PPE degrees and alternatives from AAA to ABB for 2027
PPE degrees and alternatives from AAA to ABB for 2027
Oxford asks AAA for Philosophy, Politics and Economics, which is a grade below the A*AA that Durham, LSE, Nottingham, UCL and Warwick ask for their PPE degrees. Edinburgh publishes a range of A*A*A* to A*AA for its version. For a student who wants PPE but needs back-ups, or who is predicted below those offers, the useful list runs from AAA to ABB and takes in degrees that combine two of the three subjects.
We checked the 2027 entry requirements on each university's own pages in September 2026. Across the three offers there are 84 courses at 34 universities. PPE itself accounts for 19 of them, Oxford's included, and the other 65 combine two of the three subjects, such as Philosophy and Economics or Politics and Philosophy. The tables below take each offer in turn, with PPE at the top of each.
Mathematics divides these courses more than the grades do. Of the PPE degrees listed here, York's BSc is the only one we found that requires A-level Mathematics, and Oxford recommends it without requiring it. Moreover, several two-subject degrees that include Economics do require it, among them LSE's Philosophy and Economics, which asks for an A, and Bristol's Philosophy and Economics.
PPE and its alternatives at AAA
Seven universities ask AAA for PPE itself: Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Queen's Belfast and Sheffield. The table lists them first, followed by the two-subject degrees at the same offer, with each course's UCAS code and subject requirements.
Swipe the tables sideways to see every column.
| University | Course | Typical offer | Subject requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPE | |||
| Bristol | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS VL20 | AAA including an essay-based subject | An essay-based subject (list on the course page), GCSE Mathematics grade 7 or A (advanced numeracy requirement) |
| Exeter | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | AAA | |
| Leeds | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS 1LV0 | AAA | GCSE Maths grade 7 (A) |
| Manchester | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS LV25 | AAA | At least one from Accounting, Economics, Finance, Business Studies, Government and Politics, Mathematics, Philosophy, History, English, Geography, Psychology or Modern Languages |
| Oxford | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | AAA | Required: not applicable. Recommended: Mathematics to A-level (or equivalent) |
| Queen's Belfast | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS LV00 | AAA | |
| Sheffield | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L200 | AAA | GCSE Maths grade 6/B |
| Degrees combining two of the three subjects | |||
| Bath | Politics with Economics | AAA or A*AB in three A levels | While A level Mathematics is not required, you will need a strong grounding in Mathematics (for example, a high grade at GCSE). GCSE Mathematics grade 7 or A (grade 6 or B may be considered if you study a... |
| Birmingham | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAA | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 required, General Studies, Critical Thinking and Use of Maths A-levels not accepted |
| Bristol | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAA including Mathematics and an essay-based subject | A-level Mathematics and an essay-based subject (list on the course page) |
| Bristol | Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS VL51 | AAA including Mathematics | A-level Mathematics |
| Bristol | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VL52 | AAA including an essay-based subject | An essay-based subject (list on the course page), GCSE Mathematics grade 4 or C (standard numeracy requirement) |
| Durham | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS LV25 | AAA including a social science or humanities subject | A social science or humanities subject |
| King's College London | History & Political EconomyUCAS LV22 | AAA | No required subjects. Preferred: History A Level (or equivalent) is generally expected, however applications without can be considered where the application clearly demonstrates interest in and engagement with... |
| LSE | Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS LV15 | AAA, with an A in Mathematics | A-level Maths (or equivalent) is required due to the nature of the economics courses. |
| LSE | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL12 | AAA, including Mathematics | There is no set subject combination, although A-level Mathematics (or equivalent) is required. |
