Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics, widely known as PPE, is a combination that has shaped the thinking of many who go on to work at the intersection of public life, governance and social analysis. Each discipline contributes something distinct. Philosophy develops your capacity for rigorous argument and conceptual analysis.

Politics asks how power is organised, contested and legitimised in societies. Economics provides tools for understanding how resources are allocated, how markets function, and how policy choices affect welfare. Together they produce graduates who can think clearly, argue carefully and engage with the real complexity of social and political life.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands this programme is studied part-time, making it accessible to those who are balancing study with work, family or other commitments. The flexible structure means you take fewer modules per week compared to a full-time route, spreading the workload to suit your circumstances. You will engage with the major traditions in political philosophy, contemporary political systems, economic theory and applied policy analysis.

The mode of study at UHI draws on a distributed campus model, making use of digital and blended learning alongside face-to-face engagement where available.

PPE graduates enter a wide range of careers. Public policy, politics, journalism, law, finance, civil service, international organisations, think tanks and advocacy work are all well-established routes. The combination of analytical rigour from philosophy, institutional knowledge from politics, and quantitative and conceptual tools from economics is regarded highly by employers across both public and private sectors.

Further study is equally open to you, whether in political philosophy, law, economics, public administration or international relations. The part-time mode suits those who want to develop these capabilities while continuing other aspects of their professional or personal lives.