a high amount of logical rigour, leading one to be extremely analytical. The study of politics leads one to have a strong knowledge base on the political systems worldwide as well as their impact on communities and societies at large. It allows you to not only understand but also evaluate and form an opinion on the priorities and choices of political parties, and learn how to explain the ideas and values that help to make such decisions and analyses. The last branch, economics, study how three main stakeholders in our society (governments, consumers, and firms), make decisions in determining the allocation of scarce resources. 

These three branches complement each other well, with the knowledge and skills picked up in each branch being transferable to the other. For example, the critical thinking skills that philosophy hones are extremely relevant and useful when studying politics and economics. The knowledge and skills from all three branches have great applications that help students understand the world around them. PPE personal statements can be difficult to write as your Oxford PPE personal statement, you must explain your interest and skills in each branch but in a limited word count. Furthermore, when planning out your Oxford PPE personal statement, make sure you research Oxford’s achievements in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and use it as a guide to illustrate your interest in the course. 

Top 5 Tips for your Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Personal Statement

  • Display in your Oxford PPE personal statement that you can think critically and have good analytic skills- A key quality that Oxford admissions tutors are looking out for in a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics student is having critical thinking skills. You can illustrate this in your Oxford PPE personal statement by mentioning and reflecting on experiences that involve analysing data or formulating arguments. Even if you do not have such experiences, it is equally valuable for you to reflect on other types of achievements and experiences that you have. For example, if you have adopted a particular passion for a specific economic policy or theory, you can talk about why you started being interested in it (is this linked to a personal interest in a greater societal problem such as that of reducing inequality or poverty?). It is also advised to talk about what you have done to cultivate and grow this passion.
  • Focusing your Oxford personal statement on your interest in PPE and how you have the relevant skills for the course – The main purpose of your PPE personal statement and the top thing that Oxford admissions tutors are looking out for when reading your statement is to determine if you are going to be a good Philosophy, Politics, and Economics student. Being a good PPE student can be demonstrated in two main ways: If you are able to show that you are interested and passionate about the course, as well as if you have the relevant skills that would make a good PPE student. You can show that you are interested and passionate about the course by talking about self-reading that you have taken the initiative to do, listing specific details and aspects about the course that enthrals you, or by mentioning and reflecting on experiences that you have undertaken to cultivate further your interest in philosophy, politics, or economics. You can demonstrate that you have the relevant skills that would make a good PPE student by talking about the experiences that you have done in the past and reflecting on how they have shaped you as a person. Try and extract a personal quality or trait from each of the experiences you mentioned, and talk about how it would be relevant for PPE.
  • Being well-read in philosophy, politics, or economics – Oxford definitely does not require you to be an expert in your field of study. After all, you are applying to study PPE, so it does not make sense for you to be a specialist in it even before you have started. However, would definitely be useful both to you as a future student as well as an applicant to have done preparatory reading. This would signal to your Oxford admissions tutor that you are passionate about the field of study (if you are interested in something, you would take the initiative to learn more about it on your own even without being pressured to!), as well as signalling to them that you are able to get through large volumes of text, a skill useful in any humanities course. If you do not know where to start, you can simply google Oxford PPE reading lists, you access one put together by one of the Oxford colleges here: Oxford PPE . It is also good to keep in mind that you do not necessarily have to pick up a book: reading can be in the form of magazine columns, news articles, or even in alternative medium forms such as podcasts, Youtube videos, or documentaries. Some news sites that you can check out include Vox, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Economist, The Guardian, and many more. Don’t burden yourself with reading textbooks– if you are truly interested in the course, there would definitely be a book or video out there that you will find enjoyable reading. Furthermore, reading news articles instead of scrolling on Tiktok, or listening to podcasts on your way to school instead of your usual playlist would be a great way to incorporate content into your everyday life that is not burdensome.
  • Only bring up experiences if you are able to draw the relevance to Philosophy, Politics, or Economics – Even though you might have had a certain achievement that you think is extremely impressive and you feel hard-pressed to mention in your Oxford PPE personal statement, there is little value in bringing it up unless you are able to draw how it is relevant to Philosophy, Politics, or Economics. If you are bent on talking about an experience but find it difficult to draw the link to PPE, you can think about how it has inspired you to be interested in any of the three fields. For example, being heavily involved in mission trips and being a committed volunteer might not have a direct link to Philosophy, Politics, or Economics, you can talk about how witnessing poverty and inequality has led you to be curious about learning more about the economical theories and policies that political systems use to reduce such destitution. You can then elaborate that this motivation has then led you to read up more on politics or economics or participate in related competitions. Another way of linking a seemingly irrelevant skill is you talk about relevant skills or qualities that you picked up during your experience that are transferable and applicable as a PPE student. For example, if you were involved in a scientific research project, you could mention how this has led you to be comfortable and efficient in reading large volumes of information or research journals, which is a useful skill as a PPE student. Otherwise, you could also say that it has led you to recognise that there are always limitations and no theoretical model applies perfectly in real life, which is similar to economic or political policies.
  • Have multiple drafts before submitting a finalised version – Do keep in mind that your first draft would never be your best draft, so you should always buffer sufficient time that allows you to make multiple drafts. You can also seek feedback from seniors of the same course, friends, or even school career guidance counsellors, and use their feedback to further refine your Oxford PPE personal statement. Even if they are not familiar with the subject, they could also provide valuable feedback on the readability and the clarity of your Oxford PPE personal statement. However, do take care when sharing your Oxford PPE personal statement with anyone, as you want to avoid plagiarism issues!

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Personal Statement

  • Only mentioning one or two branches of PPE, instead of all three – The course that you are enrolling on consists of three different fields of study, each important in its own right. Hence, your Oxford personal statement should reflect this, both to signal to the Oxford admissions tutor that you have a strong understanding of the course that you are applying to, as well to show that you are a good fit for it. You can ensure that you do not miss out on any points that you would have liked to mention or to ensure that you can communicate all your points and relevant achievements within the limited 4000-character word count, you can frame your Oxford PPE personal statement with a good structure. For example, you could have 3 body paragraphs, each explaining your interest or relevant skill in each field.
  • Simply listing achievements and experiences without reflecting on them- Many applicants mistake the application process and think that Oxford is looking out for the most decorated student with the highest number of achievements. This is not the case. Instead, Oxford is looking out for the student who is the best fit for the course. This does not necessarily refer to the student who has the highest number of achievements, but rather the student who has the most relevant achievements explained and reflected in a way that shows that you are a good match for the course. Instead of simply listing or name-dropping an achievement, you should reflect on it and talk about how it has led you to develop certain relevant skills. For example, merely mentioning how you won your school’s debate tournament is not enough. You should talk about how it developed your ability to form coherent arguments and communicate them to a general audience. Oxford admissions tutors would not care if you started a non-profit and cured children from cancer– they want to know why you did the things that you did and what you have learnt from them, and how these skills would help you become a good PPE student.
  • Wasting precious word count on achievements that would otherwise be available on other aspects of your application – Especially with the limited 4000-character word count, do not waste your precious words on achievements or experiences that your Oxford admissions tutor would already know about you by reading it off other aspects of your application. For example, if you have achieved impressive grades at your GCSEs or your A levels, do not feel the need to go in-depth about it in your application. This is because this information would already be made available to your Oxford admissions tutor, and they would already have considered it alongside your Oxford PPE personal statement. You can choose to talk about information that they would not otherwise have known about, for example, the societies that you were a part of, competitions that you have participated in or won, events that you have organised, or books that you have read.
  • Not starting early – If you are just starting out on your Oxford PPE personal statement and find it difficult to overcome writer’s block, you can start out by listing all your achievements. In a separate column, you can create a list of all the desirable qualities of being a PPE student, as well as details and aspects of the course that interest you. Next, you can match up your achievements and experiences with the qualities and course details, and use each match as a backbone or inspiration when fleshing out your main body paragraphs.
  • Using vocabulary that you are not familiar with – Although you might feel that using difficult terms and fancy vocabulary is necessary, it is much better to use words that you are more familiar with in order to communicate your ideas more clearly to the Oxford admissions tutor. Furthermore, if you embellish your essay with too much unconventional terminology, it could make your essay wordy and hard to read. You want to get your thoughts across, so always prioritise clarity and readability before anything else!

