Politics Philosophy and History

Politics, philosophy and history is one of the classic interdisciplinary combinations in British higher education, and for good reason: the three disciplines speak to each other constantly. Politics asks how power is organised, contested and legitimated. Philosophy asks what we can know, what is right, and what concepts like justice, freedom and democracy actually mean.

History provides the context, the evidence and the case studies that ground political and philosophical argument in real human experience. Together, they give you a comprehensive set of tools for understanding the world, past and present.

At Birkbeck College, this programme is taught in the evenings, making it particularly well suited to students who are combining study with work or other commitments. Birkbeck's part-time model is one of the most established in the country, and it attracts students who bring a depth of life experience to their academic work. The part-time structure means you study at a considered pace, allowing you to absorb complex material and engage with it seriously alongside your other responsibilities.

You will develop strong analytical and argumentative skills across all three disciplines. In politics you will examine political systems, ideologies, international relations and contemporary political problems. In philosophy you will engage with the main traditions of political philosophy, ethics and epistemology, learning to follow an argument rigorously and identify its weaknesses.

In history you will work with primary sources, evaluate competing interpretations and construct evidence-based accounts of past events and processes. Writing and reasoning clearly are emphasised throughout.

Graduates move into careers in public policy, the civil service, law, journalism, education, think tanks, international organisations, business, the third sector and politics itself. The combination of rigorous analytical training and broad intellectual range that PPH provides is valued across many areas of professional life, and postgraduate study in politics, philosophy, history or law is a common next step.