What it’s like to be studying PPE at York
The best part of studying PPE at York is the Club of PEP.
After having loved being a part of the club for the past three years, I am the co-President of the Club of PEP!
The Club of PEP is an amazing part of studying PPE! Anyone who studies any of the three programmes is automatically a member, for free.
When you first arrive in York…
PEP Parents
The club organises a “PEP parents” scheme for anyone studying PPE. When you arrive in York you will be put into a little “family”. Your family will have some first years and 2 students from the older years who have volunteered to be your “parents”!
Freshers’ Week
In the second week of first term, we run a course ‘Fresher’s Week’. This includes both drinking and non-drinking social events (some in your families, some not). The final event of the week is a formal black tie meal at the Hilton, followed by a night out. The whole week is a fun way to get to know people studying PPE – some of which are my now closest friends who I met during my PEP Fresher’s Week.
Our other events
January Trip Abroad
Every year the club organises a trip abroad with around 30 tickets up for grabs. Previous destinations have been Barcelona and Athens – this year we are looking to go to Dublin. The trip is a great time away after the Winter exam season and tickets always sell out quickly. To make the trip ‘educational’ there are always speakers’ events, tours, museums as well as group meals and nights out. There really is always something for everyone to enjoy.
12-Hour Ball
Renowned across campus our biggest event of the year is the 12-hour ball. It’s always towards the end of the Spring Term and is open to all year groups – and their friends! We begin the night (usually at the Hilton) for a sit-down black-tie meal. Then we parade across a range of venues and clubs in town before returning to the Hilton for a greasy breakfast. Even though I didn’t make it to breakfast in my first year, I am determined to this year!
Speakers and alumni events
Throughout the year the Club put on speakers’ events with various people from all three disciplines of PPE. In the past we have had Q+A’s with Rachel Maskell (York Centrals’ MP) and Tim Harford (“The Undercover Economist”). We open up these events to straight Politics, Economics and Philosophy students and we are often invited to their individual speakers’ events too.
Joint socials
In the Summer term we hold a BBQ or garden party with EconSoc. In the past we have even run a Phil Vs. PPE quiz with PhilSoc. We are always looking to run socials with the three other societies. We share lots of modules with their students and it’s good to get to know them socially, as well as academically. Plus, as these three societies are run through our Students’ Union (YUSU), you can join any of them as a member if you would like to. A lot of PPE students are active members of PolSoc.
If you want to find out more there are photos from our events on Instagram and Facebook, as well as our University webpage.
My module highlights
‘What is politics?’ was my favourite module in first year. It taught me to see Politics in a whole new light, by exploring the difference between “politics” and “Politics”. I have since focused my degree on the more theoretical side of Politics, as opposed to simply looking at how different political systems work.
In second year the ‘Politics of Gender’ was an eye-opener. We explored issues (some controversial) and theories that I had never considered before. These included the politics of pornography, prostitution and performativity.
In my final year, I am studying ‘Health Economics’. I am particularly enjoying applying the different models and methods that I’d learnt in first and second year microeconomics modules to a highly specific industry and adapting them to a unique market type. I am now looking into future careers and further study in this area after finding this module so interesting and engaging.
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