Program Overview

Double Degree in Political Philosophy and PPE

The Double Degree in Political Philosophy and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) is a joint program offered by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain, and the University of Groningen (UG) in the Netherlands. Upon successful completion, students receive two official diplomas:

• Master of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (60 ECTS) from the University of Groningen
• Master of Arts in Political Philosophy (60 ECTS) from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Academic Information

The program is taught entirely in English by top researchers and scholars from both universities over two academic years, with studies taking place in both Barcelona and Groningen.

Course Structure

The study plan consists of two alternative options, depending on whether the student starts at UPF or UG.

If You Study at UPF First

Year 1 at UPF

• Module 1: Theory and Methodology (15 ECTS)
  • Compulsory courses:
    • Main Themes and Research Methods in Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 1st term)
    • Modern Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 1st term)
    • Contemporary Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
    • Master Thesis Writing Seminar (1 ECTS, 1st term)
• Module 2: Optional Courses in Political Theory and Philosophy (Choose 3 courses)
  • Distributive Justice Today (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Art and Politics (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Global Ethics (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Political Theory in the 21st Century (5 ECTS, 3rd term)
  • Power, Rationality and Society (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
• Module 3: Optional Courses in Philosophy and Social Sciences (Choose 10 ECTS)
  • Political Ecology (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Politics and Gender (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Social Psychological Approaches to Society and the Individual (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Democracy and Political Liberalism (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Nationalism Today (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Federalism and Federations (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Global Law, Justice and Democracy (4 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • International Relations (4 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Temas Avanzados en Filosofía (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Current Research on Diverse Democracies (5 ECTS, 3rd term)
  • Health and Inequality (5 ECTS, 1st term)

Year 2 at UG

• Theories of PPE (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• History of PPE (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• Elective 1 (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• Methods of PPE (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• PPE Policy Seminar 1 (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• Elective 2 (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• PPE Policy Seminar 2 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Elective 3 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Elective 4 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Thesis & Master Thesis Course (15 ECTS, 4th quarter)

If You Study at UG First

Year 1 at UG

• Theories of PPE (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• History of PPE (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• Elective 1 (5 ECTS, 1st quarter)
• Methods of PPE (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• PPE Policy Seminar 1 (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• Elective 2 (5 ECTS, 2nd quarter)
• PPE Policy Seminar 2 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Elective 3 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Elective 4 (5 ECTS, 3rd quarter)
• Instead of writing the thesis, students can take electives in this term.

Year 2 at UPF

• Module 1: Theory and Methodology (15 ECTS)
  • Compulsory courses:
    • Main Themes and Research Methods in Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 1st term)
    • Modern Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 1st term)
    • Contemporary Political Philosophy (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
    • Master Thesis Writing Seminar (1 ECTS, 1st term)
• Module 2: Optional Courses in Political Theory and Philosophy (Choose 3 courses)
  • Distributive Justice Today (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Art and Politics (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Global Ethics (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Political Theory in the 21st Century (5 ECTS, 3rd term)
  • Power, Rationality and Society (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
• Module 3: Optional Courses in Philosophy and Social Sciences (Choose 10 ECTS)
  • Political Ecology (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Politics and Gender (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Social Psychological Approaches to Society and the Individual (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Democracy and Political Liberalism (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Nationalism Today (5 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • Federalism and Federations (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Global Law, Justice and Democracy (4 ECTS, 2nd term)
  • International Relations (4 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Temas Avanzados en Filosofía (5 ECTS, 1st term)
  • Current Research on Diverse Democracies (5 ECTS, 3rd term)
  • Health and Inequality (5 ECTS, 1st term)
• Module 4: Final Research Paper (19 ECTS)
  • Master Final Thesis (19 ECTS, 3rd term)

Students need to be registered at Groningen while writing their thesis.