PPE at Oxford
The primary conviction undergirding PPE is the belief that learning great modern works of social, economic, political, and philosophical thought would not merely transform the intellectual lives of students, but positively impact nations and societies in turn. While students study all three subjects at the beginning of their degree, they may drop one later. Not surprisingly, PPE is a highly popular and extremely competitive programme of study. Nor can it be studied everywhere, especially as Cambridge does not have an exact equivalent.
Admissions Requirements for PPE
The entrance requirement for PPE at Oxford is AAA. While there are a range of subjects that prospective applicants will have studied at A-Level, the more customary subjects include (but are not limited to) Maths, Economics, History, Politics, and English Literature. If your school provides instruction in philosophy and theology these can also be suitable A Level choices.
Applicants are also required to take the TSA, which is a Thinking Skills Assessment. The TSA is a computer-based test divided into two parts. Part 1 is a 90-minute, multiple-choice test that measures problem-solving skills, including numerical reasoning, as well as critical thinking skills, which includes understanding of arguments and reasoning using everyday language. Part 2 is a writing task, that aims to evaluate one’s capacity to order ideas in a concise and clear way and communicating them effectively in writing. Questions for Part 2 are not subject-specific, and applicants must answer one question from amongst four options.
Which Colleges Offer PPE at Oxford?
Almost every college at Oxford offers PPE. The intake for each college can differ however, with some colleges only admitting two or three PPE students a year, while others may admit as many as ten or more. While it’s vitally important that applicants put time into thinking about which college suits them personally, it is also necessary to consider which college one may have a stronger chance of admittance, as some colleges will be oversubscribed for PPE.
Top Tips for Getting into PPE
More than 2,000 people apply to read PPE at Oxford each year. Of those, roughly 30% (or 700) are shortlisted for college interviews and roughly 11% (250) are offered places. As such, the need to excel in every aspect of your application is of paramount importance, which includes everything from crafting your UCAS statement to making your college choice, TSA practice and conducting interview preparations.
At Think Tutors, our team of remarkable, industry-leading professional tutors, consultants, and education directors are expertly equipped to help optimise your potential. Many of our team have studied at Oxford and include successful PPE graduates. Together we can partner to help you or your child to excel in every aspect of the admissions process.