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College Fellows and Lecturers

Philosophy
Dr Timothy Bayne (BA Otago, PhD Arizona)
 

Politics
Dr Louise Fawcett, MA, DPhil *

Economics

Professor Sudhir Anand, BPhil, MA, DPhil *
Mr Nicholas Fawcett, MPhil (MA Cantab)
Mr Joe Perkins, BA, MPhil (MPhil Camb)
Mr Dirk-Jan Omtzigt, BA, MPhil (BA Durh)
Mr Mark Koyama, BA, MPhil
Mr Michael Cheng , MPhil (BSc Lond)

* Fellow of the College

Among special options in Economics, Sudhir Anand currently teaches the Economics of Developing Countries and Statistical Methods in Economics. Many optional papers in Economics are now taught centrally through tutorials arranged by subject convenors at the Department of Economics. In the first year, there are classes in mathematics and statistics which are currently arranged in-house although there is a move to organize these centrally by the Department of Economics.

Louise Fawcett teaches the core paper in International Relations, as well as the two optional papers that cover international relations between the two world wars and during the Cold War; she also teaches the Middle East Politics option. Teaching for other papers is arranged with subject tutors both at St Catherine’s and other colleges.

Timothy Bayne specialises in Philosophy of Mind. Teaching for other papers is arranged tutors at colleges.

The Oxford PPE Course

This section should be read in conjunction with the Departmental website:
(http://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/prospective/)

The PPE degree is divided into two parts. The first-year course is designed to give a foundation in all three branches. In the second and third years students may continue with all three or concentrate on just two. The syllabus is set by the University, which grants degrees and therefore examines for them. Much of the tutorial teaching, apart from lectures, is arranged by the College.

The PPE syllabus prescribes the subjects for two University examinations: the Preliminary Examination for Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE Prelims), normally taken at the end of the first year; and the Final Honour School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE Finals), normally taken at the end of the third year. Prelims consists of three subjects, Finals of eight subjects. Each subject is examined in a three-hour paper, except that one subject in Finals may be a pre-submitted thesis, or a supervised dissertation in Politics. All syllabuses are published annually in the University’s Examination Regulations, which students receive on arrival.

PPE Prelims is a part of the ‘First Public Examination’, where students must offer all the three papers prescribed, one each in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. The Economics paper (called ‘Introductory Economics’) has one compulsory question covering mathematical techniques and application to economic problems, leaving three more to be chosen from the section on microeconomics and macroeconomics (at least two questions) and a section with questions covering mathematical and statistical applications (maximum of one question).

After Prelims, the choices are greater. Students may select two branches from Philosophy, Politics and Economics (‘bipartite’ PPE) or to continue with all three (‘tripartite’ PPE). For more details see the PPE section of the departmental website:
(http://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/prospective/)

1st Year

• Introduction to Philosophy
  Students sit a single three-hour paper at the end of their first year, which is divided into three sections: Formal Logic, General Philosophy, and Mill’s Utilitarianism. Typically one term will be devoted to Logic, which is taught in a weekly class, and one term will be devoted to a mixture of tutorials on Mill’s Utilitarianism and General Philosophy. The General Philosophy paper consists of a number of topics from the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind: these topics include free will, personal identity, the mind-body problem, knowledge, and scepticism. University lectures are given for all three of these courses, and attendance at them is strongly encouraged.

• Introduction to Politics
  In preparation for this paper one term of tutorial/class teaching is dedicated to the study of political theory and ideology, and one term to the analysis of democratic institutions. Students sit one three hour paper at the end of their first year in which they must answer questions on both theories and institutions.

• Introductory Economics
  Weekly economics tutorials are organized at the College in the first two terms as part of the preparation for this paper (microeconomics is covered in the first term and macroeconomics in the second), and revision classes are held in the third term. University lectures in mathematics and statistics are offered in the first two terms and there are College-based classes to supplement these University lectures in all three terms. One mathematics question is compulsory in the Introductory Economics paper taken at the end of the first year.

2nd Year

• Philosophy
  From 2005-06, those who elect to pursue Philosophy in the second year are required to study two compulsory papers: Ethics, and one out of History of Philosophy from Descartes to Kant or Aristotle or Plato. For students who wish to study more than two papers, there are many other optional papers available. There are eight tutorials for each paper. Tutors vary in the amount of written work they require, though the normal load falls between six and eight essays per paper. University lectures will typically be provided for the papers you study, though there is no guarantee that these lectures will fall in exactly the same terms as those in which you are taking your tutorials.

• Politics
  Students must choose at least two courses from a range of five ‘core papers’, and from one to three optional papers (see relevant pages of the PPE handbook via link above). Usually courses are taught in tutorials, sometimes with accompaning classes, as well as lectures throughout the academic year.

