university of reading's ba philosophy, politics and economics is a joint degree with a rich history — this combination of subjects has been a well-known favourite choice for politicians and future prime ministers. studying philosophy at the university of reading will equip students with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge their own ideas and those of other people. reading will give students an understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures of philosophy. 

in politics, students will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements of the subject such as political ideas and democratic processes. in economics, they will study both applied and practical issues and focus on the relationship between economics and society. this course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content than some economics courses do. 

placements are encouraged as they provide students with a chance to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing students to gain valuable real-world experience. they can undertake a placement at any point in their degree and work in a company or charity relevant to their final year studies. for example, a previous philosophy student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.