SIGNATURE COURSE
PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Can you prove that democracy produces better outcomes than autocracy? Can game theory predict when cooperation will emerge among rational self-interested actors? Can philosophers tell us anything useful about justice that economists cannot?
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These questions lie at the heart of the John Locke Institute's approach to PPE. Over ten days in Oxford, you will explore how philosophical reasoning, political analysis, and economic thinking illuminate one another, and where they conflict.
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Over ten days in Oxford, you will follow our signature core curriculum covering ethics, political philosophy, history of political thought, microeconomics, macroeconomics, game theory, and public choice theory.
THINKING ABOUT FUNDAMENTALS
After your time in Oxford, you will approach political and economic questions differently. You will instinctively ask whether claims rest on empirical evidence or normative assumptions. You will notice when arguments conflate "is" with "ought", when reasoning confuses correlation with causation, and when conclusions depend on premises left unstated.
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Most importantly, you will have practised the difficult art of separating the quality of an argument from your agreement with its conclusion. These habits of mind you will cultivate in Oxford – precision in language, charity in interpretation, honesty about uncertainty, and the courage to change your mind – will serve you throughout life.
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Beyond specific knowledge, you will learn when different modes of reasoning help and when they hinder. Some questions demand philosophical clarity about concepts. Others require empirical evidence about human behaviour. Knowing which is which constitutes intellectual maturity.
THE SIGNATURE CURRICULUM
Our curriculum covers ethics, metaethics, political philosophy, history of political thought, microeconomics, macroeconomics, game theory, and public choice theory. Philosophical reasoning sharpens what economics assumes; economic analysis tests what politics promises; and political questions reveal which philosophical abstractions actually matter.
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Teaching combines morning lectures with precepts: small group discussions in groups of six to nine students. Those sessions will challenge your assumptions, and to articulate positions with precision.
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Our emphasis throughout is on contestable claims: questions on which intelligent people reasonably disagree. You will learn to master not only the arguments for positions you find persuasive, but the strongest cases for positions you reject.
FACULTY
You will learn from philosophers, political scientists, and economists associated with the University of Oxford and other leading British universities. Our faculty are chosen for their preeminence in their fields, but also for their ability to present persuasive arguments for surprising conclusions.
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To take full advantage of the scholars available to you, we would encourage you to sit next to one of the professors at lunch or dinner. Many of them will share their email addresses with students so you can keep in touch in the months and years to come.
IS THIS PROGRAMME
RIGHT FOR ME?
The Signature Course suits students aged 15-19 who want intensive intellectual engagement with PPE. You need not have studied these subjects previously. What matters is curiosity, willingness to work hard, and openness to having your assumptions challenged.
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This programme provides excellent preparation for students applying to study PPE, philosophy, politics, economics, or related subjects at university. It equally suits students in other fields who recognise that understanding how societies make decisions matters regardless of one's career.
HOUSING
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Accommodation is in single rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Male and female students will stay in different buildings. Students will also be living with people of the same age. ​
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Meals are served in the college dining hall (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner), except when we provide a picnic lunch on the punting day and when we are hosted by an Oxford College. ​
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Free WiFi.​​
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Personal laundry service once during your stay.​
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Access to campus sports facilities (swimming pool, athletics track and astro turf pitch).​​
Where will I stay?
Lectures, seminars and precepts take place in historic Radley College, which sits in 800 acres of beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, at the edge of the mediæval city of Oxford, which there will be opportunities to discover during your spare time.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Arrival ​
The check-in time is between 10 am and 11.30 am. We advise you to arrive early to give you enough time to check in, be shown to your room and receive your course timetable. A welcome talk is scheduled for 12 o'clock midday. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
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If you would like to be met by a driver at the airport on the check in day, we are offering a shuttle service from Heathrow airport at an extra charge. If you plan to take the shuttle please book a flight that arrives no later than 8.30am.
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It is your responsibility to determine whether you need a visa and, if so, what kind of visa you need and how you should apply for it. Every overseas student must have a valid passport to enter the United Kingdom. You can find all the information about UK visas here. For attending a short course in the UK, the Standard Visitor Visa is the one you would need. We can provide individual support on request for those who will need a visa.
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We advise you to purchase travel insurance.
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Departure
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On the departure day, check out is by 9am.
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We will be running a shuttle to Heathrow airport at an extra cost. If you plan to take the shuttle please book a flight that departs no earlier than 12 midday.
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Our staff will be available to help you on the departure day so you don't miss your flight!