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How to Prepare for the PPE Interview at Oxford University: Tips, Tricks, and Preparation for Success

In this blog, we aim to equip you with the knowledge, insights, and strategies you need to successfully navigate the competitive PPE interview process. Oxford's PPE interview is not just about assessing your academic prowess; it's about discovering your passion for these intertwined disciplines and your ability to connect ideas across diverse fields of study. Join us as we delve into key aspects of the PPE interview preparation, from mastering interdisciplinary thinking to honing problem-solving skills and staying informed about current affairs. We'll guide you through the process of showcasing your academic potential, highlighting your unique strengths, and making a lasting impression on the admissions panel.

ppe interview preparation

Key Features of The Oxford PPE Interview

The Oxford PPE interview is a critical milestone on your Oxbridge application journey! As of December 2020, interviews for successful Oxbridge applicants who have aced the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) will be conducted throughout a mixture of either in-person or online interviews (depending on the college), offering a unique opportunity to showcase your academic prowess and passion for the interdisciplinary study of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. If you want to find out more about the TSA, see our blog , or our Tackle the TSA course for specific guidance.

Here are some key considerations you need to know about the Oxford PPE interview:

The Oxford PPE interviews are conducted both online and in-person, offering flexibility and accessibility to candidates. For online interviews for accessibility reasons, you'll have the opportunity to interact with esteemed faculty members from the comfort of your own space. Whether in-person or virtual, the intellectual rigour and expectations remain equally high. Be prepared to articulate your thoughts clearly and engage in stimulating discussions that highlight your potential as a PPE candidate, showcasing your passion for the interconnected disciplines of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, as well as including how they relate to one another.

Depending on the individual application, candidates may have anywhere between two to six interviews . Each interview will range from 30 to 60 minutes , providing ample opportunities to showcase your depth of knowledge and critical thinking abilities across the three disciplines.

Your performance in the PPE interview will weigh heavily in the application process . As such, meticulous preparation is essential to maximise your chances of success. Apart from familiarising yourself with introductory reading, first dedicate your free time to mastering the TSA. Only after you've tackled the TSA should you dive headfirst into intensive interview preparation which is where this blog picks up.

oxford PPE interview tips

Some Common Myths about the Oxford PPE Interview

During the Oxford PPE interviews, the interviewers—despite some anecdotes to the contrary—have your best interests at heart, aiming to provide you with the perfect platform to showcase your abilities and potential. Without trying to trip you up, they seek to offer you an opportunity to shine and express yourself effectively. This doesn’t mean they won’t be difficult, but what it does mean is that the questions should be eminently answerable if you are well prepared, confident, and can keep your cool under pressure.

While most interviews are designed to be fair and encouraging, occasional experiences may differ. Perhaps one out of five interviews may feel challenging, but it's important to remember that interviewers, like everyone else, have their unique personalities. Some may naturally be grumpy, while others may exude a more chipper demeanor. However, any emotions displayed by interviewers are not personal; they simply reflect their natural selves. So, don't let their tone, language, or body language unsettle you—it has nothing to do with your capabilities.

The tutors conducting the interviews are dedicated to creating a conducive environment for your success. They approach the process with fairness and encouragement, valuing your potential as a PPE candidate. Trust that they are there to assess your academic strengths and engage in thought-provoking discussions related to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

So, enter the interview with confidence and the understanding that the interviewers genuinely want to see you shine. Embrace the opportunity to express your abilities and passion for the interdisciplinary subjects, knowing that the tutors are committed to ensuring a fair and encouraging experience for every candidate.

ppe interview

The Oxford PPE Interview Explained

Interviews can take one of several formats.

Reading comprehension interviews

Data interpretation/ problem solving interviews

Discussion-based interviews

Personal statement interviews

The central distinctions that I would make are between reading comprehension interviews and data interpretation interviews. Discussion-based and personal statement-based interviews follow a standard interview format and should involve preparation via studying your personal statement inside out, practising clear and concise critical thinking, and doing mock interview tests with parents or tutors.

Reading Comprehension Interviews

You will be given a piece of text, anywhere between a couple of hundred to about a thousand words (1-2 pages of A4) to read before the interview. The text will be fairly understandable, and will involve some kind of analysis or argument. E.g. a newspaper article which makes a particular case for something. The interviewer will then ask you follow up questions based on the argument in the text. Such as…

What is the conclusion of the argument?

Could you break the argument down into its logical steps (premise + premise = conclusion)?

What evidence would most effectively support/ disprove the argument?

Top Tip: Oxbridge interviews are designed to test how you think rather than what you think…

To Practise: Check out this past article a PPE applicant was tasked with for their Economics interview, ‘The Cost of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions’, with a question to practise designed by one of U2’s PPE tutors.

These interview DO test:

How well you can listen to the argument in front of you (either verbal or written).

How well you can interpret arguments and use evidence to support your claims.

How well you can defend your argument by responding directly to the objections made.

These interviews DON’T test:

How much knowledge you have about a particular subject area.

How easily you can bring in new facts from other arguments or discussions.

How strong-willed you can be in an argument.

During the PPE interview, it's crucial to make notes on the text provided during the reading time. These notes will prove invaluable when defending a position or presenting a new argument. By referring back to your notes, you can easily recall key points and maintain a coherent discussion.

Additionally, remain open and responsive to new evidence or arguments presented by the interviewer. If you find yourself defending a particular argument or viewpoint, and the interviewer introduces evidence or an argument that seems to challenge your stance, be honest and address it. Acknowledge the new information and explain why you believe it disproves the argument you were initially making.

Keep in mind that the interview isn't about having a specific "right" answer. Instead, it focuses on your thought process and analytical skills. Listen attentively to what the interviewer is saying, and carefully consider their points before responding. Your ability to engage with the information and articulate your thoughts clearly is more important than arriving at a predetermined answer.

ppe oxford application

Data Interpretation and Problem-Solving Interviews

 This style of interview is similar to the reading comprehension—which is why I’m introducing them together. The difference is that this interview will involve material other than written text in the introduction period. These could come in the form of:

Game theory games

Reading graphs/ charts/ other visual data representation

Thought experiments

Watch the first 10 or so lessons in this tutorial series:

Practise interpreting and talking about data – view the economy section of major media outlets and try to unpack the data. What is each axis labelled as, what patterns in the economy are being reflected in the data, are there any gaps in the data, can we challenge the conclusion by questioning the data?

Sample Oxford PPE Interview Questions

‘Thinking is my fighting.’ [VIRGINIA WOOLF, 1940] Discuss.

Is hip-hop/rap more political than the Eurovision Song Contest?

Are democracy and nationalism allies or enemies?

Did Eve make the right choice?

‘The Labor Movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.’ [MARTIN LUTHER KING] Discuss.

Does the teaching of economics need a radical overhaul?

Is ever-rising inequality inevitable under capitalism?

How should we measure the cost of climate change?

Should ethics make us better people?

Privatisation of public services: solution or problem?

What is the most important unanswered question in philosophy?

Has contemporary philosophy anything to do with the love of wisdom?

‘Fundamentally, mainstream microeconomics is a “just world” theory, in which everyone gets what he or she deserves.’ Do you agree?

Final Thoughts and PPE Interview Preparation Tips!

 Do TSA first – this is the priority!

  Don’t worry – the tutors really want to see the best from you.

Speak slowly (to give more thinking time), and pause in momentary (momentary!) silence when you need to work out what to say next.

Don't make allusions to things you don't know or can't remember.

When in a hole, stop digging. You don’t want to end up contradicting yourself. It is quite possible this can happen in the real thing: interviewers may well bring in additional facts/ arguments/ ideas that necessitate reconsidering your line of argument. You have three choices when this happens: a) stubbornly stick to your guns with little extra reason for doing so – a bad choice, as no one wants to teach a student like that; b) work out a way to diffuse and/ or include the new idea or argument such that you can maintain your original position – possible, but almost certainly you will have to nuance your original position; c) own up, and say you have to change your mind based on new considerations – this is a perfectly legitimate choice, and in many cases the right one in the face of a strong counterargument, as it shows that you are willing to learn, to consider new information, and be responsive to the thoughts and ideas of tutors.

Prepare for the unfamiliar - often students prepare for questions around their personal statement, but are slightly flummoxed when tasked with questions that seem to go beyond the remit of what they have explored in their own time. If you don’t know much about the topic/ question (e.g. say you are asked, ‘How do we value a painting?’, but you don’t know much about art’, don’t worry! You can (and need to) draw on what you do know to answer questions on unfamiliar territory. For instance, drawing on economics to discuss the various elements that go into valuing any object

Take time outside of our prep to consider what are your general positions on some key areas: e.g. ‘What is personal identity?’: what do we know and how do we know it? ‘What is the yardstick for ethical decision-making?’ Being clear on your own positions will be very useful when it comes to interview!

