Double Degree with Ca' Foscari, Venice

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Are you interested in a career in international public policy? Our students can obtain a Double Degree Bachelor Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) from University College Groningen and Bachelor Philosophy, International and Economic Studies (PISE) from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The Double Degree program is designed for students focussing on Philosophy, Politics, and Econimics.

Academic director: Dr. Martijn Boot: m.g.j.boot@rug.nl

Programme profile

What makes this Double Degree bachelor programme unique is the combination of topics in the field of International Relations and (International) Political Economics and Philosophy, with a special focus on issues of economic integration and policy in a globalizing world. Students are trained to become broadly oriented political economists with a strong international profile and a deep understanding at advanced bachelor level of the main current trends in the global world of international (economic) policy.

The programme is especially interesting for students who wish to embark on a career in international public policy and increase their multicultural understanding of the trends in the world economy, in particular the European Community, which is essential in a globalizing world. In this respect, single disciplines can no longer answer the big questions facing leaders in the 21st Century. Transitions to sustainable growth, demographics, wellbeing and health, distribution of wealth and income and environmental protection require collaborative interdisciplinary approaches and creative solution–focused orientation. Thus, academic education must unify knowledge beyond disciplines.

What is PPE?

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at UCG is an interdisciplinary field that integrates three central disciplines, building on a tradition that began at the University of Oxford over a century ago. This field of study deepens intellectual growth and prepares students to actively address urgent global and societal issues, such as climate change and rising inequality. 

Philosophy within PPE focuses on ethical and political theories among others, and the training of students to construct sound arguments, the critical assessment of claims, and tackle complex ethical dilemmas. These skills are vital for ethical decision-making and analysing contemporary challenges. 

Politics examines the societal impact of political institutions, exploring governance systems, public administration, and democratic conflict resolution. This includes a philosophical and ethical examination of how societies should be organised and how leaders should govern responsibly. It enhances students’ abilities to engage in meaningful dialogue and formulate convincing arguments about divisive issues.

Economics offers a rigorous examination of both micro and macroeconomic theories, providing students with the tools to analyse and influence economic policies. This study includes resource allocation, welfare impacts, and strategies to address economic crises and inequalities. 

Students engage with critical issues such as climate change, poverty, global migration, and international conflicts, integrating diverse perspectives to become informed global actors and responsible citizens. Relevant questions are: ‘What kind of society are we living in and what institutions do we have? What are the key characteristics of democracy? What is worse: failing markets or failing governments? How does the international economy affect our lives?’

What will Double Degree students learn?

Having completed this double degree Bachelor programme, students will have:

• knowledge and expertise in the ways individual, group and organizational factors influence economic policy performance, problem solving and decision making.
• insight into the consequences of globalisation for the socio-economic and institutional differences between countries, in particular the EU region.
• the ability to apply the tools of modern economic analysis to issues of global economic policy
• acquired analytical and economic policy skills in an international context
• the capacity to evaluate critically different approaches to economic analysis and policy

Career prospects

This double degree programme has been designed for students who want to get access to specialized MSc programmes that prepare students for a career in national, international, or transnational policy institutions and businesses such as:

• international economist and strategy expert in (inter)national governmental organizations such as IMF, World Bank, OECD, WTO, ECB, ODI or the EU
• professional economist on economic issues in international agencies, governments or the private sector
• economic consultant with an (inter)national governmental organization
• international business

About Ca’ Foscari

Ca’ Foscari was founded in 1868 in a gothic palace from which the university name is inspired, and is located in central Venice on the banks of the Grand Canal. It is not only the location that can appeal, as Ca’ Foscari’s academic performance consistently places it highly in places to study an undergraduate degree in Italy. There are eight departments and five interdepartmental schools at Ca’ Foscari, as well as a dedicated graduate school. As a humanities oriented institution there is a committed element to the study of international cultures, and courses can be taken in the Department of Asian and North African studies and the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies. Ca’ Foscari has a dedicated international college with accommodation on the island of San Servolo within the Venice lagoon. Students will take studies as part of their degree at Ca’ Foscari while also taking English language taught activities at the international college itself. The degree programme Philosophy, International and Economic Studies is taught entirely in English.

Key Facts