3-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Social Sciences - Continue to Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Placement Year)

Program Description For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Philosophy, Politics and Economics

PPE covers the areas of philosophy, political science, and economics, including political theory and political behavior, macro- and microeconomics, and major philosophical approaches. It provides students with a context in which to appreciate and develop insights into important national and global questions, and encourages them to reflect critically on these questions from a theoretical, practical, and ethical point of view.

The Essex BA in PPE should interest students if they want to develop a critical and interdisciplinary perspective on what makes the world tick. It offers them a solid grounding in three foundational disciplines, and provides them with opportunities to explore topics including:

• Globalization and international relations • Philosophy and political theory • Democratic and comparative politics • Political economy • Ethics and public policy

The Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. It is rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and has consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

Meanwhile, the Department of Economics is Top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of their research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” (REF 2014), and the Department of Philosophy is ranked Top 10 in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014).