Oxford's PPE or Cambridge's HSPS: Which Should You Apply To?

If you're drawn to questions about how power works, why economies behave the way they do, or what makes societies tick, there's a good chance you've found yourself weighing up Oxford's PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) and Cambridge's HSPS (Human, Social, and Political Sciences).

Both are intellectually broad, both are extremely competitive, and both have a reputation for producing people who go on to do rather remarkable things. So how do you choose between them?

What is PPE?

Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) is offered at the University of Oxford and is one of the most well-known degrees in the country. Most UK Prime Ministers come from an Oxford PPE background, so it's really got the prestige behind it.

Philosophy challenges you to think rigorously about fundamental questions: What do we owe each other? What counts as knowledge? What makes a law just?

Politics introduces you to the structures and theories that shape political life, and the big ideas – liberalism to Marxism – that have defined political thought.

Economics at Oxford is largely theoretical and mathematical in its early stages. You'll cover microeconomics, macroeconomics, and quantitative methods. If maths isn't your strongest subject, it's worth considering this.

PPE combines three disciplines that, together, form a powerful framework for understanding how the world is organised and why.

What is HSPS?

Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) is Cambridge's equivalent, though it's broader and, in some ways, harder to describe in a single sentence. HSPS brings together sociology, social anthropology, politics, and psychology within a single degree structure. Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, does it?

In your first year, you study three out of five paper groups: Politics, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, and History of Science. From the second year, you typically specialise in one subject.

The breadth of HSPS is both daunting and impressive.

The Key Differences

The role of economics. This is probably the biggest practical difference between the two courses. PPE includes economics as a core subject with a significant quantitative component, whereas HSPS doesn't – its social science approach to understanding systems is more qualitative and interpretive.

So:

Like maths? Consider PPE.

Don't like maths? Consider HSPS.

Oxford vs Cambridge. It almost goes without saying, and we feel a little silly to bring it up, but PPE is an Oxford degree and HSPS is a Cambridge degree, so your university preference will inevitably factor in here. Both are outstanding and have many more similarities than they do differences, but they are ultimately different experiences.

If you haven't already, it's worth reading our Oxford or Cambridge Quiz to get a clearer sense of where you might thrive.

Specialisation. PPE has a relatively fixed structure, especially in Year 1, whereas HSPS offers more flexibility from the start in terms of which paper groups you choose.

Career outcomes. Both degrees are extremely well-regarded across politics, journalism, the civil service, finance, law, academia, NGOs, and international organisations. PPE has a stronger specific association with economics and finance careers (given the formal economics training), while HSPS graduates often go into policy, research, and social or public sector roles.

But these are tendencies, not rules, and people take both degrees in all sorts of directions.

Which Type of Student is PPE For?

You'll do well in PPE if you:

• Are comfortable with maths, or at least willing to invest in getting comfortable with it

• Are drawn to questions about how and why societies organise themselves economically

Which Type of Student is HSPS For?

You'll do well in HSPS if you:

• Prefer qualitative analysis, ethnography, and theoretical frameworks over econometrics and formal modelling

• Enjoy thinking across disciplines rather than drilling deep into one

The Application Process

Both courses are competitive. Oxford's PPE received around 1,500 applications for roughly 200 places in a recent admissions cycle, and Cambridge's HSPS is similarly sought-after.

Both universities require a UCAS personal statement submitted by October 15, a written work submission, an admissions test*, and an interview if you pass the previous screenings.

*Tests:

Oxford PPE has an admissions test – the TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions), which assesses critical thinking, data interpretation, and structured writing. You can read more about the TARA in our complete TARA guide.

For Cambridge HSPS, you may need to take an admissions test, possibly only once you get an interview invite. It depends on the college – you can check here. But the main thing to know is that it's not as standardised as Oxford's TARA, so you don't have to think about registering on time, etc.

Final Thoughts on PPE or HSPS

The honest answer is that the choice often comes down to how much you want economics in your degree, and which university feels right for you.

Neither is the wrong choice, and, like we say, they're more similar than they are different. The key is being honest with yourself about what kind of intellectual environment you'll thrive in, and building your strongest possible application based on that.

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Book a free consultation with our Director today – we'll talk through your goals, your subject interests, and what a strong application looks like for Oxbridge.