Programs/Bachelor/General programmes
Bachelor

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

★ StudyPath verdict
8.5/10
Best for students passionate about tackling complex societal challenges through an interdisciplinary lens combining philosophy, politics, and economics. Trade-off: highly selective small-scale programme with intensive workload in a dedicate
Tuition · Intl
?
intl not published · EU: €5,130 ↗
Duration
3 years
180 ECTS
Start
Sep 26
apply by May 26
Language
English
IELTS 7.0+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2022
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
110
DUO ↑31% ↗
Intl. %
50%
of students ↗
S:F ratio
25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
7.0
IELTS required
Entry route
Any VWO
profile + subjects ↗
Satisfaction
4.3/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
?
no data yet
Median salary
?
no data yet
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 23 Jun 2026
About this program
In what kind of world do we want to live? How might societies be organised to foster fairness? What kinds of challenges do democracies currently face? What underlies economic downturns? How can we formulate environmental policies that are progressive, yet attainable? During this intensive, small-scale, selective bachelor's programme, you will benefit from a truly interdisciplinary programme that applies politics, philosophy, and economics directly to public policy issues in practice. Through studying PPE at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam you will cover not just core courses in the three disciplines, but you will also learn to apply those disciplines to challenging social themes like climate change, welfare policies, ethics of markets, or the formation of political coalitions. Plus, you will master mathematical theories and methods in order to improve your analytical thinking. 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.
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
English180 ECTSBachelor of ScienceField area: InterdisciplinarySector: InterdisciplinairSmall-scale & intensiveCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeBachelor
Teaching formats
Case studyGroup assignmentIndividual assignmentInternshipLectureOral presentationResearch projectResearch proposal
About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) is a public research university founded in 1880. Known for its international outlook and innovative research, VU has over 30,000 students and offers programs across humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Living in Amsterdam
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€700/mo
Monthly total
€1,000–€2,000
Cost of living
High
Population
873k

Bustling, international, and culturally rich. Amsterdam balances historic charm with modern innovation. The city is bike-friendly, walkable, and offers endless opportunities for exploration and networking.

View city guide →
Specializations
Tracks from HOVI
Economics & PhilosophySpecialisation
Source: HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Where bachelor graduates continue
Economics16%
Politicologie10%
Political Science6%
Filosofie6%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Continue to year 286%
Complete this degree73%
Continue studying after graduating63%
Women among first-years34%
International students50%
Say workload is “just right”55%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
4.3/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 87 respondents
Content & set-up4.2
Teachers4.2
Atmosphere4.6
Involvement & contact4.3
Study guidance3.7
Testing & assessment4.1
Facilities4.6
Career preparation3.8
Teachers' English4.7
Would choose again4.3
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Application timeline
Application deadline
2026-05-01
Non-EU deadline
2026-04-01
Application deadline
2027-05-01
Non-EU deadline
2027-04-01
Application deadline
2028-05-01
Upcoming open days
Open day
6 Nov 2026
Open day
7 Nov 2026
Open day
6 Feb 2027
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
  • IELTS overall band: 7.0
  • TOEFL internet based: 100
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: B
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: C
Scholarships
?No data yet
Internships
?No data yet
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