Philosophy, Politics & Economics BA/BSc

Key Information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Required A-level: A*AA Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements Duration: Three years Application status: Closed Start date: September 2025 Application deadline: 29 January 2025 Optional study abroad

Course Description

The BA/BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a high-quality, interdisciplinary programme that will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand, analyse and contribute to the political and economic institutions of the 21st century, both in the UK and globally. This programme is taught jointly by the Department of Political Economy and the Department of Philosophy. The programme is administered by the Department of Political Economy.

Key Benefits

• You will learn to think critically and independently about fundamental issues in philosophy, politics, and economics and about the interaction between these disciplines.
• Sitting within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, the Department of Political Economy has an interdisciplinary ethos that cultivates a highly stimulating intellectual environment, which attracts leading scholars from all over the world.
• King's was ranked 4th in the UK and 12th in the world for Politics in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2024.
• We offer a wide range of optional modules, covering many areas of philosophy, politics and economics, and their interrelations.
• This programme enables you to develop an understanding of the relationship between political and economic processes, institutions and ideas and the broader philosophical questions underlying public policy.

Course Essentials

Our research-led curriculum encourages critical analysis and debate on contemporary international political and policy issues. Your first year will provide you with the foundations for the study of philosophy, politics, and economics. If you wish to carry out independent research, you can opt to complete a 30-credit dissertation in your final year. On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. The course is primarily taught on the King’s College London Strand and Waterloo campuses. It benefits from a central location with all the facilities offered by King’s readily available and the cultural attractions of the Southbank and Covent Garden on its doorstep. The library and computing facilities are readily accessible together with the opportunity to use the University of London library at Senate House. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Base Campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Special Features

Optional Study Abroad

On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.

Find out more about Study Abroad

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

Required subjects: None. Preferred subjects: None.

A-Levels

Required grades: A*AA Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.

Contextual A-Level Information

AAB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

38 points overall or an aggregate score of 19 from three Higher Levels.

Contextual International Baccalaureate Information

35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE. GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics requirement can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 6, if not studied/studying at Higher Level. GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics requirement can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 6, if not studied/studying at Higher Level.

GCSE/IGCSE Requirements

Mathematics grade 7/A.

• Functional Skills, and Numeracy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.
• If you are an international student who does not study GCSEs/IGCSEs or IB Standard Level/Middle Years as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. However, we will look for evidence of the equivalency in your studies.

Alternative Accepted Qualifications

Select an alternative accepted qualification Access to HE Diploma BTEC Nationals/CTECs Cambridge Pre-U European Baccalaureate Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Standard Requirements

The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.

Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 39 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 6 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma should be in a relevant subject - Humanities or similar - to be considered. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.

Contextual Requirements

The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total. Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 33 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 12 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma should be in a relevant subject - Humanities or similar - to be considered. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.

International Applicants

Equivalent International Qualifications

Select a country Select a country Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australasia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia (Czech Republic) Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Home Fee Status Students Honduras Hong Kong SAR Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka St Kitts and Nevis St. Helena St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & the Grenadines Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Gambia Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Türkiye Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Wales Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above

English Language Requirements

English language band: B

Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection Process

Contextual Consideration

We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.

Deferrals

Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.

If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.

Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military
ational service.

Foundation Courses

Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.

We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.

The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.

Graduates

Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.

Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.

Resits

We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.

Transfers

Transfers into this programme are not permitted.

Help for International Applicants

Recommended Pathways

• Liberal Arts + Global Politics
• Liberal Arts + Economics
• Social Sciences + Economics
• Social Sciences + Global Politics
• Global Politics + Economics
• Economics + Mathematics for Business & Economics

Eligible Pathways

• Business & Economics Pathway
• Health, Life & Biosciences Pathway
• STEM & Natural Sciences Pathway
• Liberal Arts + Social Sciences

International Foundation Year

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.

Pre-sessional Courses

If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.

Teaching Methods - What to Expect

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Small Group Tutorials

We use lectures, seminars, and small group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course.

Assessment

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Tutorial Participation

You will be assessed through a range of techniques including examinations, coursework, and tutorial participation. A typical student might experience the following assessment, although precise percentages will depend on modules selected.

Structure

Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

This is a three-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits.