Draw a timeline, and fill it in, going from Plato (~400BC) to the present . The aim is to fill it in with things you know: E.g. The Republic, the birth of Christ, the Baroque movement, and so on. The goal of this is for you to see how things link together, and how you can create narratives of these events: e.g. the Baroque movement being a reaction to the austerity of the early Protestant Reformation, which was a reaction to the excesses of the Catholic church (such as indulgences), which was a result (in part) of the high costs of funding the Crusades, which was a consequence .... and so on and so on. You don’t have to know everything, but it can be a good reminder of what you do know!

Give your answers structure: Try to answer with your position, and then provide reasoning, rather than the other way around. Like an essay, it is much easier to follow an argument if we know the position from the outset

Practice – as with anything, the more times you practise, the better and more confident you will feel on the day.

Are You Looking For a PPE Tutor for Oxford University Applications?

At U2 Tuition, we are proud of our exceptional team of mentors specialising in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University. Our dedicated Oxbridge tutors & admissions support team work closely with each student, understanding their strengths and areas for improvement. With our experienced PPE tutors, students receive personalised tutoring sessions tailored to their specific needs. From assisting with TSA admissions test preparation to crafting compelling personal statements and preparing for the PPE interviews, our comprehensive support equips students with the skills and knowledge for success.

The Process:

Experienced PPE Tutors: We carefully select Oxbridge graduates with expertise in studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford. Their deep familiarity with the Oxford PPE admissions process allows them to guide you through personal statement curation, submitted work, TSA and interview preparation. Depending on qualifications and experience, we provide a range of application tutors for you to choose from.

Informal Diagnostic Session: We recommend beginning with a 1.5-hour informal diagnostic session to assess your current performance level for the application. Following this, we provide a detailed feedback report and structure a customised preparation plan.

Focused Tutorial Sessions: The focus of tutorial sessions depends on the requirements of the particular student. If they would like to focus on all application components, their primary PPE mentor will take care of all aspects. This can include exploring ‘beyond the syllabus’ material that can be discussed in their personal statement and during interviews. Tutors will help students to refine their interests within the PPE course, expose them to various approaches and new concepts, and guide them in their reading and subject exploration. We recommend engaging in intensive TSA preparation in addition to this, and have tutors who specialise specifically in supporting students to achieve the highest grade bands. Our PPE tutors are also experienced with PPE interview preparation, covering all formats of question and hosting PPE mock interviews.

You can decide the frequency of sessions with your tutor. We offer both ad-hoc sessions and structured full preparation programmes, including co-curricular opportunities such as our Politics, Philosophy and Economics Summer Schools , research projects and Oxbridge mock interview days .

Our one-to-one sessions are priced from £75/h + VAT.

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Oxford PPE Personal Statement Example (International Student)

I have always been curious and inquisitive. So, I read. In books I found answers to most of my questions. But, most importantly, I found new ones. This laid the groundwork for my passion for Philosophy. Indeed, Philosophy is one of the few subjects where questions are perhaps more important than answers. Questioning is the essence of philosophical thought. In Philosophy there were no wrong questions, and, for some philosophers, not even wrong answers (at least, not fully justifiable ones). Philosophy, especially Political Philosophy, led me to Politics. Studying philosophers like Plato, Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes, Stuart Mill or Rawls, amongst many others, made me question the way we conceive power, liberty, justice, government or our political system.

With time, I also found another one of my passions: Mathematics, especially when applied to day-to-day life in subjects such as Physics or, most importantly, Economics. I’ve always loved the challenge in Mathematics, the feeling that the answer is there, and all one needs to find it is to think, to employ logic and use the analytical skills Mathematics itself develops. My own way of looking at the world has been shaped by this, as my thought process became more and more analytical. When I combined this enthusiasm with my interest for the world around me, and especially considering my interest in Politics, I became quite eager to study Economics, causing me to read and learn any way I could.

I have won and participated in many local, regional and national contests, representing my school and my region many times. Just two examples: I was my school’s representative at INOVA: Idea Contest, an entrepreneurship competition, where I reached the finals, earning an entrepreneurship internship with some of the top businessmen and women of Portugal in 2015; and, in 2018, I participated in the National Philosophy Olympiads, winning one of the side contests, the Philosophical Quiz. I was also one of the three students chosen to travel to Sicily as part of the Erasmus + programme in 2018. It was an unforgettable experience, where we had the opportunity to discuss our ideas for the future of the EU with colleagues with different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

Apart from the entrepreneurship internship discussed above, I have taken part in several summer programmes and been selected to various internships at Universities and research centres. In 2017 I was accepted at a summer course at the University of Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest university, where I studied International Relations, particularly the Syrian Civil War and its origins, current geopolitical situation and its consequences, especially in regard to the refugees caused by the conflict. I found this course extremely interesting, in particular the classes on geopolitics, where we studied the various groups taking part in the conflict, in what is a very complex situation often over-simplified on the media. This course definitely turned what was already an interest into a definitive passion, as global politics have captivated my attention, leading me to research some more and to read works such as “Prisoners of Geography”, by Tim Marshall, which I found remarkably compelling, and which allowed me to see more clearly into the motive for Russia’s aggressive stance towards Ukraine and Poland, for instance, or China’s recent naval expansion.

During the summer of 2018 I had the opportunity to be selected for an internship at the University of Évora’s Cultural and Heritage Studies centre. During this week I worked in several projects, helping the researchers and learning from them. I went to the ruins of a Roman temple to study the mortar and the stones used for its construction, I collaborated in identifying Egyptian scarabs from Phoenician fakes, I studied the different tinctures used for the dyeing of Portuguese typical rugs (“tapetes de Arraiolos”), amongst many other things.

The same summer I studied at Nova School of Business and Economics’ Summer School, which was also an amazing experience. I had the chance to study modern, useful concepts with some of Portugal’s best professors in this area. I found the classes on Macro and Micro-Economics and Finance the most interesting, with Micro-Economics particularly being quite surprising. We studied rather recent concepts, such as “two-sided markets” and “network effects”, which none of us had ever heard of before. This summer school built upon my early fascination with economics as a theoretical discipline, connecting it with the more common, everyday aspect of economics.

Some of my additional interest are music, reading and writing in general, and student government. I have played violin for eight years now, having been to three orchestra internships and having concluded what is the equivalent of 9th grade (what is known in Portugal as Ensino Básico) in Music. I have been Leader of the Second Violins for my conservatory’s orchestra and I have concluded a 20 hour course which covered Musical History and Analysis of pieces from the 10th to the 21st century. Music is now a fundamental part of my life, and it has taught me much, from self-discipline and leadership to teamwork and an entirely new way of looking at the world.

I have written for an international, online publication named “The Youth Journal”, having contributed with articles about geopolitics, particularly in the Middle-East (Armenia and Kurdistan), the environment (overfishing) and science and technology (the new space race). This has definitively enhanced my researching and communication skills, providing me with experience in an international journalism setting.

Regarding student government, I was part of my Student’s Union administration and am now running for President of the Student Assembly (essentially the Assembly’s Speaker), and I have been either my class’ representative or deputy representative for most of my school career (currently I am my class’ representative). I am also running to be my school’s MP in the National Youth Parliament.

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This site helped me writing this, so I thought I might help someone as well! A bit long, but got me into oxford, so I think it's alright,

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Study here/Undergraduate studies/ Available Subjects / Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)

Ppe is an unusual course, and the three subjects – philosophy, politics and economics – offer highly-contrasting intellectual styles and challenges..

There is great variety and scope for specialization within the course, and you should have little difficulty in selecting papers that meet your intellectual needs and interests. At one extreme you can keep all three subjects going for the full three years and by the end of this particular programme you will have a clear grasp of the major institutions, thinkers and ideas that have shaped modern society. At the other extreme you can concentrate primarily on one subject, dropping another altogether after the first year, and doing only a few papers in the third. You could thus, for example, ‘major’ in economics treating politics or philosophy as a subsidiary. In this way you could reach a high standard in economics, but backed up by the intellectual variety of papers in another, contrasting discipline.