• Economics
  For those continuing with Economics in the second year, there are two compulsory subjects: Microeconomics core course (taken in the first term) and Macroeconomics core course (taken in the second term). There are University lectures in microeconomics in the first term with tutorials and classes at the College to accompany these lectures. Students must write at least four essays in microeconomics during the term. The Macroeconomics core course is covered similarly in the second term. An ‘Options Fair’ on all Economics option subjects is held in the second term at which subject convenors are available to give an introduction to the content of the option and to answer questions on its organization and teaching arrangements. Typically, those taking economics options will start them in the third term of the second year.

3rd Year

• Continuing coverage of option papers in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and revision classes (University and College-based) in the third term.

A Typical Term reading PPE at St Catherine’s

Working in small groups, with tutorials typically consisting of 2-3 students and classes of up to 6 students, we are able to adapt to differences in background knowledge and individual needs of students. In the first year all PPE students must do all three subjects, and there are classes in mathematics or statistics, logic, and a range of politics topics throughout the year.

Typically, apart from the mathematics or statistics and logic classes, two of the three branches are taught through tutorials in each term. In Economics, students must produce written work each week in the form of essays or short notes on several questions. Additionally, answers to problem sets of class teachers in mathematics or statistics are required to be handed in each week. In Philosophy and Politics, the written work either consists of essays, or problems, for students pursuing Formal Logic.

The PPE course is demanding in terms of the work required to be done independently by the students. Our students have to be very self-motivated and must be well-organized in order to complete their work assignments each week.

Special Features of PPE at St Catherine’s

Part of what’s special about St Catherine’s follows naturally from the interests of the teaching Fellows. Professor Anand works on inequality, poverty and human development (including health and undernutrition), on which he has written extensively. Dr Fawcett specializes in International Relations-based subjects including comparative developing country politics; regional institutions and the international politics of the Middle East.

Other features that are special to PPE at St Catherine’s is the proximity of the Departments of Economics and of Politics and International Relations which are located in the Manor Road Building next to the College. This building also contains the Social Science Library, which is a convenient place to work and contains all the books and journals that students of Politics and Economics might need in the course of their undergraduate career. Moreover, St Catherine’s has one of the larger college libraries in the University, is a convenient place to work as well as borrow books, and is open till late on weekdays during term.

Admissions in PPE

This section should be read in conjunction with the Undergraduate Prospectus and further information available at
www.admissions.ox.ac.uk

St Catherine’s look to admit around 6-8 people to read PPE every year. In addition, we regularly take students for Joint Honours in Mathematics and Philosophy; Physics and Philosophy; Philosophy and Modern Languages; Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology; Modern History and Politics; Economics and Management; Engineering, Economics and Management; and Materials Science, Economics and Management (see relevant entries to Joint Honours Schools).

Our standard offer is three grade As at A-level and we expect applicants to have strong grades at GCSE or equivalent. Occasionally a deferred place may be offered to a student wishing to take a ‘gap’ year. Post-A Level applicants are also welcome. We are looking for commitment and enthusiasm, and an ability to argue and write clearly.

There is no St Catherine’s ‘ideal type’ – we select students entirely and exclusively on merit. We welcome students from all backgrounds. Undergraduates at St Catherine’s are a mix of women, men, state- and independent-school students, including mature, ethnic minority and overseas students. We do understand that applying to Oxford can be a stressful experience, and we do everything possible to make it straightforward, simple, unthreatening and even enjoyable. The details of the application process can vary slightly from year to year, and candidates will need to check with the College and University for specific dates and procedures. Essentially, however, the process is as follows:

• UCAS application. This needs to be submitted on time and will be forwarded to the College. Tutors are looking for a strong academic record, positive references, and a clear and enthusiastic personal statement.

• All candidates will be required to sit a Thinking Skills Assessment test normally at their own schools/colleges, on 5 November 2008. Please note that separate registration for this test will be required and prospective applicants should refer to http://www.tsa.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ppe/ for further information.

• Please note that the application procedure for PPE has changed since the publication of the printed prospectus. Candidates will no longer be required to submit any written work as part of their application.

• The Interview. A large proportion of applicants are interviewed. When candidates first arrive at the College they will be welcomed by undergraduates who will look after them during their time in Oxford. The first meeting with the PPE tutors allows candidates to meet the tutors before interview, giving them the chance to ask any questions.
  Each candidate should expect at least two interviews of 20 minutes each at St Catherine’s, at which two or more tutors may be present. Some candidates will be asked for a further interview at a different college. The purpose of the interview is to allow tutors to assess candidates and judge their suitability and potential for the course. The questions asked at interview range widely and no specific preparation is required.

Once we have interviewed all our applicants, and interviewed candidates from other colleges, we then choose the top applicants and offer them a place, conditional on their obtaining three A grades at A-level (excluding General Studies). The assessment is not based exclusively on performance at interview – tutors take care to weigh up all the different kinds of evidence before them. The College makes every effort to ensure candidates are informed of their results before the end of the calendar year.

If you think you might enjoy reading PPE at St Catherine’s, do consider applying. If you have any questions about our course, admissions procedures or the College in general, please feel free to contact us.