| LSE | Politics and PhilosophyUCAS LV25 | AAA | No set subject combination |
| Leeds | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAA | A-level Politics not required. GCSE Maths grade 7 (A) |
| Manchester | Economics and PhilosophyUCAS LV15 | AAA including at least one from an approved subject list (including Economics, Philosophy, Mathematics) | At least one A-level from an approved subject list |
| Manchester | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAA including at least one from an approved subject list (including Economics, Government and Politics, Mathematics) | At least one A-level from an approved subject list |
| Nottingham | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL21 | AAA | GCSE Maths grade 7 (A) or above |
| Queen Mary | Economics and International RelationsUCAS L2L1 | AAA including A-Level Mathematics | This must include A-Level Mathematics. GCSE Maths at grade B or 5 (or an acceptable equivalent) |
| Queen Mary | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAA including A-Level Mathematics | This must include A-Level Mathematics. GCSE Maths at grade B or 5 (or an acceptable equivalent) |
| St Andrews | Economics and International RelationsUCAS LL12 | AAA | None stated on the subject pages |
| St Andrews | Economics and PhilosophyUCAS LV15 | AAA | No specific A-level subjects required by either subject page |
| St Andrews | International Relations and PhilosophyUCAS LV25 | AAA | No specific A-level subjects required by either subject page |
| UCL | History, Politics and EconomicsUCAS 4P47 | AAA | Any three subjects from Economics, History, Mathematics and Politics preferred. GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. |
| Warwick | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS V5L2 | AAA | |
| Warwick | Politics, Philosophy and LawUCAS V7MW | AAA | At least grade 4/C in GCSE Mathematics and grade 6/B in GCSE English Language |
At five universities a two-subject degree asks less than PPE. LSE asks A*AA with an A* in Mathematics for PPE, but AAA for Philosophy and Economics, for Politics and Economics, and for Politics and Philosophy. Despite asking A*AA for PPE, Durham, Nottingham, UCL and Warwick each have a two-subject degree at AAA, namely Philosophy and Politics at Durham and Warwick, Politics and Economics at Nottingham, and History, Politics and Economics at UCL.
St Andrews has no PPE degree, but it offers Economics and International Relations, Economics and Philosophy, and International Relations and Philosophy, all at AAA and all as four-year MA degrees. Oxford's PPE also requires the TARA admissions test, and an application that includes Oxford has to reach UCAS by 18:00 on 15 October 2026. Our article on the new Oxford admissions tests explains what the TARA asks of a candidate.
Edinburgh's Philosophy and Economics and Philosophy and Politics run from A*A*A to AAB, and Exeter's Economics and Politics from A*AA to AAA, so a student expecting AAA sits within each of these ranges. That being said, Edinburgh's range is wide, and a student predicted AAA would sit in its lower half, which makes Edinburgh an ambitious choice rather than a safe one.
| University | Courses | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Philosophy and Economics · Philosophy and Politics | A*A*A to AAB |
| Exeter | Economics and Politics | A*AA to AAA |
PPE and its alternatives at AAB
Seven universities ask AAB for PPE: Birmingham, Liverpool, Loughborough, Newcastle, Southampton, Sussex and York, where Sussex publishes a range of AAB to ABB. York offers PPE as both a BA and a BSc, and only the BSc requires A-level Mathematics.
| University | Course | Typical offer | Subject requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPE | |||
| Birmingham | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | AAB | GCSE Mathematics grade A/7 required, no specific A-level subjects required |
| Liverpool | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | AAB | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 and GCSE English grade 4 required |
| Loughborough | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS L0V1 | AAB | No specific A-level subjects required, GCSE Mathematics grade 6 (B) and GCSE English Language grade 6 (B) required |
| Newcastle | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS LV10 | AAB | |
| Southampton | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L0V1 | AAB plus grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics | GCSE Mathematics grade 6 (B) required |
