Undergraduate: Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate Admissions Criteria

Learn more about the admissions criteria for our Undergraduate degree courses, and how to apply.

PPE Admission Criteria

What qualities we're looking for

 

PPE tutors are looking for evidence of the following qualities in applicants:

  • Application and interest: capacity for sustained study, motivation and interest, an independent and reflective approach to learning;
  • Reasoning ability: ability to analyse and solve problems using logical and critical approaches, ability to assess relevance, capacity to construct and critically assess arguments, flexibility and willingness to consider alternative views;
  • Communication: willingness and ability to express ideas clearly and effectively on paper and orally; ability to listen; ability to give considered responses.

 

Throughout the admissions process, tutors will be seeking to detect the candidate's future potential as a PPE student. Existing achievement (as revealed in official examinations, predicted examination results, and school reports), as well as performance in the pre-interview TSA admissions test and interview, is relied upon mainly as evidence of future potential.

Candidates are not expected to have studied any philosophy, politics or economics at school, but should be interested and be prepared to put their minds to problems of philosophy, politics and economics presented to them. In the case of candidates whose first language is not English, competence in the English language is also a criterion of admission.

Thinking Skills Assesment

All applicants must sit the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), normally at their own school or college, in early November. It is your responsibility to register for the test. The registration deadline is normally 18.00 UK time on 15 October every year.

Learn more about the exact test date in the year of your application, along with further information, details of how to register, and a specimen paper.

How we decide to offer places

 

Final decisions about offers of places will use the full range of evidence available, including past and predicted exam results, the school report, the personal statement, the TSA admissions test and the interviews. Entry is competitive, which means that not all candidates who satisfy the admissions criteria will receive offers.

 

Economics and Management Admission Criteria

  • A-levels: A*AA including Mathematics at grade A or above
  • Advanced Highers: AA/AAB
  • IB:39 (including core points) with 766 at HL
  • Or any other equivalent (see other UK qualifications, and international qualifications)

  • Candidates are required to have Mathematics to A-level (A* or A grade), Advanced Higher (A grade), Higher Level in the IB (score 6 or 7) or another equivalent. We expect you to have taken and passed any practical component in your chosen science subjects.

What qualities we're looking for

 

  • An interest in and a motivation for studying the organisation of businesses and the economy

  • Independence and flexibility of mind
  • An ability to analyse and solve problems logically and critically
  • A capacity to construct and critically assess arguments
  • A willingness and an ability to express ideas clearly and effectively both on paper and orally.

  • The interview is not primarily a test of existing knowledge and, in particular, is not a test of economics or management, unless these subjects have been studied before.

 

Thinking Skills Assessment

All candidates must also take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) as part of their application, normally at their own school or college, in early November. It is your responsibility to register for the test. The registration deadline is normally 18.00 UK time on 15 October every year.

Learn more about the exact test date in the year of your application, along with further information, details of how to register, and a specimen paper.

Economics and History Admissions Criteria

  • A-levels: AAA
  • Advanced Highers: AA/AAB
  • IB: 38 (including core points) with 666 at HL, or any other equivalent (see other UK qualifications, and international qualifications)
  • It is highly recommended for candidates to have both History and Mathematics to A-level, Advanced Higher, Higher Level in the IB or any other equivalent. We expect you to have taken and passed any practical component in your chosen science subjects.
  • All candidates must also take the History Aptitude (HAT) and the Thinking Skills Assessment: Section 1 (TSA: S1) as part of their application.

Thinking Skills Assessment and History Aptitude (HAT)

 

All candidates must also take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) as part of their application, normally at their own school or college, in early November. It is your responsibility to register for the test. The registration deadline is normally 18.00 UK time on 15 October every year.

Learn more about the Thinking Skills Assessment, the exact test date in the year of your application, along with further information, details of how to register, and a specimen paper.

Candidates are also required to take the History Aptitude (HAT) Assessment, find out more about the History Apptitude assessment, the test dates, what will be assessed and how to register.