The study of philosophy develops analytical rigour and the ability to criticise and reason logically. It seeks to apply these skills to many contemporary and historical schools of thought, individual thinkers and questions on such subjects as the fundamental nature of reality, the nature, possibility and limits of knowledge, the nature and grounds of moral judgements, the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, and the fundamental principles of language, science, religion, art and literature. The main branches of contemporary philosophy include:

  • Epistemology: What distinguishes knowing a certain fact from having a mere true belief in it? Is it possible to know anything, given the possibility of perfect hallucination? Are we justified in valuing knowledge more highly than true belief?
  • Metaphysics: Under what conditions do you cease to exist? Is the possibility of freewill compatible with a world of determinate cause and effect? Is backwards time travel possible? What is it for something to be possible, anyway?
  • Philosophy of Mind: Is the mind capable of existing independently of the body? Is it possible in principle to reduce consciousness to a brain process? What distinguishes a mental state from other things?
  • Ethics: Is the rightness of an action solely a function of how much good it does? Under what conditions can someone be counted morally responsible for what they do? What are we doing when we say an act is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in the first place? Is there any objective truth to these matters?

The Philosophy Faculty at Oxford is the largest philosophy department in the UK, and one of the largest in the world, with more than 70 full-time members, admitting more than 500 undergraduates annually to read the various degrees involving philosophy. Many Faculty members have a worldwide reputation, and the library and other facilities are acknowledged as among the best in the country.

The large number of undergraduates and graduates reading philosophy with a variety of other disciplines affords the opportunity to participate in a diverse and lively philosophical community. The tutorial system at Oxford, which provides students with an opportunity to receive detailed feedback on their written work and engage in protracted, in-depth philosophical debate with their tutor and peers, is highly conducive to the development of philosophical skills.

Politics as an academic discipline differs from the popular conception of what the subject is about. While there is room for commitment and controversy in the academic study of politics, the primary emphasis is analytical. The aim is to promote a clear view of political ideas, movements and institutions, and to achieve insight into the nature of authority and the distribution of power in society. In achieving this end, the method followed is that of a critical scrutiny of both political ideas and also hypotheses regarding the political behaviour of institutions and voters, rather than that of attack or defence of the standpoint of any political party or group.

No less importantly, politics comprehends a much wider and more diverse range of studies than is usually imagined. On the one hand, it includes political theory. Here we attempt to critically analyse such key concepts as liberty, democracy, equality and social justice, including classic texts and thinkers of continuing relevance in contemporary life. On the other hand, it mainly includes the empirical study of politics, and political systems, which can be divided into four main areas:

  • Political sociology : we are normally interested in trying to explain individuals’ behaviour and attitudes.
  • Comparative government: we are interested in political institutions (such as legislatures or electoral systems) and want to explain the dynamics and development of those institutions.
  • International relations : we want to understand the relationships between states, as opposed to individuals or institutions.
  • Political history: we examine in detail the nature and background of important political events and social changes in individual countries (or groups of countries) using a more historical methodology.

As this brief survey suggests, politics as an academic subject is concerned with almost every aspect of man in society, and the fact that it differs from popular conceptions of ‘politics’ doesn’t make it less exciting or challenging. Indeed, few students will find their political opinions unchanged at the end of their course in politics, and most will agree that they have benefited from subjecting their political ideas to a disciplined critical inquiry.

The problems of Economics are familiar to us from the newspapers and television. The economics of unemployment, inflation and taxation, the role of the government in the provision of education, health and other public services, intervention in the private sector and regulation, problems of world trade and growth and international justice, are all inescapable issues for an intelligent observer of the contemporary scene. It is towards the understanding of these issues that Economics is directed, and it is that challenge which makes Economics such an important discipline.

The method of study is to start with the fundamental economic actors in an economy. Households, differentiated according to size, income and other endowments, offer labour services, purchase consumer goods and save. Firms, differentiated by size and industry, undertake production and investment. Trade unions, banks and other institutions operate in their respective sectors. Governments form a major part of all advanced economies, and are involved in regulation and production themselves.

For each type of economic actors we propose theoretical models to explain their behaviour and performance. The next stage is to put all the models together, and examine the workings of the system as a whole. At this point we are mostly interested in the aggregate performance of the economy; direct and indirect effects of shocks and policy interventions. If the system is subjected to a shock from the outside (a sudden rise in the price of oil, for example), how does it adjust? And how might the government respond to the problems created?

Alternatively, we may look at more fundamental issues, like the efficiency of the price system in regulating production in the economy, or the wider issues of capitalism versus socialist planning. The development and testing of theoretical models has become much more logically rigorous in recent years, with a considerable emphasis on Mathematics in exposition. So a logical mind and willingness to acquire some mathematical skills are essential to success in the subject. However, the best economists are still those who can see into the essential features of an economic problem, and can distinguish fruitful approaches to understanding it. That requires an intelligent understanding of institutions (and here the links with Politics and Sociology are vital), and an awareness that solutions to economic problems raise thorny ethical issues (and here there are important links with Moral Philosophy).

Economics as a discipline is intellectually very demanding: but the satisfaction and insight that it gives makes the effort well worthwhile.

The first year (Preliminary Examination)

The first year course is designed to lay the foundation for more advanced work to be done in the second and third years on the course. The Preliminary Examination consists of three papers;

1. The PHILOSOPHY paper has three sections, with students required to answer at least one question from each. The three sections are: General Philosophy (an introduction to key issues in metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of mind), Moral Philosophy (based on the study of JS Mill’s Utilitarianism), and Logic (an introduction to the study of argumentative structure and valid inference).

2. The INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS paper is split into two parts. Part A is the theory of politics. Students study a selection of major theorists in political thought, including Rousseau, Mill and Marx. Part B is the practice of politics. Students study a variety of comparative topics including: regime types and causes of democracy; the state and its institutions (executives, legislatures, electoral systems and courts); parties and party systems; elections and voters.

3. The INTRODUCTORY ECONOMICS paper covers elementary Economic Theory and the application of Mathematics to simple problems in Economic Theory. The mathematical level is not beyond that of A-level although some new material of special interest to economists is introduced.

The second and third years (Final Honours School)

You will have the option of studying all three subjects (the tripartite option) or just two. The core papers are:

Ethics, plus ONE of the following FOUR papers:

  • Early Modern Philosophy
  • Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
  • Plato’s Republic
  • Knowledge and Reality

TWO of the following FIVE papers:

  • Comparative Government
  • British Politics and Government in the 20th Century
  • Theory of International Relations
  • Theory of Politics
  • Political Sociology
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Quantitative Economics

The further papers include:

Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Cognitive Science; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophy of Logic and Language; Philosophical Logic; Medieval Philosophy; Philosophy of Kant; Post-Kantian Philosophy; Frege, Russell and Wittgenstein; The Later Philosophy of Wittgenstein; Philosophy of Mathematics; Philosophy of Science and Social Science; Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Criticism; Theory of Politics; Practical Ethics.

Modern British Government and Politics; Government and Politics of the United States; Politics in Europe; Russian Government and Politics; Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa; Politics in Latin America; Politics in South Asia; Politics in the Middle East; International Relations in the Era of Two World Wars; International Relations in the Era of the Cold War; Classical Political Thought up to 1800; Foundations of Modern Social and Political Thought; Marxism; Sociological Theory; Labour Economics and Industrial Relations; The Government and Politics of Japan; Social Policy; Comparative Demographic Systems; Quantitative Methods in Politics and Sociology; The Government and Politics of China.

British Economic History since 1870; Behavioural and Experimental Economics; Econometrics; Economics of Developing Countries; Economics of Industry; Finance; Game Theory; International Economics; Labour Economics; Microeconomic Analysis; Money and Banking; Public Economics.

It is also possible to write a short dissertation, not more than 15,000 words, in place of one of the further papers. The topic can be any subject that falls within the scope of PPE.

Teaching Method and Work Load

As is usual in Oxford, the teaching is partly University-based and partly College-based. Lectures are provided by the University. Your tutor will advise you each term on the lectures you should attend from the very large number offered. Tutorials are provided by the College and writing essays for tutorials is a major focus of your work. You will typically have one or two tutorials in a week, and the preliminary reading and writing for each tutorial will constitute a large proportion of your working week.

There will also be some classes organised by the College; Maths and Logic classes at the beginning and revision classes at the end of the course. For most of your first two years you will be taught in College, but in your final year you will be taught by specialists from other colleges if you have chosen further subjects (such as International Relations) that are not the specialities of the Jesus Tutors.

Library Facilities

The College has an undergraduate library with books and some of the main periodicals covering the various aspects of the PPE course. It has reading rooms, but is also a lending library. The main University library (the Bodleian) has a very large collection, for reference only. In addition there are University departmental Libraries with borrowing facilities at the Social Sciences Library (Manor Road), and at the Philosophy and Theology Faculties Library (Woodstock Road).

