Sweden · Bachelor's
Uppsala University
BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)
Uppsala University
Course Overview
Uppsala University is Scandinavia's oldest university (founded 1477) and consistently ranks Sweden's #1 in QS and Times Higher Education for arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Bachelor in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) — modelled on the Oxford PPE — is one of the few continental European universities offering a true three-pillar PPE at undergraduate level. Uppsala's location (70km north of Stockholm) gives students access to the Swedish capital while keeping costs materially lower than central Stockholm.
Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants — typically Arts / Commerce stream school-leavers targeting careers in foreign service, policy advisory, international development, or graduate-school routes into law / economics — choose Uppsala PPE for: the rare three-pillar PPE at a top European public university, 100% English-medium teaching, lower tuition than KTH / Chalmers (~SEK 130,000/year non-EU, LKR 4.16M/yr), and Sweden's 12-month post-study residence permit. The 3-year (180 ECTS) curriculum balances political science (comparative politics, IR, political theory), philosophy (ethics, logic, philosophy of mind), and economics (micro, macro, econometrics), with a final-year specialisation block and Bachelor's thesis. Uppsala's strength in development studies and conflict research (the Department of Peace and Conflict Research is internationally cited) creates a clear pipeline into the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and the Stockholm Environment Institute. Sri Lankan returnees route into Foreign Service intakes, policy research at LIRNEasia, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Verité Research, plus advisory roles at UN agencies and GIZ / JICA / EU Delegation.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes (any stream) — must satisfy Uppsala's specific area requirement for English. Mathematics highly recommended for the economics pillar.
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: 3 A-Levels at C or above plus 5 O-Level / GCSE passes including Mathematics and English.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 28+ points; Mathematics SL/HL strongly preferred for the economics pillar.
- check_circle Application via universityadmissions.se — applications open mid-October, deadline January 15, application fee SEK 900.
- check_circle Motivation letter and certified transcripts uploaded to universityadmissions.se.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 5.5) — Swedish 'English 6' equivalent.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle Programme is taught 100% in English from Year 1 — Swedish not required for the degree.
- check_circle Waived if your school qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (SEK) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | SEK 130,000 | Rs. 4,160,000 |
| Living Expenses in Uppsala (12 months) | SEK 95,000 | Rs. 3,040,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | SEK 14,000 | Rs. 448,000 |
| Books, Materials & Travel | SEK 9,000 | Rs. 288,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | SEK 248,000 | Rs. 7,936,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Uppsala PPE graduates qualify for Sweden's 12-month post-study residence permit to job-search, with conversion to a work permit (or EU Blue Card) at a qualifying offer. Major Stockholm / Uppsala employers: SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Stockholm Environment Institute, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sida (Swedish International Development Agency), plus the Stockholm offices of UNHCR, UNDP, and major think tanks. Strong PPE graduates also place into McKinsey / BCG / Bain Stockholm, Big Four Stockholm consulting, and the major Swedish banks. Median starting graduate salary SEK 30,000-SEK 38,000/month. Sri Lankan returnees route into Sri Lanka Foreign Service intakes (open to Bachelor's holders), policy research at LIRNEasia, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Verité Research, plus advisory roles at UNDP Sri Lanka, GIZ Sri Lanka, JICA, the British Council, and the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka.
Related Programs
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in Sweden. We handle everything from applications to visa processing.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.