| Sussex | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)UCAS L0V0 | AAB to ABB | GCSE Mathematics grade 6 minimum |
| York | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BA)UCAS L0V0 | AAB plus Mathematics GCSE Grade 7 (A) | Mathematics GCSE grade 7 (A) required |
| York | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BSc)UCAS L0V5 | AAB including Mathematics | Mathematics required at A-level |
| Degrees combining two of the three subjects | |||
| Birmingham | International Relations with EconomicsUCAS LL21 | AAB | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 (A) required, three A-levels needed |
| Birmingham | Philosophy, Politics and LawUCAS VM51 | AAB | No specific subjects required |
| Birmingham | Policy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L990 | AAB | GCSE Mathematics Grade A/7 required, no specific A-level subjects required |
| Birmingham | Politics and PhilosophyUCAS VL52 | AAB | No specific subjects required |
| Exeter | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VL52 | AAB | |
| Glasgow | Business Economics/PoliticsUCAS LLC2 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or Humanities subject and A-level Mathematics (Business Economics), A-level English or Humanities subject (Politics) |
| Glasgow | Economics/PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or Humanities subject and A-level Mathematics (Economics), A-level English or Humanities subject (Politics) |
| Glasgow | Philosophy/Economics (MA)UCAS LVD5 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or another Humanities subject (required by both subjects), A-level Mathematics (Economics) |
| Glasgow | Philosophy/Economics (MA(SocSci))UCAS LVC5 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or another Humanities subject (required by both subjects), A-level Mathematics (Economics) |
| Glasgow | Philosophy/Politics (MA)UCAS LVF5 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or another Humanities subject (required by both subjects) |
| Glasgow | Philosophy/Politics (MA(SocSci))UCAS LV25 | AAB to BBB | A-level English or another Humanities subject (required by both subjects) |
| Lancaster | History, Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS V0L0 | AAB † | No specific subjects required |
| Leeds | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS LV25 | AAB | |
| Newcastle | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL21 | AAB | |
| Nottingham | Politics and PhilosophyUCAS VL52 | AAB | No specific subjects required |
| Royal Holloway | Economics with Political StudiesUCAS L1L2 | AAB to BBB | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 (A) |
| Royal Holloway | Economics, Politics and International RelationsUCAS LL12 | AAB to BBB | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 (A) |
| Sheffield | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | AAB | GCSE Maths grade 6/B |
| Sheffield | Politics and PhilosophyUCAS LV25 | AAB | |
| Southampton | Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS VL51 | AAB plus grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics | GCSE Mathematics grade 6 (B) required |
| York | Economics and PhilosophyUCAS L1V5 | AAB including Mathematics | Mathematics required |
| York | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL21 | AAB including Mathematics | Mathematics required |
| York | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VL52 | AAB | No specific subjects required |
Several universities that ask AAA for PPE ask AAB for a two-subject version. Exeter's and Leeds's Philosophy and Politics sit here, along with Sheffield's Economics and Politics and its Politics and Philosophy, each a grade below PPE at the same university. Birmingham offers the widest choice at this level, with PPE and four related degrees, all at AAB.
Glasgow offers Philosophy and Economics and Philosophy and Politics both as an MA and as an MA (Social Sciences), under separate UCAS codes and at the same range of AAB to BBB. Of course, these are four-year degrees, and Glasgow asks for English or another humanities subject at A-level for each of them, with A-level Mathematics as well where Economics is involved. Edinburgh's Philosophy and Economics and Philosophy and Politics reach down to AAB, which puts a student expecting AAB at the very bottom of the range.
PPE and its alternatives at ABB
Five universities ask ABB for PPE: Essex, Reading, Royal Holloway, SOAS and UEA. Essex states its offer as 128 UCAS tariff points, which ABB meets, and Royal Holloway publishes a range of ABB to BBB.
