Better decisions for a better world
Tackle societal issues
Part of the John Stuart Mill College, studying PPE at VU Amsterdam means benefiting from a personalised learning experience with lots of interaction between students and teachers. This Bachelor's programme is the first of its kind in mainland Europe.
You will tackle societal issues from multiple perspectives, using multiple disciplines. For example, approaching climate change from a political and an economic perspective, or examining issues that monopolies create through an economic lens and an ethical lens. Teaching is done mostly through seminars: in small groups, you will debate the big questions, look at how policies are applied, and critically discuss the outcomes.
The college has its own floor within VU Amsterdam's main building. This allows students to experience the vibrant VU campus life while taking advantage of the college’s private spaces available to PPE students only. The college provides spaces for social activities (mostly organized by PPE’s own study association KallioPPE ) and extracurricular events organized by coordinators, (PhD) students.
The programme is truly international in its orientation: 50% of the students who follow PPE come from abroad, and all students have a very international outlook on life. That's important, given that almost all PPE students take one semester at a partner university abroad - whether in the US, Europe, Asia or South Africa.
Students are required to choose two disciplines/tracks from their second year onwards. However, for highly talented students it's also possible to participate in the Honours programme (30 ECTS). There are two options: the internal honours programme, which means taking all three PPE disciplines; or the external honours programme, which means taking courses from another faculty or even another university in Amsterdam.
Choose a specialization
Philosophy
Want to specialize in philosophy? Then choose philosophy as one of your tracks in your second year and find out below which courses this entails.
Politics
Want to specialize in politics? Then choose politics as one of your tracks in your second year and find out below which courses this entails.
Economics
Want to specialize in economics? Then choose economics as one of your tracks in your second year and find out below which courses this entails.
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
Second year
If you choose the philosophy track in your second year, you will take courses in the Philosophy of Science and in Political Philosophy in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two electives out of a choice of four - including Epistemology, History of Philosophy II, Global Justice, and Advanced Ethics. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering Governance for Society and Global Connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
1st year
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
-
2nd year
Second year
If you choose the philosophy track in your second year, you will take courses in the Philosophy of Science and in Political Philosophy in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two electives out of a choice of four - including Epistemology, History of Philosophy II, Global Justice, and Advanced Ethics. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering Governance for Society and Global Connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
3rd year
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
Second year
If you choose the politics track in your second year, you will take courses in Political Institutions as well as International Relations and Global Governance in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two political science electives out of a choice of four – including International Security, EU Institutions and Policies, Global Political Economy and Political Communication. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering governance for society and global connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
1st year
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
-
2nd year
Second year
If you choose the politics track in your second year, you will take courses in Political Institutions as well as International Relations and Global Governance in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two political science electives out of a choice of four – including International Security, EU Institutions and Policies, Global Political Economy and Political Communication. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering governance for society and global connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
3rd year
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
Second year
If you choose the economics track in the second year, you will take courses in Microeconomics and Methods and Macroeconomics and Policy in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two electives out of a choice of four - including International Trade and Development, Public Economics, Behavioural Economics and Institutional Economics. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering Governance for Society and Global Connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
1st year
First year
In the first year, you will take core foundational courses in the three main disciplines. These include Microeconomics, History of Philosophy, Comparative Politics, and important methodologies like Mathematics and Statistics that are then used throughout the programme. Check the list on the right for the descriptions per course.
Subjects
- Ethics (PPE)
- Methods of PPE I
- Foundations of Microeconomics (PPE)
- Political Science: State, Power, Conflict (PPE)
- PPE in Practice I: Wellbeing, Politics and Markets
- History of Philosophy (PPE)
- Methods of PPE II
- Comparative Politics (PPE)
- Development of Macroeconomic Thought (PPE)
- PPE in Practice II: From Theory to Practice
-
2nd year
Second year
If you choose the economics track in the second year, you will take courses in Microeconomics and Methods and Macroeconomics and Policy in the first semester. In the second semester, you will take two electives out of a choice of four - including International Trade and Development, Public Economics, Behavioural Economics and Institutional Economics. All PPE students also take mandatory PPE in practice courses, covering Governance for Society and Global Connectivity.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
-
3rd year
Third year
In the third year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the VU Amsterdam's partner universities, where you can take courses that relate to your chosen track. PPE has exclusive partnerships with universities in the US, UK, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Japan and Australia - a truly international selection.
Having completed two more core courses on policy or methods and PPE in practice, you will take a thesis tutorial - at the end of which you will choose your own topic to write your Bachelor's thesis.
Subjects
You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
Change your future with the Politics, Philosophy and Economics programme
After the bachelor’s programme, you can specialise by choosing a Master’s degree programme. When you graduate as a policy expert, you could work as a leader, policymaker, consultant, reporter or academic in banks, consultancies, governments, political think-tanks or academic institutions.
