Program Overview

Philosophy, Politics and Economics InternshipPHPE 590

The Philosophy, Politics and Economics InternshipPHPE 590 is a course offered by Te Herenga WakaVictoria University of Wellington. This course builds on the skills and knowledge gained through Part 1 of the PPE programme, providing students with the opportunity to gain direct insights into the workings of government, ministries, or related workplaces.

About this Course

This course comprises a practical internship with one required academic essay and four short reflective posts. The course is assessed on a pass/fail basis, with no in-class component, although students may be asked to attend a workshop at the start of the trimester.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

• Apply the theories and principles learned within the MPPE programme in a practical context
• Undertake independent applied research
• Gain practical experience through a supervised internship

How this Course is Taught

The course includes:

• A practical internship (160 contact hours)
• One required academic essay of 2500 words
• Four short reflective posts of 600 words each

Assessment

The assessment for this course includes:

• Successful completion of the practical internship (50%)
• Essay (30%)
• Reflective Blog (4 submissions, 20%)

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

• Complete a Letter of Agreement signed by the student, the host organisation, and the course coordinator
• Complete a Health and Safety check as provided by the host organisation
• Complete the agreed placement hours for this course
• Complete the required essay and blogs to a satisfactory standard

Course Details

• Dates: 16 November 2026 to 7 February 2027
• Starts: Trimester 3
• Fees: NZ$2,411.10 for domestic students, NZ$9,575.40 for international students
• Lecture Start Times: Friday 9.00am
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 300 hours or 25.0 hours per week for 12 weeks
• Points: 30
• Availability: Limited entry
• Special Course Features: Includes work-integrated learning
• Entry Restrictions: Permission of the PPE Programme Director
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None
• Taught By: School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 16 November 2026 to 20 December 2026
• 4 January 2027 to 7 February 2027

What You'll Need to Get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.