Maastricht University, School of Business and Economics
MSc in Public Policy and Human Development
Maastricht, Netherlands
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 32,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA | June 1 for EU/EEA
** institutional fees top; low - EUR 21,400 per year; high - EUR 25,000 per year | statutory fees: EUR 2.601 per year
Key Summary
About: Maastricht University (UM) offers the MSc in Public Policy and Human Development, a one-year full-time English-taught double degree with United Nations University (UNU). The program links public policy and decision-making, focusing on governance effectiveness and efficiency. You’ll learn analytical methods, policy design tools, and professional skills to work across local, national, and international institutions; it starts in September and involves weekly contact hours plus independent study.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in government, international organizations, NGOs and research institutes and become policy analysts, policy designers, government advisors, program officers, consultants and researchers. Skills suit migration and social protection policy.
How can public policy promote innovation-based growth? What is lacking in the current social protection policy in your country and how can it be improved? What are the key factors that governments should take into account when forming their migration policy? If you want to develop the skills to answer these questions in a professional capacity, then the master's program in Public Policy and Human Development is a good fit for you.
The Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development emphasizes the connection between public policy and decision-making processes, or more specifically, the effectiveness and efficiency of governance. You will be equipped with a variety of skills, tools, and knowledge that enable you to work as a policy designer or policy analyst. You will be capable of working within public and private institutions at local, national, and international levels. The one-year master's program is offered as a double degree in collaboration with United Nations University.
Fast facts
- Earn two master’s degrees, from UM and United Nations University
- Strong emphasis on developing professional skills
- 1-year, full-time master’s, taught in English
- Starts in September
- Weekly: 10-12 contact hours, 30-40 hours independent study
- You’ll get an MSc in Public Policy and Human Development
- Some courses can be taken separately as short courses
Why this program?
Public policy issues are growing in complexity and there’s an increasing interconnectedness between local, national, and international levels of decision making and implementation. Due to the increasing complexity of the issues, there is a growing need for specialists in policy analysis who have a combination of technical skills as well as theoretical and specific area knowledge. During the one-year master's program in Public Policy and Human Development, you will be trained by leading experts from both Maastricht University and United Nations University and will earn two master’s degrees.