BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics BA, a economics, politics and international relations and philosophy degree spanning political theory, economic analysis, and philosophical inquiry. Core topics include Mathematical Modelling and Research Methods. The curriculum provides a structured investigation into societal systems across three years of study. The first year covers foundational principles through modules such as Understanding International Relations, Introduction to Political Theory, Moral and Political Philosophy, and Principles of Economics. The second year expands into specialized study with compulsory and optional elements spanning Comparative Politics, Research Design, Macroeconomics, and Microeconomics. The final year culminates in a Dissertation alongside advanced options like Advanced Macroeconomics, Advanced Microeconomics, History of Economic Thought, and International Trade Theory and Policy.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A Level: AAB to include GCSE Maths Grade A/7. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level, to include English with a minimum of 32 points overall. BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are all considered
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 2 UCAS decisions for BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics (L0V0) at the University of Birmingham for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 77 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 86%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 90 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 92%
- Left higher education: 8%
What graduates do next
Based on about 48 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 63%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 43%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 12%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 11%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Sales occupations: 3%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 105 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 9%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 26%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 26%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 7%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 80 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
- Other qualifications: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Understanding International Relations
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Moral and Political Philosophy
- Introduction to Mathematics for Economics (for those without A Level Maths)
- Mathematics for Economics (for those with A Level Maths)
- Principles of Economics
- Comparative Politics
- Research Design
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- International Relations Theory
- Global Governance
- Digital Democracy
- Feminist Political Ideas
- History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state
- International Political Economy
- International Security
- Political Ethics
- Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging
- UK Politics in a Time of Crisis
- Globalisation Capitalism and Welfare
- International Political of East Asia
- International Relations of the Middle East
- Politics of Sex and Sexuality
- Politics of Sustainable Development
- Russian Politics: From revolution to Putin
- The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict
- US Politics
- Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- China and the World Economy
- Development Economics
- Environmental Economics
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Mathematical Methods for Economics
- Experience and Reason: Early Modern Philosophy
- Philosophy of Mental Health
- Science and Nature
- Elements of Metaphysics
- The Ethics of Killing
- Climate and Environmental Ethics
- Logic
- Feminist Philosophy
- Sex, Ethics & Philosophy
- Dissertation
- Advanced Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- Advanced Financial Markets and Institutions
- Advanced Macroeconomics
- Advanced Microeconomics
- Economics of the European Union
- Health Economics
- History of Economic Thought
- International Trade Theory and Policy
- Monetary Policy and Dynamic Macroeconomics
- Public Economics
- Labour Economics
- Industrial Organisation
- Decision Theory and Games
- China: State and Society
- Contemporary International Political Economy
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Racism, Empire, and Political Thought
- The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality
- The Politics of Memory
- Topics in British Politics
- Fantastic Beasts and How to Understand Them: Topics in Philosophy
- Just War
- Nietzsche
- Social Justice
- Prejudice, Race and Gender
- It’s About Time!
- Philosophy of Mathematics
- Topics in the Philosophy of Religion
- Reason and Belief
- Being Good and Doing Right: Issues in Contemporary Theory
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £42,000. The £32,000 median after five years is £16,500 less than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 139 UCAS points.
Does BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University of Birmingham?
92% of students continued into their second year, and 8% left higher education.