| University | Course | Typical offer | Subject requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPE | |||
| Essex | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | 128 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels | GCSE Mathematics C/4 |
| Reading | Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsUCAS LV12 | ABB | No specific subjects mandated |
| Royal Holloway | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS L0V0 | ABB to BBB | GCSE Mathematics grade 7 (A) |
| SOAS | Politics, Philosophy and EconomicsUCAS L0E0 | ABB † | GCSE Maths grade B (6) required if not offering A-level Maths |
| UEA | Philosophy, Politics and Economics | ABB | |
| Degrees combining two of the three subjects | |||
| Cardiff | Philosophy, Politics and International RelationsUCAS LV28 | ABB to BBC | |
| Essex | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL2F | 128 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels | GCSE Mathematics C/4 |
| Liverpool | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS LV25 | ABB | |
| Manchester | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VL52 | ABB | At least one from an approved list including Philosophy, Government and Politics, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology and others |
| Queen's Belfast | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VLM2 | ABB | |
| Royal Holloway | Philosophy with International RelationsUCAS V5L9 | ABB to BBB | |
| Royal Holloway | Philosophy with PoliticsUCAS V5L2 | ABB to BBB | |
| Royal Holloway | Politics and International Relations and PhilosophyUCAS LV25 | ABB to BBB | |
| Royal Holloway | Politics with PhilosophyUCAS L2V5 | ABB to BBB | |
| SOAS | Economics and International RelationsUCAS LL21 | ABB † | GCSE Maths grade B (6) required if not offering A-level Maths |
| SOAS | International Relations and World Philosophies | ABB † | |
| SOAS | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL12 | ABB † | GCSE Maths grade B (6) required if not offering A-level Maths |
| SOAS | Politics and World PhilosophiesUCAS L200 | ABB † | |
| Southampton | Philosophy and PoliticsUCAS VL52 | ABB | |
| Southampton | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL12 | ABB including Mathematics | A-level Mathematics required |
| Stirling | Economics and PoliticsUCAS LL12 | ABB | |
| Strathclyde | Politics and International Relations & EconomicsUCAS LL21 | ABB to BBB | |
| Surrey | Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway)UCAS M200 | ABB | No specific subjects required |
| Surrey | Politics and EconomicsUCAS LL12 | ABB | GCSE English Language grade 4 (C), GCSE Mathematics grade 6 |
| Sussex | Politics and PhilosophyUCAS LVF5 | ABB to BBB | |
| UEA | Philosophy and Politics | ABB | |
| UEA | Politics, Economics and Global Development | ABB | |
Manchester and Queen's Belfast both ask AAA for PPE but ABB for Philosophy and Politics, two grades lower. Liverpool and Southampton ask ABB for Philosophy and Politics against AAB for PPE, and Southampton's Politics and Economics asks ABB as well, with A-level Mathematics required. Moreover, Royal Holloway offers four combinations of Philosophy with Politics or International Relations, all at ABB to BBB.
Glasgow's pairings and two of Royal Holloway's Economics degrees run from AAB to BBB, and Sussex's PPE runs from AAB to ABB, so each of them reaches this level as well. For a student set on PPE itself, Sussex is the one to note, although ABB sits at the bottom of its range.
| University | Courses | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | Business Economics/Politics · Economics/Politics · Philosophy/Economics · Philosophy/Politics | AAB to BBB |
| Royal Holloway | Economics with Political Studies · Economics, Politics and International Relations | AAB to BBB |
| Sussex | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) | AAB to ABB |
Choosing between PPE and a two-subject degree
PPE and a two-subject degree differ less than their titles suggest. Several PPE degrees, Oxford's among them, let a student drop one of the three subjects after the first year, while a degree in Philosophy and Politics or Politics and Economics keeps two subjects from the start. As such, the useful question is which subject the student would most happily give up, and the answer usually points to the right course.
That being said, the Mathematics requirement often makes the decision. A student without A-level Mathematics has the PPE degrees and the Philosophy and Politics pairings open at every level here, while several of the Economics pairings at AAA and AAB are closed to them. Our guide to reading the syllabus before you apply sets out how to compare the content once the list is down to a handful.
For a student predicted AAA who wants PPE, we would usually put two choices at AAA, two at AAB and one at ABB, mixing PPE with the two-subject degrees that fit best. Subsequently, once offers arrive, an AAA firm pairs well with an insurance at AAB or ABB, which keeps the student in the same subjects whichever way the grades fall. For a student predicted ABB, PPE is available below that level as well, since Oxford Brookes and Stirling ask BBB, Swansea publishes BBB to BCC, and Aberdeen and Keele ask BBC.
How we checked
We read the 2027 entry requirements on each university's own course pages in September 2026, and each table links to the page we used for each course. SOAS and Lancaster had not published 2027 figures for these courses when we checked, so their rows show the 2026 offers, marked †. Glasgow sets joint-degree offers by a published rule rather than a page per course, and for those we applied the rule it states. Requirements can change during the cycle, so the course page should be the final word before you apply.
If you would like a second view on a list of five, we can go through it with you. The initial consultation lasts 30 minutes, costs nothing, and carries no obligation.
Also in this series: Economics degrees with AAA, AAB and ABB entry requirements, and Politics and International Relations degrees with AAB and ABB entry requirements, for 2027.