Dr Stuart White

Dr Stuart White is a Fellow and Tutor in Politics. He teaches the political theory side of Politics Prelims, Theories of the State, Theory of Politics, Political Thought: Plato to Rousseau, Political Thought: Bentham to Weber, and Marx and Marxism. His research focuses on democratic citizenship and the economy and integrates political philosophy, public policy and the history of political thought.

Professor James Tilley

Professor James Tilley, also a Fellow and Tutor in Politics, teaches the empirical side of Politics Prelims, Comparative Government and Political Sociology. His research interests lie in the fields of political sociology, political psychology and public opinion, with a focus on British politics.

Professor Péter Esö

Professor Péter Esö is a Fellow and Tutor in Economics. He teaches Core Microeconomics and Game Theory at the undergraduate level. His research interests and publications are in microeconomic theory, game theory, and the economics of information.

Professor Jean Baccelli

Professor Jean Baccelli is a Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy. He teaches Introduction to Logic, General Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Ethics, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Science and Social Science.

Professor Milo Phillips-Brown

Professor Milo Phillips-Brown is a Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy. He teaches General Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Ethics, AI Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Logic and Language, Philosophical Logic and Logic.

Ms Francesca Arduini

Ms Francesca Arduini is a lecturer in Economics. She teaches Microeconomics, Game Theory, Quantitative Economics, and Econometrics.

Philip Schnattinger

Philip Schnattinger is a lecturer in Economics and he teaches Macroeconomics.

Ms Alena  Wabitsch

Ms Alena Wabitsch is a a lecturer in Economics. Her research interests lie in Monetary Policy, Central Bank Communication and Behavioural Economics.

The deadline to submit your application for undergraduate study via UCAS is 16 October (please note that this date is usually 15 October, except where this date falls on a weekend). Please refer to the  University’s webpages  for detailed information on how to apply.

Places available at Jesus College

In a total College entry of about 100 undergraduates, 8 are offered places in a typical year to read PPE or History and Politics.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements for this subject can be found here.

Selection criteria

The specific selection criteria are given on the PPE website.

Admissions tests

All candidates must take the  Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) as part of their application. Separate registration for this test is required and it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are registered by the deadline of 29 September 2023 . We strongly recommend making the arrangements in plenty of time before the deadline. Everything you need to know, including how to register and guidance on how to prepare, can be found can be found  here.

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course.

During the interview, discussion is focused on a short text or texts which are distributed to candidates beforehand. In the interview we are looking for the ability to understand the arguments in the texts, to express the arguments clearly, to criticise and develop them, and to apply them in areas outside the text. Every candidate is confronted with the same text and the same questions to ensure that performances can be compared between candidates.

Deferred Entry

Please refer to the Departmental website for subject-specific advice.

The Tutors have no objection in principle to offering a place to a candidate who wishes to defer entry for a year, provided this intention is made known at the outset. You must apply for deferred entry at the time of application to Oxford: you cannot change your mind after an offer has been made.

You should be aware that applicants who are offered places for deferred entry will generally be among the very strongest of the cohort for their subject, and the College limits its offers of deferred places in order not to disadvantage candidates applying in the following year. In some cases, an applicant for deferred entry may be offered a place for non-deferred entry instead.

Joint Schools

None of the three PPE subjects may be studied on their own at Oxford. The following combinations are available at Jesus College:

  • Computer Science and Philosophy
  • Economics and Management
  • History and Economics
  • History and Politics
  • Mathematics and Philosophy
  • Philosophy and Modern Languages
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Philosophy, Psychology and Linguistics (PPL)

Philosophy Graduate students will find themselves members of a large graduate community, together with others with shared interests who are at an equivalent stage in their intellectual development. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:

  • BPhil in Philosophy
  • DPhil in Philosophy
  • MSt in Ancient Philosophy
  • MSt in Philosophy of Physics
  • MSt in Practical Ethics

The Department of Economics has around 200 graduate students. As a research based community, the Department puts great weight on developing its graduate students. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:

  • DPhil Economics
  • MPhil Economics
  • MSc Economic and Social History (joint with the History Faculty)
  • MPhil Economic and Social History (joint with the History Faculty)
  • MSc Economics for Development (joint with the Department of International Relations)
  • MSc Financial Economics (joint with Saïd Business School)

The Department of Politics and International Relations is internationally renowned as a centre for excellence in teaching and research. Its reputation attracts students and senior academics from across the world. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:

  • DPhil in Politics
  • MPhil or DPhil in International Relations
  • MPhil in: Comparative Government; Political Theory; European Politics and Society
  • MSc in: Politics Research; Political Theory Research

PPE students go on to a wide range of careers, although in many cases you must expect to undertake a further period of professional training. If you want to become a professional economist (either in government or academic life) you must take a post-graduate course like the MPhil. Postgraduate work (whether in Philosophy, Politics, Economics or Sociology) is generally popular.

Other common destinations are accountancy, banking, finance, industry (often on the marketing side), management consultancy, the Civil Service, journalism and social work.

Please use the links below for further information:

  • The University of Oxford undergraduate admissions
  • PPE website
  • Faculty of Philosophy
  • Department of Politics and International Relations
  • Department of Economics
  • Suggested subject resources

If you are contemplating a course involving Philosophy, or wondering whether such a course would suit you, you might wish to read some of the following:

  • Thomas Nagel What Does It All Mean? (Oxford)
  • Bertrand Russell The Problems of Philosophy (Oxford)
  • M Hollis Invitation to Philosophy (Blackwell)
  • Nigel Warburton Philosophy: The Basics (Routledge)
  • Julia Driver Ethics: the Fundamentals (Blackwell)
  • Simon Blackburn Think (Oxford)
  • Roger Scruton An Intelligent Person’s Guide to Philosophy (Duckworth)

If you have any questions about entrance requirements, or about applying to study at Jesus College, please contact the Admissions Officer:

Email: [email protected] Web:  www.jesus.ox.ac.uk

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Oxford

PPE: the Oxford degree with a lot to answer for

I began studying economics at night school in Leeds in the 1950s and continued, at various institutions, as an external student of London University. Our courses were broadly, but not uncritically, Keynesian. We abjured fancy equations and sprinkled our essays with phrases like “a tendency to” and “pressure towards” this or that as a consequence of some other event. As a teacher I have tried to keep reasonably up to date, and learned in the early 70s, for example, to regard most monetarist nonsense as the fantasies of “Friedmaniacs”.

With this background, and aware of the influence on our leaders of Oxford’s PPE (philosophy, politics and economics) course, I have often wondered what on earth they taught them. Andy Beckett’s article ( The degree that runs Britain , 23 February) gives the answer. PPE graduates are “intellectually flexible”. Or, to put it another way, they sway with the wind. And the winds of monetarism and arrogant attempts to make human behaviours as subject to mathematical predictions as the laws of physics, have captured economics academia for the past 40 years. Conservative, Labour and, to our eternal shame, Liberal Democrats have been equally culpable, as the damage done to the bottom 20% in this country, and to 80% of the population of Greece, so clearly demonstrates.

Those who wish to know what’s really going on in our economy, and how to put things right, could study my own humble blog keynesianliberal.blogspot.com , or the more authoritative writings of Will Hutton (Bristol) and the mainly macro blog of Simon Wren-Lewis (Cambridge). Peter Wrigley Birstall, West Yorkshire

I used to believe that PPE ran Britain until I came up to study at Oxford. After milling around at socials held by the Oxford Union and all the political party societies, I found that a vast array of subjects were represented among the politicians, lawyers and hedge fund managers of tomorrow. Historians and classicists can be just as machiavellian as any PPEist.

