The PPE Centenary Visiting Professorship is an exciting opportunity for a highly distinguished researcher working in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, or a closely related interdisciplinary area, to spend up to 12 months at the University of Oxford.
In addition to pursuing an active programme of research during their time in Oxford, the PPE Centenary Visiting Professor is expected to engage with students and the wider academic community at the University and beyond, including through the delivery of the prestigious PPE Centenary annual lecture.
The PPE Centenary Visiting Professor is a member of a vibrant academic community, as a visitor in their host department and a Supernumerary Fellow of either The Queen’s College or University College: the two colleges through which the post rotates annually. As the Professorship showcases the rich tripartite nature of Oxford’s flagship course in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, we strongly encourage applications from scholars whose interdisciplinary work will bring fresh perspectives to ‘PPE’ and help build on its tradition of excellence.
We welcome applications from distinguished candidates pursuing cutting-edge research anywhere in the world. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.
The rotation of subjects and colleges is as follows:
2026/27, Economics at The Queen’s College;
2027/28, Politics at University College;
2028/29, Philosophy at The Queen’s College;
2029/30, Economics at University College; etc.
The standard period of tenure runs from 1st September or 1st October for twelve months; flexible arrangements within this period, including tenure of a shorter duration, would be considered. The Visiting Professor is expected to make appropriate arrangements with their home institution to enable them to reside in Oxford during their period of tenure.
The PPE Centenary Visiting Professor receives a competitive stipend.
Applications are currently invited in Economics for the 2026/27 academic year in conjunction with The Queen’s College.
The closing date for application is Monday 10 February 2025. Applications received beyond the deadline will be considered and accepted until the position is filled.
The Application Procedure
Appointments to the PPE Centenary Visiting Professorship are made by a selection panel comprised of members of the Department of Economics, the Department of Politics and International Relations, the Faculty of Philosophy, University College, and The Queen’s College who will consider the submitted application materials.
This is a prestigious post, and the panel will be looking for academics who will be able to make a significant contribution to research at Oxford during their tenure. Please note that an approach by a department or college carries no guarantee of successful appointment to this post.
You should provide the following documents by email to personnel@economics.ox.ac.ukto make an application:
- a full CV including publication list;
- a proposed plan of for the year indicating research you would carry out and how you would interact with colleagues, students, and the wider research community at Oxford;
- the names and contact details of 3 referees who would be willing to write in support of your application (references will be sought only if you are offered the professorship);
- an indication of your availability to take up the professorship during the academic year 2026/27.
Duties of the PPE Centenary Visiting Professor in Economics 2026/27
Research and academic leadership
The PPE Centenary Visiting Professor is expected to pursue a research programme during their period in Oxford and to promote research in a subject within the field of Economics and/or across the fields of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. They will be expected to discuss their proposed programme with the Head of the Department of Economics in advance of their arrival.
Student engagement
The Professor is not required to teach a course during their tenure. However, it is expected that they will actively engage with the students in the Department of Economics and at The Queen’s College, which could be through the form of guest seminars, reading groups, lectures or tutorials related to their research as agreed with the Head of the Department of Economics and the Economics Fellows at The Queen’s College.
Other duties
The Professor is required to give a public lecture (the PPE Centenary Lecture) on a topic of their choosing and drawing on their research. This lecture is followed by a reception and dinner.
Supernumerary Fellowship
In addition to holding the position of Visiting Professor, the PPE Centenary Visiting Professor will be elected to a Supernumerary Fellow by The Queen’s College. This provides the Professor with membership of the College’s Senior Common Room, including both full dining entitlements and access to the vibrant interdisciplinary academic life of the College.
About The Queen’s College
The Queen’s College, founded in 1341, is one of the oldest colleges in the University of Oxford and represents most aspects of the University community and its scientific and scholarly work. There are approximately 70 Fellows, about 200 graduate students and about 360 undergraduates. PPE is represented in the College by Dr Dennis Egger (Economics), Prof. Catharine Abell (Philosophy), and Dr Nicholas Owen (Politics). These subjects are also represented in the College by early career researchers Dr Daniel Crisostomo Wainstock and Dr Lukas Leucht (Economics), Dr Farsan Ghassim (Politics), and Dr Jules Salomone-Sehr (Philosophy). The College admits up to eight undergraduate students per year to read PPE. The College Fellows also admit and supervise a number of postgraduate students in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. For more information about the College please visit www.queens.ox.ac.uk.
About The Department of Economics
Oxford Economics is one of the largest and most diverse groups of academic economists in Europe with a permanent faculty of over 50 including 11 statutory (established) professors, and there are additionally around 20 postdocs and early career researchers on fixed-term appointments.
Our members include some of the world’s most distinguished academic economists. We aim to produce first-class research across the range of the discipline, organised within nine Research Groups, covering all the major sub-fields as well as more specialist areas such as Economic History and Behavioural Economics.
The Research Groups promote and support high-quality research and interaction, and provide an active and supportive research environment for faculty and research students in their field, including regular seminars/workshops.
The Department is also home to several specialised economics research centres, including the world-renowned Centre for the Study of African Economies. Economists in Oxford are not confined to the Department of Economics, but are also present in other places including the Said Business School, the Blavatnik School of Government and the Oxford Internet Institute and candidates may well also find researchers with related interests outside the Department. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (REF 2021) Oxford submitted the largest number of researchers of all UK institutions to the
Economics and Econometrics Unit of Assessment (UoA). Over half of submitted outputs, impact case studies and environment statements received the highest grade of 4*. Members of the Department provide economics teaching for three undergraduate programmes (including Oxford’s flagship Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree) and five graduate programmes including the MPhil and DPhil in Economics, with a total of around 1000 undergraduates and 330 graduate students.
For more information please visit: www.economics.ox.ac.uk.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
The colleges and departments and faculties at the University of Oxford share in the university’s commitment ‘to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected.’ The university’s full policy is available at: www.edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/equality-policy.
The Department is a proud Athena Swan Silver award holder. We are committed to inclusive recruitment practices. To find more about our EDI initiatives, click here: Our Community | Department of Economics.
For information relating to equality, diversity, inclusivity at The Queen’s College, please visit: www.queens.ox.ac.uk/equality-information.