A Comparison of OU’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Q45) Structure and Curriculum with Those of Other Post-1986 PPE Degrees

This project aims to investigate how other UK providers of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degrees have addressed the challenges of the three-way combination, through their structuring of the three disciplines, curriculum choices within them, and other aspects of design and delivery. The number of UK HEIs offering a PPE degree rose rapidly after York launched its version in 1986; the OU developed its own in the 1990s. But the number has since stabilised at around 30, with some attrition in recent years. The project will involve a systematic comparison of post-1986 PPE structures and curriculums, to yield information useful for the development of this qualification at the OU. 

The aim is to present a comparison that can be publicly displayed and might also be of use to other PPE degree providers, not a piece of ‘competitor analysis’ designed only for internal use.