I’d argue that the people who have damaged politics today are the following: a classicist from Balliol (Boris Johnson), an English student from Lady Margaret Hall (Michael Gove), and a linguist (Alastair Campbell), like myself. However, the reason for the linguist’s misdeeds must lie in the fact that he went to Cambridge. Alexander Olive Oxford

In Thomas Hardy’s 1895 novel Jude the Obscure, the master of Biblioll College writes to the ambitious stonemason: “I venture to think that you will have a much better chance of success in life by remaining in your own sphere and sticking to your trade.” But Blair’s Labour , keen on middle-class appeal, distanced itself, so there was no intake of working-class MPs, according to Geoff Evans on Newsnight. But, he also said, voters prefer politicians with a point of social contact with themselves. So another difficult inheritance for Jeremy Corbyn. It’s worth noting that PPE graduates have failed to run a UK economy to benefit everybody. Fortunately, John McDonnell has a union background, is working class and didn’t do PPE at Oxford. David Murray Wallington, Surrey

Britain is run by PPE graduates. That is why they sign up for PPE. But the most popular optional courses when I retired – international relations in the era of the cold war; politics in the Middle East; politics in sub-Saharan Africa – appear to fall below the radar of ambitious political elites. As a PPE tutor between 1975 and 2010, I escaped teaching any of the numerous graduates listed, though Andrew Glyn and I once combined lectures on Marx’s Capital. Gavin Williams Oxford

As a 1967 Balliol dropout from the PPE degree, I have a thought to add to Andy Beckett’s immense list of critiques. That course tended to repress anything to do with emotion. The approach to politics was hyper-rational with a materialist focus. How people felt and how that might influence political behaviour was totally absent. Imagination and creativity were despised as “arty-farty”. Hence the political emotions were terra incognita for the dons. As for the philosophy, the accent was strongly on logic (analytical philosophy, I mean). Nowadays, there is still a struggle to recognise that issues of meaning, purpose, individuation and the psyche constitute the political. As for me, I am now a Jungian psychoanalyst in practice who also writes about citizenship and the inner life. Reacting against something can often be quite creative. Oh, and I’m also a professor – dropping back in. Andrew Samuels University of Essex

“The degree that runs Britain”. Surely there is an “I” missing in that headline. Trevor Holland Basildon, Essex

It’s not PPE – Miliband, Balls, Jenkins – that’s the problem. It’s Oxford University – May, Truss, Johnson, Gove, and the rest. Michael Rosenthal Banbury, Oxfordshire

Join the debate – email [email protected]

Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

  • University of Oxford
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Philosophy, Politics and Economics

PPE at Oxford allows students to combine various conceptual tools from the academic disciplines of Philosophy, Politics and Economics to understand how the world works – or doesn’t!

Although it provides a basic grounding in all three disciplines in the first year, students are subsequently given increasing choice over the direction their work will take. Students can develop as much expertise in a single discipline as thosetaking a single honours degree at another university, or they can sustain a wide range of interests across all three subjects. It is very much a degree whose final form students design for themselves.

What makes a good PPEist? Given the choices available, any answer to this is going to be simplistic, but what all three disciplines demand from students is intellectual curiosity, sharp analytical thinking, a willingness to work out what is in the box and then think outside it – and a passion for argument and discussion. Because these are the characteristics we look for in students, we are less concerned about the subjects applicants take in their advanced work in school.

Oriel PPE graduates include a Nobel Prize winner in Economics, a Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a Secretary General of the TUC, but they also include academics, journalists, broadcasters, financial analysts, lawyers, accountants, politicians, political activists, business professionals, and those in a wide range of other careers. What employers value in PPE graduates is their capacity to absorb and process information and to come up with a series of arguments about how one should understand a situation. They regard this as a hugely valuable set of skills.

The best thing about PPE is its diversity , both in terms of the content and the people that teach and learn it.

Martin yip | philosophy, politics and economics.

Although a background in Mathematics is not required for admission, PPE applicants should have sufficient interest in, and aptitude for, mathematics to cope with the mathematical elements of the course. Mathematics is a particular advantage for the Economics component of the course, as well as for the first year logic course in philosophy, and for understanding theories and data in politics.

You may like to consider taking Maths to AS-level, or an equivalent qualification such as IB Standard Level, even if you do not pursue it further. It is useful to have learnt the basics of differentiation before starting your university course in PPE.

Further Reading

Those interested in applying for PPE who wish to do some further reading on the subject can find a reading list here with titles recommended by our Tutors (this list is the one given to incoming Freshers for summer reading).

Conditional offers: normally AAA at A-level (or equivalent). Applicants are not required to submit written work. All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) in early November, normally at their own schools or colleges. Separate registration for this test is required and prospective applicants should refer to the test website for further information.

Faculty of Philosophy

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Stavros Niarchos Foundation Clarendon Fellow in Ancient Greek Philosophy | Tutor in Philosophy & Classics

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Departmental Lecturer in Political Theory and Tutor in Politics

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Dr Arhat Virdi

College Lecturer in Economics

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My honest experience of studying ppe at oxford, the ppe degree at oxford is highly prestigious, but it can be hard to separate the fact from the fiction when it comes to figuring out whether it’s the best course for you..

Sun rising over the Bodleian Library, near Radcliffe Square, Oxford city centre.

There is a lot of mythology surrounding the PPE course at the University of Oxford, making it hard to figure out whether it is the right degree for you (photo by Pajor Pawel/ Shutterstock.com)

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford is a course that has quite an odd reputation, surrounded as it is by a lot of mystique and hype. Some have called it “the degree that rules Britain.” Others think that studying PPE at Oxford is something that’s designed specifically for those who want to become Prime Minister. Many people assume that taking this course is a surefire gateway to working in an investment bank for the rest of your career.

There are plenty of myths and misunderstandings about PPE. For that reason, prospective students can find it quite difficult to understand exactly what they’re getting themselves into before turning up on campus in the October of their first year. 

In this article, I hope to give you my honest experience of studying PPE at Oxford. I’ll talk about what it is like to study this well-known course at a world-renowned institution. 

I’ll be as honest as I can about the challenges that I found when taking this degree, and I’ll also look at the aspects of the course which I enjoyed and found especially fulfilling. 

Hopefully, by sharing my experiences as an Oxford PPE student, I can help prospective applicants to figure out whether this particular course is the right one for you. 

“This Feels Right”: Trusting My Intuition

Before I dive into the ins and outs of the course itself, I’ll lay out a little background to explain why I chose to apply to PPE at Oxford in the first place. 

Let me start by saying that I had no intention initially of studying PPE, yet alone at Oxford. I went to a state school and always imagined myself going into Physics (I don’t think I could go more than 30 minutes without mentioning something that was cool within the field. Imagine that – someone who went to Oxford being nerdy!). 

However, I started to struggle with some of the concepts in my Physics course. At the same time, my interest in Politics and Economics (my other A-Levels) was developing the more I studied them. One of my teachers then said to me that I should look into doing PPE. I didn’t know what that subject was, but I did some research and, on reflection, I realised that this course might be perfect for me. 

Despite my initial intuition, I put that thought on hold and carried on assuming I was going to do Physics. However, another teacher at school mentioned that Oxford ran a summer school for disadvantaged students. I applied for the PPE programme and managed to get in. 

Truth be told, I was intimidated by the other students at that summer school. I also had food poisoning so was very sick for the majority of my time there. But during the parts that I could participate in, there was one resounding thought going through my head. 

“This feels right.”

Keep in mind, this was during the summer of year 12, so it was quite late in the game for me to change what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do it. Typically, you start preparing for Oxford far in advance, but I only made the solid decision that I wanted to go there in early August, a month or so before the interview stage. 

After a lengthy admissions process (which I am sure I will touch on in a future article), I conducted more in-depth research into what the course was like. 

However, if I’m being totally honest, a lot of the advice online is put forward by people who either:

  • had been asked to speak about the subject in a university video, so they might have been biased, 
  • had a YouTube channel, so they filled their days with way more things than the average student does because they want the views (their content is great though), 
  • looked back on their time at Oxford with rose-tinted glasses. 

Studying PPE at Oxford University: My Personal Experience 

Here is what my experience studying PPE at Oxford was like.

A Degree of Separation

The first thing I want to make clear is this: the three subjects are separate. 

They intersect with each other in various ways that can be quite interesting. But there aren’t any tutors that teach across all three subjects. So, unfortunately for those people who might think that they get a completely integrated experience, this isn’t the case. The only thing that the departments tend to have in common is you, the undergraduate student. The departments don’t communicate that much between themselves. 

A Prime Degree for Future Heads of State 

The second thing I want to say is that I can understand why people say that this is the course for people who want to be the next Prime Minister. 

During my time at Oxford, I did meet people who were very invested in a future political career and quite a few of them were studying PPE. Some of the skills you learn and the way you learn them would definitely fit the bill for what a Prime Minister does. 

For instance, the course teaches you how to think critically, understand data, as well as how to construct and deconstruct arguments. 

However, this is just the beginning when it comes to PPE. If you are even remotely academically curious, then what you’ll end up valuing the most on this course is learning about new ways of looking at and understanding the world. 

Studying PPE at Oxford: Engaging With a Wide Variety of Content 

You’ll engage with a huge breadth of content in your first year at Oxford. The degree does look at the big questions. I will do a deep dive into specific subjects at a later date, but here are the key things to get across, subject by subject.

