Extracurricular opportunities

When you see this page, you maybe think: 'Huh, but isn't Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) an honours programme in itself'? That is partly correct. Below, we explain you exactly how it works. 

The PPE-programme

PPE is designed as a programme which is specifically targeted at more ambitious students, and sets additional challenges compared to regular Bachelor's programmes. Such programs have a special place in the landscape of Dutch Higher Education. They are government-approved under a special label, the so-called Distinctive Feature Intensive and Small-Scale Education. In Dutch, it is called the 'BKKI label'.

BKKI and honours: what is the difference? 

The term ‘honours programme’ is used at Utrecht University – and many other universities worldwide – as a name for additional (i.e. top-up) programmes within a Bachelor's programme; never to Bachelor's programmes as a whole. These honours programmes, for which students are selected during their studies, provide students of regular Bachelor's programmes with additional challenges. PPE, as a BKKI programme, has these challenges hardwired in the programme as a whole and from the start.

Descartes College

If you would also like to take honours courses together with students from all Bachelor's programmes (e.g. not just the humanities, but also science degree programmes), perhaps the Descartes College might appeal to you more. Here, as part of your honours programme, you will take interdisciplinary honours courses and meet students and lecturers from all degree programmes.