Bachelor of Social Science in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University of Cape Town

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Social Science in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (HB027, NQF level 7, SAQA ID 15178) is a three-year interdisciplinary degree combining the three disciplines. The total credit load is 413-454 NQF credits.

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities | Department: Department of Political Studies (programme convener Associate Professor V Naidoo) | Duration: Three years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

What you will study

First year: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Ethics, Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Politics, Introduction to Politics B, Introductory Statistics and Mathematics 1010. Second year: Microeconomics II, Macroeconomics II, Cooperation and Competition, Great Philosophers, Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics plus politics and philosophy/economics options. Third year: Applied International Trade Bargaining plus choices in Logic and Language or Metaphysics and Epistemology, politics (such as Conflict in World Politics, Global Governance) and economics (such as Advanced Macro and Microeconomics, International Trade and Finance).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Faculty of Humanities (BSocSc PPE): full-time students must pass at least five semester courses by the end of first year, ten by the end of second year and fourteen (including two senior courses) by the end of third year to be readmitted.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Applications to study at UCT in 2027 opened on 1 April 2026 and close on 31 July 2026 for undergraduate study; late applications are not considered.

The application fee is R100 for undergraduate and postgraduate applications from South Africa and the SADC region, and R300 for applications from outside the SADC region; it is non-refundable and payable by direct deposit, EFT or credit card (online). UCT students and graduates are exempt except for GSB programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://applyonline.uct.ac.za

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