The Economics part of the PPE degree at Oxford is far more Maths-orientated than you might initially think. 

I did Maths at A-Level, but it was never my strong suit. As we reached the end of second year, there was a significant spike in the difficulty of the Maths. 

Whilst we also wrote essays and they had a lot of weight grades-wise, professors placed a large emphasis on solving mathematical problems. 

Another aspect that people don’t realise about the Economics side of things is how traditional the course is. Whilst I loved Economics, there was a clear sentiment that the course was teaching us very classical theories. 

Some of the most interesting questions you might have about the subject are likely to not be answered. For example, I found that the teachers barely touched upon fascinating concepts like Behavioural and Environmental Economics.

If you want a more modern and innovative course, rather than a classically-leaning one,  you might finish the Economics section of the PPE course wanting a bit more. 

Having said all of this, I did enjoy the course a lot, despite its challenges. I loved the subject matter enough to pursue further study in the area after my undergraduate degree.

My experience with studying Politics at Oxford was quite different from what I initially thought it would be. Like a lot of people, I thought that studying Politics was all about learning how to develop arguments about the way that the world should work. 

As I soon found out, this was only partly true. 

If your image of studying Politics at Oxford is that of sitting down with a professor and another student and debating how we should understand how concepts like freedom of speech should work, then the reality will surprise you a bit.

It is true that you can take Political Philosophy modules that look at things such as freedom of speech, communism, and social equality , the vast majority of the Politics units are driven by either the historical method or data analysis. 

You will spend considerable time reading papers and journal articles that look at empirical evidence. For example, I was given several research papers by my professors and asked to determine what factors triggered certain voter patterns.  

There is even a mandatory Politics unit that has you analysing data (by learning to code) in order to answer a question. Overall, I enjoyed studying Politics greatly: however, at times I found the data and evidence-style line of questioning a bit dull. 

Philosophy 

Philosophy was the dark horse of the PPE course for me. I had no clue what to expect going in, as I had never done this subject before. I found the subject extremely challenging, for a number of reasons.  

A lot of people have a misconception about Philosophy. They think you can just say whatever you want, and you spend your days sitting there thinking about nonsensical things. 

This could not be further from the truth. 

The subject is very technically demanding, it can be very abstract, and you have to learn to write in a completely different way. Entire arguments can hinge around certain words you choose to use or not to use.

In fact, some theories are so abstract that you will have to spend quite a while wrapping your head around them. The course is very rigorous, and you’ll have to undertake a mandatory formal logic course. 

However, I also feel like this was the course in which I developed skills the quickest. If I look back at my essays in the first year compared to the last year, the progress in quality of writing is particularly marked. 

My ability to think critically, grapple with abstract theories, solve problems and evaluate arguments is significantly better now when compared to my first year of studying PPE.

So, long story short, don’t sleep on Philosophy!

What’s the PPE Workload Like? 

OXFORD - JULY 11th, 2014: Oxford graduates walk past Hertford College, Oxford city centre

OXFORD – JULY 11th, 2014: recent Oxford graduates walk under the Bridge of Sighs after their Trinity term exams (photo by iLongLoveKing/ Shutterstock.com)

The workload of PPE can vary quite a lot depending on some of the module choices you make. However, in general, it probably won’t shock you to find out that the workload for this course is VERY high. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’d be expected to do for PPE in a typical week: 

  • Normally, you’ll need to write two essays a week (each about 2000 words long) or one essay and then an economics problem sheet (which normally has a mini essay at the end anyway). 
  • Keep in mind you have to do a lot of reading or textbook note taking to complete these tasks, so you are looking at tens of hours of academic work per week.

This level of intellectual intensity might well inspire academically curious minds, but it can have some negative ramifications. 

There is not a moment in time where you don’t have something else that you need to be doing, and being mentally overstretched like this might lead to you feeling a bit guilty or burnt-out. 

One of the best ways to stave this feeling off is by picking topics and subjects that interest you when it comes to your PPE module choices. 

Try to figure out what you like and focus on picking modules related to that. Of course, there are going to be times where you are going to have to grit your teeth and just work through it. 

You are learning a new topic every single week, so you are going to have to be quite a fast learner. If you like having a deep dive, and taking your time, then this might not be the course for you. 

If you aren’t interested in the subject but think you could tolerate the course enough for a few years, make sure that you really can do this! I loved all three subjects, but there were moments where I wanted to tear my hair out. I don’t know how doable the degree would be if you didn’t find any of the component subjects remotely interesting. 

What About the Subject Choices? 

In terms of subject choices, you have an enormous amount of options to choose between in second and third year. 

Everyone does all three subjects in the first year, and you have no choices in modules. You sit exams at the end of first year called Prelims. These exams don’t contribute to your final grade. 

In second year, you can drop one of the subjects if you want, but you can also choose to keep all three. 

One common myth is that keeping all three subjects means you’ll have to do more work over the course of second and third year. This is simply not true: in reality you just spend less time on each individual subject. 

You’ll need to pick eight modules for your final year exams, and these final eight exams will determine your degree’s final grade. 

There are a few modules that don’t have exams, but for these you’ll likely have to  write a thesis or dissertation instead.

Even if you drop a subject, you’ll still have a lot of choice when it comes to these options: each of the three departments offers a wide range of modules. You’ll need to pick a minimum number of core modules, but you should have quite a few spare modules to allocate to more niche academic areas. 

If you keep all three subjects, you’ll have less free choice. This is because you still have some limited core units to pick from and then you are left with roughly two spare modules. 

After first year you should have some sense of what you like and what you don’t. I ended up keeping all three subjects because I found them interesting, but this meant I couldn’t pick modules I would have loved to have studied. However, I enjoyed the core modules I picked, so I was very happy with the overall experience.

Studying PPE at Oxford: What’s the Tutorial System Like? 

The tutorial system was also great if initially scary. I was lucky enough to have great tutors who were clearly invested not only in their subjects, but also in my personal progress. 

As such, I found it invaluable to have these academics marking my work weekly. Every week, we’d all have an extended discussion where we talked about what I had learnt that week, with them explaining or clarifying things that I was confused about. 

I was intimidated at first by the tutorial system because these people are academics at the best university in the world. You need to know your stuff before you walk in! 

These tutors are never harsh or rude to you, but they do expect you to give it your all. If you are going to try to waffle or make a theoretical argument up, they will know. 

Chances are they have been studying the subject for longer than you have been alive. If you don’t prepare the work in advance and let them know, then you might not be invited to have a tutorial with them that week. 

However, tutors tend to be quite accommodating: whenever I have asked for an extension, they have given it to me without question. 

Does an Oxford PPE Student Have a Social Life?

OXFORD - JUNE, 19th, 2013: University of Oxford students on the grass outside Balliol College in mid-June.

OXFORD – JUNE, 19th, 2013: students make the most of the summer sun outside Balliol College, near the city centre (photo by Andrei Nekrassov/ Shutterstock.com)

When it comes to studying PPE at Oxford, you might think that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to go out or do much outside of academia. 

In reality, there were actually many opportunities to go out. Full disclosure: I did go to a college that was known for going out quite a lot, so I am sure that played a part in it!

So long as you plan ahead, you’ll have time to socialise. Before Covid happened, I would go out clubbing or to a pub around twice a week. 

This doesn’t include going out for lunch with people, casual chats in college or hanging out with people in their rooms. 

However, you do have to make sacrifices. There will be times where you will have to stay in whilst others go out, or there will be times where you are so exhausted you won’t want to go out. 

You will have to be consistently making trade-offs between work, societies, and a social life, but it can be done. There is a recurring joke at Oxford about dealing with an inconsistent triad, and I think there’s a certain amount of truth to it. 

At all times at Oxford, you can commit to two of the following three components: 

  • A consistently thorough and high-quality work output, 
  • A vibrant social life, or
  • A healthy and sustainable sleep schedule.

In my experience, it was almost impossible to commit to all three at the same time. 

The two components which you will commit to at any one time will depend on the circumstances: for instance, you might well have to forgo socialising opportunities in the lead up to your exams, or when you’ve got a particularly important essay due that week. 

I only knew one person who was able to master the art of committing to all three components and she had to basically work like a machine and be ruthlessly efficient when she was doing her work. 

Final Thoughts: Is PPE at Oxford the Right Fit for You? 

This has just been a glimpse into what PPE is like at Oxford. I hope it has been useful! 

As mentioned before, I will go into more detail about certain aspects of the course and university life in later articles. 

Overall, I loved my time there and would recommend it if none of the things above would be issues for you. 

