MSc Public Administration
The Hague, Netherlands
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 20,900 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Dutch, EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students: €2,530 per year | Second Dutch master’s programme: €16,300 per year
Key Summary
How do we address the world's most pressing issues through governance? The Master of Public Administration gives you a unique multi-level perspective on the management of global political, economic and social actors, with three specialisations to suit your specific interest.
What does this master's programme entail?
Across the globe our governments and societies are confronted with enormous challenges that raise new organisational, policy, and ethical issues. The main focus of the Master of Public Administration is on the management, steering, and coordination of political, administrative, economic, and social actors and the contexts in which they act. It will equip you with the skills to address policy issues at local, regional and international levels.
3 reasons to choose Public Administration at Leiden University
- The Master of Public Administration focusses on governance from multi-level perspective. You will examine policy creation and implementation from the level of the organisation (i.e. the behavior of public managers) all the way up to the highest level of cooperation (i.e. international governance issues).
- As the world becomes more complex your Master of Public Adminsitration has growing career value for governmental organisations, NGO's and business.
The Hague is the ideal location for your study, placing you in the political and administrative heart of the Netherlands and at the centre of European policy and governance.
Public Administration: the right programme for you?
- Are you fascinated in watching the whole context of dilemmas and challenges experienced by governments and societies worldwide?
- Do you want to address these issues from the perspective of governance?
- Do you have affinity with a specific area of governance, as addressed by the three specialisations in this programme – economics and governance, international and european governance, or public management and leadership?
Then this programme is for you!
Chat with a student
Do you have a question about studying at Leiden University or student life in Leiden or in The Hague? Do you want more information about the Master of Public Administration? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!
Students following this programme can choose between three specialisations: 'Economics and Governance', 'International and European Governance' and 'Public Management and Leadership'. The programme consists of core courses, specialisation courses, an electives, and a master's thesis.
Courses
The core courses ensure that students master the most important theoretical and analytical approaches in the analysis of institutions and policy processes, as well as essential analytical and research skills. Specialisation courses allow students to learn more about the problems and state-of-the art research within the context of each of the three specialisations, culminating in an independently conducted master thesis project.
Curriculum division
- Each student of Public Administration takes two substantive core courses: Public Institutions, and Public Policy and Values (10 ECTS).
- Besides the core courses, each student takes the skills-oriented course Research Design (5 ECTS).
- In addition, students take four substantive specialisation courses (20 ECTS) and one elective (5 ECTS).
- Students conduct original research on a topic of their choice within their specialisation and present their results in a master's thesis (20 ECTS).
Specialisations
- Economics and Governance (MSc)
- International and European Governance (MSc)
- Public Management and Leadership (MSc)
With a degree in Public Administration, you are well prepared for a career in the public sector, but also the private and non-profit sector. Opportunities include becoming a policymaker, policy advisor, (project) manager, consultant and lobbyist.
Acquired skills and competences
After completing the programme, you will have a solid foundation in research and policymaking. You are able to analyse complex issues, approach them from multiple perspectives and tackle them with effective policy, services and leadership. Depending on your choice of specialisation, you will have developed a unique skills set tailored to a specific domain within public administration. The combination of being an academic policy researcher and a specialist in economic policy, (inter-)national governance or public management allows you to be employable in a wide variety of positions and still distinguish yourself on the labour market.
Career
The programme prepares you for a career where policy and process meets strategy and leadership. You can respond to societal and organisational challenges, and develop and implement solutions in cross-sectoral and multilevel playing fields. This means that you can become anything from a policymaker in the (semi-)governmental institutions to consultant or lobbyist at the intersection of the public, private and/or non-profit sector – and more.
Orientation Year for Highly Educated Persons
If you are a non-EU recent graduate of Leiden University, you can apply for a residence permit under the ‘orientation year highly educated persons’ scheme. This allows you to spend a period of up to twelve months in the Netherlands looking for and undertaking employment. During your orientation year, you have free access to the labour market and do not need a work permit.
Employment
Alumni that have completed the programme end up in a wide variety of jobs and organisations. Although the majority of the alumni end up in the public sector, a significant part works in consultancy, financial, legal and other business services or pursue a PhD.
Did you know that:
• the most popular positions that alumni hold are policy adviser, project manager and consultant?
• 60% of alumni found a job within 3 months after graduation and that it takes alumni approximately 5 months on average?
• more than half of alumni landed a permanent contract for their first relevant job after graduation?