How does the world work, and how can it be changed? This course explores issues of philosophy, politics and economics, and challenges you to devise creative solutions to local, national and global problems.

  • Combine academic studies in philosophy, politics and economics with real-world problem solving.
  • Apply academic theory in practical and creative ways to study, design projects, plan and innovate.
  • Draw on the Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences to explore how the world works from multiple perspectives.

Take an innovative approach to the study of philosophy, politics and economics – and their application to the contemporary world. You’ll explore the major challenges we face at local, national and international levels and develop creative ideas and approaches to dealing with these issues.

With a strong emphasis on problem solving and creative thinking, this is a course for those who want to not only understand the ways in which the world works, but to question them.

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What you'll learn

Overview

Our Politics, Philosophy and Economics course draws on a variety of disciplines in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

The first and second years provide the building blocks for subsequent study. You'll develop expertise in a wide range of philosphical, political and economical thinking, and learn to apply the knowledge and professional skills you've acquired in practical ways.

The final year project is an opportunity to synthesise and apply your knowledge and understanding across all of these disciplines, bringing them together in a major piece of work.

Course structure

Year one
Introductions and foundations: Ask questions, challenge your assumptions, interrogate evidence, data and opinions. You’ll follow a broad curriculum and develop your understanding of economic, political and philosophical thinking and how they interconnect.

Year two
Practical, applied, relevant: this year combines the academic study of Politics, Philosophy and Economics with the acquisition of professional skills as you apply your knowledge and understanding to a defined problem or idea.

Year three
Achievement, consolidation, creativity: your final project in the third year brings all this together. You’ll identify your own area of study, develop your proposal and put it into practice. This might be an extended piece of academic writing, a pitch to a local employer, a community project or the creation of digital resources.

How will I be assessed?

We’ll assess your progress through a variety of coursework tasks including:

  • Projects
  • Portfolios
  • Reflective writing.
How will I be taught?

You'll be taught through a mix of seminars, workshops and lectures. You'll learn in small groups, with as many opportunities to work outside the seminar room as possible.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Year one (Level 4) modules
  • Introduction to the Study of Politics
  • Worlds of Ideas
  • Professional Practice
  • Ethics and Values
  • Economics and Globalisation
  • Thinking Together: Humanities in the 21st Century
Year two (Level 5) modules
  • Ethics in the Contemporary World
  • Applying Economics
  • British Politics
  • The Art of the Possible: Political Analysis and Policy Making
  • Political Ideologies: Thinking in Action
  • Digital Humanities
  • The Art of Persuasion: Advocacy for Change
  • Working Together
  • Political Institutions and Social Change
  • Reading Philosophy
  • Innovation Management
  • Transformative Communities
  • Professional Placement Year
Year three (Level 6) modules
  • PPE Final Project
  • Advanced Economics Issues
  • Utopia and Dystopia
  • Conservation Politics in Africa
  • Critical Approaches to World Politics
  • Political Journalism
  • Leadership and Management
  • Life and Meaning
  • Environmental Politics
  • Global Empires
  • Gender in Society - Critical Perspectives
  • The Placement: Putting Your Subject into Practice

Bath Spa students become international diplomats for the day

Bath Spa University students had the opportunity to experience working as an international diplomat for the day, joining students from 32 UK universities to participate in a crisis scenario event.

It was the first time that Bath Spa University took part in the prestigious annual event, which was held at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Westminster and organised by the British International Studies Association.

Read the full story
Students at the model Nato event sit around a large table

Opportunities

Work placements, industry links and internships

We'll encourage you to work outside of the seminar room as much as possible, through fieldwork, projects with our industry partners, placements and internships.

Careers

We'll work with you to develop your professional skills and to identify ways of applying them externally – to roles that are current in an ever-changing work landscape. 

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Professional placement year

Overview

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

How will I be assessed?

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

The course is based at our Newton Park campus, which combines outstanding modern facilities with a beautiful setting.

Resources

The Library provides many core resources, both in print and online. We draw on a wide range of resources, and encourage the use – and creation – of different materials. 

You'll have access to other excellent facilities including:

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,535
UK part time £4,768
International full time £16,460

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

  • UK: £1,907
  • International: £3,292

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We're looking for students who demonstrate a willingness to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems and to become involved in helping to solve them.

You'll need ideas, imagination and determination. Expect to be challenged – even as you challenge the world to do better.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

  • A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

Course leader: Dr Rupert Alcock
Email: r.alcock@bathspa.ac.uk

Three year course
With placement year