Study Deakin’s Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) and learn how power, ethics, sustainability and economics converge to shape our lives. Built by leading academics and researchers, this course is designed for deep and creative thinkers looking to make an impact on society.
Understand the nature of public decision-making, explore resource management issues and get the skills to analyse business problems in line with social justice. This course balances the big picture view of public problems and how societies govern and determine values while developing your professional career skills. Enhance your employment prospects through exciting industry experiences, volunteer placements and study tours. Gain experience with Deakin-supported internships - choose from 600+ employers or design your own. Plus, there is the opportunity to collaborate on team-based industry and community projects and to take part in our global experiential learning programs.
Career opportunities
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduates can confidently enter roles in private enterprise, government and not-for-profit organisations, in a variety of professional roles:
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Pathways
The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics will appeal to students with interests across the disciplines involved (BA/BCom/BBus), but who would prefer not to do a combined course. The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics model offers students a way to complete an interdisciplinary degree with a similar “job-ready” focus to the revised BA, yet with the addition of vocationally focused economic policy content. A compulsory three-credit point Employability sequence, embedded within the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics course across each year level.
The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics will serve as a standard Bachelor-level platform for pathways to more advanced degrees such as Honours, Masters, or PhD.
Apply a broad and coherent knowledge in the Politics, Philosophy and Economics disciplines in academic and professional settings drawing on depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more of PPE disciplines.
Employ highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication to communicate the outcomes of Politics, Philosophy and Economics problem solving and research in academic and professional contexts.
Utilize a range of digital technologies in both academic and professional settings to research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information to diverse audiences in the field of Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement in selecting and applying theories and methodologies to evaluate major political, philosophical and economic issues confronting society.
Utilise cognitive, technical, and creative skills to generate solutions to real-world political, philosophical and economic problems through drawing on methodologies from multiple disciplines.
Act with autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions through a commitment to self-directed learning and professional practice that contributes to solving political, philosophical and economic issues in society.
Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community in addressing major political, philosophical and economic issues confronting society.
Engage respectfully with ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in Politics, Philosophy and Economics scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community.
Approved at Faculty Board
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics you must pass 24 credit points. This includes:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
4 credit points of discipline study units chosen from a first discipline stream Politics, Philosophy or Economics
4 credit points of discipline study units chosen from a second discipline stream from Politics, Philosophy or Economics
chosen units must comprise of a minimum 2 credit points at level 3 in each discipline
8 credit points of elective units chosen from the course discipline study units and Employability sequence units of which 2 must be completed at level 3
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 14 credit points over levels 2 and 3
a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Other learning experiences
Prepare for your future by getting real world experience and the employability skills to succeed, while completing your degree. The Employability Stream is tailored to support you to be future ready. Deakin’s suite of Work Integrated Learning programs can connect you with internships, social impact programs and opportunities to extend your skills in settings across the globe.
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units in this course.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.
