Undergraduate
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
All important social issues have philosophical, political and economic dimensions.
Majors available
Philosophy Politics and Economics - major
The Philosophy, Politics and Economics equips students to engage with important social and political issues from a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective. This degree-specific major can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
The learning experience
UWA facilities include lecture theatres, case study rooms and break-out areas for group work and individual study.
UWA Schools
Six libraries
One of Australia’s most picturesque campuses
Five residential colleges
Vibrant student experience
Vibrant student experience
Adjacent to the Swan River, our Perth campus is among the most picturesque in Australia with iconic sandstone buildings sitting among heritage-listed gardens. We’re just 10 minutes from Perth’s main shopping and business district and close to many of the city’s stunning beaches.
On campus, you’ll have an array of essential amenities to enjoy, including cafés, libraries, bookshops, a vibrant cultural precinct and tonnes of clubs and societies to join and experience student life to its fullest. Our supportive Student Guild means you can try your hand at volunteering, get independent advice on a range of matters or attend one of the many varied events on and off campus.
Fees and scholarships
Domestic Student Fees
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
International Student Fees
Find out more about tuition fees or visit the fee calculator for the estimated total course fee.
Note, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are subject to increase up to 7.5 per cent per annum.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Careers and further study
Career pathways
Students with interdisciplinary expertise are highly attractive to employers of many kinds. Graduates will be competitive for jobs in a wide range of fields in industry and government. Throughout history, many influential people have undertaken study in the philosophy, politics and economics disciplines including three former Australian Prime Ministers.
Career opportunities
- Diplomat
- Journalist (economic/political)
- Policy Analyst
Further study
Entry requirements
Admission requirements
To be considered for this course you need to:
- achieve the University’s minimum entry score
- demonstrate English language competence
- satisfy any prerequisites for your preferred majors (refer to individual major descriptions for prerequisite details)
You can view the prerequisites and recommended subjects for your chosen course here.
View our admission requirements for specific information, depending on your education history.
Assured Pathway information
If you have a professional career in mind, take advantage of one of our Assured Pathways. An Assured Pathway gives you an assured place in one of our postgraduate professional courses (such as Law, Engineering or Medicine) from the start of your studies with us. The pathways combine a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, providing you with a clearer direction to your career of choice.Admission entry to UWA
We offer a number of other pathways for you to gain entry into our undergraduate degrees if you do not meet the standard admission requirements. Learn more about our admission entry pathways.
About the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
All important social issues—climate change, health care, inequality, political participation, criminal justice and much more besides—have philosophical, political and economic dimensions. UWA's Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a challenging and rigorous course of study which equips students to engage with these issues from a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective.
Quick details
- 90
- Semester 1 and Semester 2
- 3 years
- BH015
- 102865B
Why study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at UWA
- Students will study all three disciplines with leading experts in their respective fields – in particular, academics whose research straddles the three disciplines
- The program includes specially designed interdisciplinary units of study, where students will bring the tools of all three disciplines to bear upon pressing social, political and economic questions
Put theory into practice
Current UWA students are eligible to take one of our professional experience units. These units bridge the gap between university and the workplace by providing opportunities to gain hands-on, practical experience. You can master new skills, make connections and network, get a taste of the opportunities in the workforce and add experience to your resume, all before graduating.
Find out more about Work Integrated Learning.
Taking you global
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (extended major)
Open only to students undertaking the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) and the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, this extended major will equip students to engage with important social issues from a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective.
Hear about our degree
You'll learn to
- apply the tools of each discipline to problems with political, philosophical and economic dimensions (e.g. inequality, criminal justice, climate change) and so learn to think about complex social issues in a genuinely interdisciplinary manner
- study how insights from each of the three disciplines bear upon issues in the others
- Apply invaluable critical-thinking and analytical skills, and see how they can be deployed in a wide variety of contexts
Industry connected
Our Business School courses are influenced by the Business School Board, a group of industry leaders who ensure content remains current and students are prepared for their chosen career when entering the workforce as well as giving a key insight into what employers are looking for when hiring graduates.
Strong industry contacts will give you the added advantage of growing quality networks to draw on when you graduate. We have 30+ corporate supporters, who have included ATCO, Bankwest, BDO, BHP, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Macquarie Group, Mitsubishi, UniBank, Woodside and more.
Meet a Philosopher
Dr Lachlan Umbers is a philosopher working at the intersection of political science and political theory at The University of Western Australia.
His work engages with a wide array of issues, from the design of electoral institutions, to the climate duties of sub-national governments, corporations, and individuals. Lachlan's current research interests include compulsory voting, the regulation of political speech by civil society groups, the ethics of combatting vaccine hesitancy, and the role of labour unions in protecting employees’ interests in the workplace.