At the end of the day, you have to decide for yourself whether this course would be the right fit for you. 

Take some time to consider what it is you’re looking for from a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree: if you’re markedly more interested in one of the subjects more than the others, you may want to look at single track degrees that specialise in that subject. 

If you want more in-depth insights into the university admissions process, from choosing the right course for you to developing your UCAS profile and writing a stellar personal statement, get in touch with our team at A&J Education to book a free consultation today.

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  • each piece of written work should be no longer than 2,000 words
  • each piece of written work must come with a completed cover sheet

If your application is shortlisted, we recommend that you re-read your written work before your interview, as tutors may ask you about it. 

When to submit

Written work must be submitted to arrive at the college no later than 10 November. 

Fine Art portfolios have an earlier deadline. View  Fine Art  for details of what to send and the  Ruskin School of Art website  for information on how to submit your portfolio.

Please  contact the college  that is considering your application if you are not sure what to send, or if you are concerned that you do not have suitable written work.

A step-by-step guide for applicants

  • UCAS application
  • Admissions tests

WRITTEN WORK COVER SHEET:

Download the cover sheet.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Try our extensive database of FAQs or submit your own question...

FAQs- Application process

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IMAGES

  1. Make your essay better with the help from this Oxford PPE essay sample

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  2. Oxford PPE Essay Writing and 6 Ways It Differ from A-Levels

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  3. Oxford PPE Essay Writing and 6 Ways It Differ from A-Levels

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  4. How to Write PPE for Oxford

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  5. TIPS TO WRITE A UCAS ESSAY

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  6. READING MY OXFORD PPE UCAS ESSAY (accepted!!)

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COMMENTS

  1. Successful Personal Statement For PPE At Oxford

    Welcome to UniAdmissions, the world's first Oxbridge preparatory school with an Oxbridge success rate of 61% and with over 500+ UniAdmissions students placed at Oxford and Cambridge. Performing well in the TSA is crucial for your application. Our PPE Premium Programme prepares you to score highly through one-to-one tuition sessions, intensive ...

  2. Philosophy, Politics and Economics

    All three branches of PPE at Oxford have an international reputation, supported by more than 200 renowned scholars. ... The three branches are perfect for a generalist like myself, and jumping from an economics problem set to a politics essay and then a logic exercise means you'll certainly never get bored. You'll have the opportunity to ...

  3. Top Tips for an Oxford PPE Personal Statement

    Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Personal Statement - Top 10 Tips : Dos and Don'ts. The Oxford Personal Statement is a crucial component of your PPE Oxford university application as it presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions ...

  4. How to Prepare for the PPE at Oxford University

    Key Features of The Oxford PPE Interview. The Oxford PPE interview is a critical milestone on your Oxbridge application journey! As of December 2020, interviews for successful Oxbridge applicants who have aced the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) will be conducted throughout a mixture of either in-person or online interviews (depending on the college), offering a unique opportunity to showcase ...

  5. PPE FHS Final 2

    School in PPE at Oxford. As you will know, PPE is a strong and engaging multidisciplinary degree programme that has been in existence in Oxford for just over 100 years, and success- ... and to produce good quality essays and class assignments to deadline; • promote skills of relevance to the continued professional development of philosophi-

  6. PPE Personal Statement

    Author: Emrys - Oxford BA Philosophy, Politics & Economics. I have provided tuition internationally to students from Dubai, China and Pakistan. Through this I have a wealth of experience offering support for Oxford applicants, providing help with interviews and the TSA, where I managed to achieve a score of 80+ which is considered exceptional.

  7. PPE: the Oxford degree that runs Britain

    The Labour peer Stewart Wood, a former adviser to Ed Miliband, took the degree in the 1980s, taught politics at Oxford between 1995 and 2010, and still runs occasional seminars there for PPE ...

  8. Oxford PPE Personal Statement Example (International Student)

    Related Personal Statements. Finance Personal Statement Example 1. Since my early childhood I was the one playing banker in the Czech equivalent of Monopoly, as my parents (both graduates of economic study) mentioned that I had special smile when I touch, count and distribute money. While my dad saw the heights of the international market and ...

  9. Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)

    PPE is an unusual course, and the three subjects - Philosophy, Politics and Economics - offer highly-contrasting intellectual styles and challenges. ... The Philosophy Faculty at Oxford is the largest philosophy department in the UK, and one of the largest in the world, with more than 70 full-time members, admitting more than 500 ...

  10. PDF Course Information Sheet [PPE]

    Philosophy, Politics and Economics Course Information Sheet for entry in 2022. PPE was born of the conviction that study of the great modern works of economic, social, political and philosophical thought would have a transformative effect on students' intellectual lives, and thereby on society at large. This conviction remains as firm today ...

  11. Foundation Year in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and ...

    The Foundation Year in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) course is designed to offer students an introduction to the three courses of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. You will take a 'Foundations in PPE' module, two modules in each of the constituent subjects and a mathematics for PPE module that runs throughout the three terms.

  12. PPE

    Studying PPE Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Oxford? On Studocu you will find 139 summaries, 138 essays, 92 lecture notes and much more for PPE. ... Essay - Can we draw a sharp distinction between democracies and non-democracies? 4 pages 2015/2016 100% (4)

  13. PPE admissions 2022-23 Information for applicants

    PPE admissions 2022-23 Information for applicants Section 1: admissions statistics This year the number of applicants was 1864. The number of applicants per place was 7.0. There were 334 open applications and 48 deferred entry applications. There were 818 female and 1046 male applicants. There were 970 home, 207 EU and 687 overseas applicants.

  14. Oxford PPE Interview Preparation and Coaching 2021

    Oxford PPE Interview Preparation 2021. I have been successfully helping candidates prepare for their Oxford PPE interviews for a number of years. Having taught PPE students at the University of Oxford, as a post-doctoral philosophy tutor, I'm naturally very familiar with the application process. The Oxford PPE interviews attempt to recreate the ...

  15. PDF PPE New College freshers Reading List 2020

    Reading List for 2020 Entrants to PPE The first year's work in PPE does not presuppose prior knowledge or experience with the academic study of philosophy, politics or economics. ... Oxford University Press, 2010. It is not required but it may be useful to have read the first three chapters of the Logic Manual before you get here. The set ...

  16. PPE: the Oxford degree with a lot to answer for

    As a PPE tutor between 1975 and 2010, I escaped teaching any of the numerous graduates listed, though Andrew Glyn and I once combined lectures on Marx's Capital. Gavin Williams Oxford

  17. Philosophy, Politics and Economics

    Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Oriel College. PPE at Oxford allows students to combine various conceptual tools from the academic disciplines of Philosophy, Politics and Economics to understand how the world works - or doesn't! Although it provides a basic grounding in all three disciplines in the first year, students are subsequently ...

  18. My Honest Experience of Studying PPE at Oxford

    Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford is a course that has quite an odd reputation, surrounded as it is by a lot of mystique and hype. Some have called it "the degree that rules Britain.". Others think that studying PPE at Oxford is something that's designed specifically for those who want to become Prime ...

  19. Kavita Singh PPE Essay Competition

    Kavita Singh PPE Essay Competition. Kavita Singh, St. Hugh's Alumna, is a pioneer in India's college admissions space. As CEO of Futureworks, she's coached 10,000+ students, sits on several scholarship committees, created breakthrough education programs and helped established tertiary educational institutions to widen access.

  20. Oxford and Cambridge Essay Competitions

    This essay competition is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and showcase their independent study and writing skills. Unfortunately, for external reasons, the essay won't be running in 2023, but may well be running in 2024 so do keep an eye out so you don't miss it! Sample Essay Questions from 2020.

  21. PPE admissions 2020-21 Further statistics

    PPE admissions 2020-21 Further statistics ... 72.3, and 63.8 in the Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Essay components respectively. For A-Level applicants without Maths, the average marks were 65.3, 67.8, and 63.1. Figure 4: TSA Marks TSA Problem Solving TSA Critical Thinking. 3

  22. Written work

    Written work. Many of our courses require applicants to send in a sample of their written work as part of their application. The tabs on this page will give you more details of what you need to send (if anything), how to send it, and the deadlines by which the work must be received. The deadline for submitting written work is 10 November.

  23. One hundred years of PPE 1920

    When PPE was first imagined by the academics of early twentieth-century Oxford, it was as a modern take on a classical education. One hundred years later, the degree course has educated thousands, and has been debated, celebrated, critiqued and challenged by many more. PPE has contributed to the political and cultural life not