Master of Public Policy

This course introduces students to the policy process with a governance perspective. It analyses the capacity of political actors to design instruments to influence particular outcomes in different fields. Focusing on governance, rather than governments, students gain a broad perspective in the range of relevant actors involved in the policy process. The course provides students with a thorough understanding of the policy process, as well as the perspective to achieve their own targets as future policy actors. The course is taught as a seminar with about 25 participants. It is offered with different foci such as social policy, energy policy or the policy process in the EU.

You can find more information in the course catalogue:

• The policy process: Climate policy
• The policy process: Education, labour markets and the knowledge economy
• The policy process: Social policy
• The Policy Process: Employment and welfare

This course deals with the design and operation of organisations that matter for public policy. It provides an understanding of how these organisations 'tick' internally, how they shape the design and implementation of public policies and how they can be 'governed'. Critical thinking about solutions offered in debates related to public management issues will be encouraged. The course is taught as a seminar with about 25 participants.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.

This course provides students with an introduction to micro- and macroeconomics. It is suitable for students without an economics background, but those with prior training will also benefit from this course. It focuses on core topics such as supply and demand analysis, market and price analysis, competition, market failure, asymmetric information, externalities and government intervention, game theory and uncertainty, macroeconomic equilibrium, money market and the role of central banks, labour market, aggregate demand and supply, government, and fiscal policies. The course is taught as a lecture with about 80 participants. The lecture is complemented by a lab session (with about 16 participants) in which students have the chance to discuss and further elaborate on the topics examined in the lecture. For students with a strong economics background, waivers are available.

You can find more information in the course catalogue:

• Economics I
• Economics advanced:
  - Economic and Financial Market Policy
  - Economic Policy - Theory and Practice
  - Public sector economics
  (For students with a background in Economics, who opt for a waiver)

The course offers an introduction to quantitative research methods for policymakers. Students will be acquainted with quantitative methods conducive to empirical policy research. No prior knowledge of statistics is required, and concepts will be addressed both empirically and theoretically. The course is taught as a lecture with about 80 participants. The lecture is complemented by a weekly lab session (with about 16 participants) in which concepts will be reinforced through hands-on application using STATA. For students with a strong background in quantitative methods, waivers are available.

You can find more information in the course catalogue:

• Statistics I
• Statistics II
  (For students with a background in Stats, who opt for a waiver)

This course elucidates the relationship in modern societies between law and governance i.e. between legal structures and rules and decision-making. It is divided into three main parts: foundational legal techniques and sources, such as legal interpretation and argumentation; the relationship between law and policymaking; and the trans-nationalisation of modern law, and the impact of such trans-nationalisation on the law’s form, structures and substance. By examining primary legal materials and their interaction with contemporary public policy issues and dilemmas, students gain competences in reading and applying legal sources, as well as in understanding the impact of law on decision-making at different levels of governance. The course is taught as a seminar with approximately 25 participants.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.

The course builds on the foundations laid in Economics I during the first semester. Students deepen their knowledge and acquire analytical competences in this course depending on their field of interest. They can choose between three variations of the course: Open Economy and Exchange Rates, Public Sector Economics, or Growth and Trade. Each course is  taught as a lecture with about 80 participants. The lecture is complemented by a lab session (with about 16 participants) in which students have the chance to discuss and further elaborate on the topics covered in the lecture.

You can find more information in the course catalogue:

• Economic and Financial Market Policy
• Economic Policy - Theory and Practice
• Public sector economics

During the first semester, students decide on their concentration and either attend the Statistics II course (for students with the Policy Analysis concentration) or the Management and Leadership course (for students with the Management and Organisation concentration).

You can find more information in the course catalogue:

• Statistics II
• Management and leadership: Making sense of public management tools

This practice course is usually taught in cooperation with a public policy institution. It gives students the opportunity to tackle the demands of a real-world policy project, test the practical relevance of what they have been studying in other courses, and employ and refine professional skills. Students work in teams on a real-world policy project. Each course has approximately 20 participants.

Selected examples of project courses:

• What makes an effective public innovation lab?
• Digitalisation and the labour market: Policymaking in an age of disruption
• Stakeholder communication and public affairs
• Sustainable development: Theory, analysis, practice
• Citizens budget and informed citizens

Please note that the available project courses vary by semester. These are examples of project courses that have been on offer in recent semesters. For more information, please contact the Curricular Affairs team.

In order for students to refine and deepen their quantitative analysis or management skills, they attend at least two concentration-based electives either from the Policy Analysis concentration or the Management and Organisation concentration in their third or fourth semester.

Examples of Policy Analysis concentration electives:

• Applied migration research
• Behavioural economics and experimental policy evaluations
• Renewable energy policies
• Logistic regression analysis
• Economics of crime and security: Policies and evaluation methods
• Quantitative text analysis

Examples of Management and Organisation concentration electives:

• Citizen empowerment in public services
• Experimental policymaking
• Managing nonprofit organisations and foundations
• Organisational failure and public policy disasters
• Smart cities and the problem-solving capacity of urban governance
• Strategic management in the public sector

Please note that the available concentration electives vary by semester. These are examples of electives that have been on offer in recent semesters. Elective courses are taught as seminars with up to 22 participants. For more information, please contact the Curricular Affairs team.

Students deepen their knowledge and elaborate their policy and competence portfolio by auditing three additional portfolio electives. These courses can be selected from the entire catalogue of electives provided that spots are still available in the requested course.

Elective courses are taught as seminars with up to 22 participants.

For some course examples, explore the course catalogue.

In order for students to refine and deepen their quantitative analysis or management skills, they attend at least two concentration-based electives either from the Policy Analysis concentration or the Management and Organisation concentration in their third or fourth semester.

Examples of Policy Analysis concentration electives:

• Applied migration research
• Behavioural economics and experimental policy evaluations
• Renewable energy policies
• Logistic regression analysis
• Economics of crime and security: Policies and evaluation methods
• Quantitative text analysis

Examples of Management and Organisation concentration electives:

• Citizen empowerment in public services
• Experimental policymaking
• Managing nonprofit organisations and foundations
• Organisational failure and public policy disasters
• Smart cities and the problem-solving capacity of urban governance
• Strategic management in the public sector

Please note that the available concentration electives vary by semester. These are examples of electives that have been on offer in recent semesters. Elective courses are taught as seminars with up to 22 participants. For more information, please contact the Curricular Affairs team.

Students deepen their knowledge and elaborate their policy and competence portfolio by auditing three additional portfolio electives. These courses can be selected from the entire catalogue of electives provided that spots are still available in the requested course.

Elective courses are taught as seminars with up to 22 participants.

For some course examples, explore the course catalogue.