Year 1

• Required modules:
  • Political & Economic Philosophy (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Philosophy I (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Philosophy II (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (30 credits)
  • Principles of Economics (30 credits)
  • Quantitative Methods (15 credits)
• Optional modules: None

Employability

Graduates from this course acquire a valuable set of diverse and highly transferable skills that equip them to flourish in a wide range of careers and perform to the highest standards in policy development, governmental roles, and communications, amongst others.

Tuition Fees

Full-time Tuition Fees UK

The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.

Full-time Tuition Fees International

The International tuition fee for the academic year is £35,800 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.

If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Students will also have the opportunity to study abroad with one of our partner institutions for a full academic year in their third year of study. They will return to complete their final fourth year at King’s. This will include a degree title with Year Abroad and equate to an additional 120 credits. If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpage for details related to the relevant partner universities: legacy/abroad/discover/destinations/partners-by-department *Destinations can change at short notice, but the Study Abroad team will aim for this list to be as current as possible. King's will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. At present these are as follows • Home students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for £6,000 for King's tuition fees for the year. • Overseas students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for two thirds of the King's tuition fees for the year. The OfS cap for a compulsory or optional year abroad is £1,385. NB: EU students will be liable for the same study abroad tuition fees as overseas students in 2025/26. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

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Degree Overview:

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Objectives:

• To equip students with the skills and knowledge to analyze and contribute to political and economic institutions in the 21st century.
• To cultivate critical and independent thinking about fundamental issues in philosophy, politics, and economics, and their interrelations.
• To foster understanding of the relationship between political and economic processes, institutions and ideas, and the broader philosophical questions underlying public policy.

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Description:

This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the political and economic landscape, empowering them to navigate contemporary international issues and contribute to the development of effective public policy. Through a rigorous curriculum informed by cutting-edge research, students will gain the skills to think critically, analyze complex problems, and communicate effectively. The program is characterized by:

• A strong interdisciplinary approach that integrates philosophy, politics, and economics.
• An emphasis on critical analysis and debate on contemporary international political and policy issues.
• A commitment to hands-on learning through seminars, tutorials, and an optional research dissertation.
• The opportunity to study abroad and gain valuable international experience.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Introduction to the core concepts and theories of philosophy, politics, and economics.
• Modules: Political & Economic Philosophy, Introduction to Philosophy I, Introduction to Philosophy II, Comparing Political Systems, Principles of Economics, Quantitative Methods.

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Year 2:

• Deeper exploration of specific topics within each discipline.
• Modules: (selected from a range of options, including):
• Contemporary Political Theory
• International Relations
• Economic Policy
• Social Justice
• Political Economy of Development
• Business Ethics
• Philosophy of Mind
• Logic and Argumentation

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Year 3:

• Advanced study and exploration of individual research interests.
• Modules: (selected from a range of options, including):
• Comparative Politics
• International Political Economy
• Public Policy
• Behavioral Economics
• Decision Theory
• Philosophy of Science
• Ethics and Technology

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Optional Research Dissertation:

• Students have the opportunity to complete a 30-credit dissertation in their final year, allowing them to focus on a specific research topic and develop their research and writing skills.

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Assessment:

• A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the program, including:
• Written examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Tutorials and seminars participation
• Presentations
• Research projects
• Dissertation
The specific assessment methods and weighting will vary depending on the modules selected.

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Teaching:

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Teaching methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Small group tutorials
• Individual supervision (for the dissertation)

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Technology:

• Innovative technology is used to complement face-to-face teaching and provide students with a rich, engaging learning experience.

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Faculty:

• The program is taught by a team of experienced academics who are experts in their fields.

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Unique approaches:

• The program emphasizes active learning and encourages students to engage in critical discussion and debate.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in research projects and gain hands-on experience.
• The optional study abroad program allows students to gain valuable international experience.

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Careers:

• Graduates of this program are well-equipped for a variety of careers in policy development, governmental roles, communications, research, and other fields.

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Example careers:

• Policy Analyst
• Economist
• Political Consultant
• Journalist
• Researcher
• Management Consultant
• Lawyer
• Teacher

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Other:

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Location:

• The program is located on the Strand Campus, in the heart of London.

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Study abroad:

• Students have the option to study abroad for one semester at a partner university.

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Additional costs:

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Full time tuition fees UK: The UK tuition fee for the 2024-25 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap. Full time tuition fees International The International tuition fee for the 2024-2025 academic year is £33,450 per year. Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions. All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Additional Costs Library fees and fines Personal photocopies Printing course handouts Society membership fees Stationery Graduation costs Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses