The age old question PPE vs E&M

Age old question????
PPE is a highly regarded subject with years of tradition, status and famous alumni behind it; EM is an upstart subject with the kudos of Sociology at Thames Valley!!

Ok, first thing, this *really* isn't a decision you want other people to make. Do you prefer philosophy and/or politics to management? If so, that makes it an easy choice. If not, then do you want to have more compulsory maths and stats in the first year (E&M has)? Then ask yourself about workload - are you the type of person who loves the academic side, or do you want to have more time to pursue other things - PPE has a higher workload than E&M for the first year. If you still can't decide, apply to Univ and do a dual application - I applied for E&M and PPE.

If you want to go into IB, I'd imagine E&M is more applicable. However contrary to what you said, *neither* will get you a job in IB, since that requires extra-curriculars, good interviews and to be very bright (moreso than getting into either course). But E&M is certainly a good way to go for IB. I would also suggest not to be so firmly set, as many people while here change their minds about what they want to go into. I wanted to go into IB before I came, and I certainly don't now.


Which explains why E&M at Oxford was named the most employable degree in the country. We have the same econ teaching as the PPEists (except extra maths in the first year) and the management teaching is generally at a much higher standard - the business school and it's staff are utterly amazing.

At careers fairs, saying you do E&M gets you some very nice reactions. Possibly because it's far rarer than PPE - there's 270 of them and under 90 of us per year - and possibly because of the applicants per place being a lot higher.

A lot higher? I remember the % acceptance ratio to be marginally higher. Definitely not "a lot".

E+M ---> IB
PPE---> Future Tony Blair

More like 4.x and 6.x respectively.

Anyhow that shouldn't be the basis on which you determine what course to apply for.

Well the problem is, I find the combination of politics, philosophy and economics very interesting, and I am immersed in current economic and political affairs, as i enjoy them both. in terms of philosophy, I feel it would complement by study in economics and politics to a great extent, also, my economics teacher (a keen philosopher) manages to link a lot of what we learn in economics and current affairs to philosophical theory, which i find gripping. Therefore, i would love to study PPE.

However, in terms of career paths, i definitely want a business/finance based career and am serious about considering investment banking. assuming that i was dead set on going into IB, and i did joint honours in economics and politics or majored in economics. would i be in the same position as E&M-ists when trying to find employment within IB, or would my course put me at a disadvantage?

Well the problem is, I find the combination of politics, philosophy and economics very interesting, and I am immersed in current economic and political affairs, as i enjoy them both. in terms of philosophy, I feel it would complement by study in economics and politics to a great extent, also, my economics teacher (a keen philosopher) manages to link a lot of what we learn in economics and current affairs to philosophical theory, which i find gripping. Therefore, i would love to study PPE.

However, in terms of career paths, i definitely want a business/finance based career and am serious about considering investment banking. assuming that i was dead set on going into IB, and i did joint honours in economics and politics or majored in economics. would i be in the same position as E&M-ists when trying to find employment within IB, or would my course put me at a disadvantage?

That's funny, given that Blair didn't even do PPE.