Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Study Abroad)

BA Hons

  • UCAS code L0V2
  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 4 years
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We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 9

    9th for graduate prospects: Economics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 10

    10th for Economics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 12

    12th for Economics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

People, ideas and finances shape our lives and societies. We’ll help you understand how that happens, unpicking the complexities and multiple perspectives behind today’s political and policy challenges. Whether you are passionate about a public-facing political career, or making your mark in professional civil service, international or charity roles, you’ll graduate as a versatile thinker and effective communicator ready to launch your career.

Why Lancaster?

  • Study a prestigious degree that combines expertise in Politics and Philosophy, as well as the Department of Economics in our quadruple accredited Management School
  • Gain a nuanced political understanding, engaging with economic models and debating key philosophical questions from around the world
  • Learn from expert advisers who consult with local, national and international governments and parliament
  • Develop the multidisciplinary mindset that is necessary to find solutions to pressing real-world problems and exert leadership in the twenty-first century
  • Tailor your degree according to your interests and ambitions
  • Take part in assessed simulations such as mock select committees, mock citizens assemblies and mock Prime Minister's Questions, to gain valuable real-world experience

Multiple perspectives. multiple solutions.

Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lancaster provides an in-depth, intensive grounding in each of its three disciplines for ambitious students. From day one, you will be trained to look at problems from multiple angles, to develop solutions, and to draw on insights and methods from all three fields.

You will engage with the pressing issues of today: How are societies and political institutions influenced by economic forces? What difference do ideas and ideologies make? How do international treaties and conflicts shape people’s lives? You will learn to ask difficult questions and shape possible solutions.

The programme combines academic depth with preparation for continued professional success and an informed understanding of the modern world.

Inspired by experts

You will be taught by academics who are experts in their field. In Politics our staff regularly collaborate with government bodies such as UK parliament on important issues such as racial injustice, voter rights, and migration.

Our Economics team have expertise in Environmental Economics, Behavioural Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Policy and Game Theory and our Philosophy academics specialise in Media ethics and regulation, educational policy, and reproductive rights and policy. You can be sure that your degree In Philosophy, Philosophy and Economics is informed by our subject expertise.

By studying PPE at Lancaster, you’ll learn how to interpret data, evaluate evidence, and understand and influence the decisions individuals make.You’ll develop a deeper understanding of how governing institutions and markets work, and how to confront the pressing global challenges of the twenty-first century.

Putting this knowledge and skillset into practice, you will be supported in presenting your work across a range of mediums. You will learn through interactive and collaborative sessions such as policy labs, and simulations including mock select committees, mock citizens assembly and mock Prime Minister's Questions. To present your work, you could be creating a policy brief, podcast, reflective diary, blog, research portfolio, or policy memo and evaluation, in addition to essays, presentations and more.

Key themes could include:

  • Public Policy
  • Political Behaviour such as how people vote, organise, and communicate political ideas
  • Politics of Britain, the US, China, the EU, and Russia
  • Political Theory
  • Critical Thinking and Independent Research
  • Data Analysis
  • The Macroeconomic Environment
  • Applied research methods

Building connections

We recognise how important connections are for your future career. Recent interactions include sessions directly taught by the Institute for Government (a think tank based in Westminster), a visit from the Speaker of the House of Commons and Several MPs, a visit to the Parliamentary estate and the chance to interact to with clerks of the House of Commons. Through our Ethics Values and Policy Initiative students have also had recent opportunities with the Spanish Ambassador to the UK, Ministers in both the Welsh and Scottish governments, climate change think tanks and Bank of England policy advisors.

The Richardson Institute

Formed in 1959, the Richardson Institute is the oldest peace and conflict research centre in the UK. Since 2012 it has provided an internship programme that gives students the opportunity to work with different organisations on issues of peace and conflict.

Richardson Institute

Your year abroad

A student sitting in front of a suspension bridge on a sunny day.

Study abroad

The study abroad option is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is thinking of working abroad during their career or who simply wants the experience of living and studying overseas as part of their degree.

Often study abroad students describe the year abroad as a “transformative experience”, as it can shape your future career path as well as having a positive impact on your personal development.

Study abroad - Lancaster students
Sunway University

Experience and skills

On a study abroad course, you'll spend two years at Lancaster before going overseas in your third year to study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to

  • develop your global outlook
  • expand your professional network
  • increase your cultural awareness
  • develop your personal skills.

You’ll return to Lancaster for your final year of study in year four.

Ayers Rock, Australia

Host universities

During your year abroad, you will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially other modules offered by the host university that are specialisms of that university and country. 

The places available at our overseas partners vary every year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty have included Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Castle Hill in Lancaster

Alternative option

We will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable.

If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard 3-year degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad.

Careers

Lancaster’s PPE degree places the development of professional excellence at its core. The course provides you with a broad and impressive skill set that is important in many professional roles. You will stand out as a versatile thinker capable of numerical reasoning and analysis, clear communication, critical and creative thinking, and an understanding of political institutions and processes. We’ll provide structured support in identifying the career fields that you wish to explore and in making contacts in these areas. We’ll help you hone your CV and equip you to confidently articulate the skills you have gained to employers.

Your PPE course at Lancaster opens up a wide range of careers in the private, public, and charitable sectors – including politics, the media, consultancy, finance, and NGOs.

Some of the careers our graduates have chosen include:

  • Civil Service and Government – working at different levels of government policymaking, shaping local, national and international strategies.
  • International charities and NGOs – working with local or global NGOs and charities to alleviate poverty, tackle inequalities and fight injustice.
  • Journalism and media – reporting on social, political, and economic issues, and analysing global events and their impacts.
  • Business management and consultancy – advising organisations on strategy, growth, and efficiency, and helping companies adapt to emerging global challenges and trends.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Careers

Find out about some of the careers our alumni have entered into after graduation.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. You may need to have qualifications in relevant subjects. In some cases we may also ask you to attend an interview or submit a portfolio. You must also meet our English language requirements.

Find more about these qualifications and others not shown here

Learn about how we will assess your application

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Contact Admissions

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Enhancing our curriculum

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future.

We will publish more detailed information about the structure of this degree course for 2026-entry in June 2025, ahead of our summer undergraduate open days. This will include overviews of the core modules you will take and examples of optional modules which may be available to you.

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

As a guide, our fees in 2025/26 were:

Home International
£9,535 £24,950

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2026 are not yet available.

You can use our scholarships for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2026/2027 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

Undergraduate open days 2025

Our summer and autumn open days will give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.

Undergraduate Open Days
two students sitting and reading on some outdoor steps

  • Virtual tour

    Take five minutes and let us show you what Lancaster has to offer, from our beautiful green campus to our colleges, teaching and sports facilities.

  • Accommodation guide

    Most first-year undergraduate students choose to live on campus, where you’ll find accommodation to suit different preferences and budgets.

  • The city and beyond

    Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the picturesque Lake District.