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Public Administration

The MSc Public Administration offers 3 specialisations:

  1. International and European Governance (IEG)
  2. Public Management and Leadership (PML)
  3. Economics and Governance (EG)

This master’s is a fulltime day programme taught in English. Only students of the MSc Public Administration can participate in the courses of Public Administration.

Specialisation: IEG/E&G
Please consult the programme overview of the Master Public Administration for the September and February intake to see which courses you follow in each block. Your study load is 15 ECTS per block. The core and skills-oriented courses are offered twice per year and the specialisation courses are offered once per year. Please note: the range of electives differs per block II and block IV. You can find the overview on the right side under 'Files'.

  • In your first block, you follow one core course Public Institutions (5 ECTS) and two specialisation courses (2x5 ECTS).

  • In your second block, you follow one core course Public Policy and Values (5 ECTS), one skills-oriented course Research Design (5 ECTS), and one elective (5 ECTS).

  • In your third block, you follow two specialisation courses (2x5 ECTS) and start on your Master's Thesis (5 of 20 ECTS).

  • In your fourth block, you work fulltime on your Master's Thesis (15 of 20 ECTS).*

Specialisation: PML
Please consult the programme overview of the Master Public Administration for the September and February intake to see which courses you follow in each block. Your study load is 15 ECTS per block. The core and skills-oriented courses are offered twice per year and the specialisation courses are offered once per year. Please note: the range of electives differs per block II and block IV. You can find the overview on the right side under 'Files'.

  • In your first block, you follow one core course Public Institutions (5 ECTS) and one specialisation course (1x10 ECTS).

  • In your second block, you follow one core course Public Policy and Values (5 ECTS), one skills-oriented course Research Design (5 ECTS), and one elective (5 ECTS).

  • In your third block, you follow one specialisation course (1x10 ECTS) and start on your Master's Thesis (5 of 20 ECTS).

  • In your fourth block, you work fulltime on your Master's Thesis (15 of 20 ECTS).**

IEG

No nation-state can solve today's global challenges on its own. In the specialisation International and European Governance you will obtain a deep understanding of the interplay between the international, EU, and (sub)national governance systems and how this interplay affects a national government's capacity to address corss-border societal challenges. This expertise will prepare you for a job in an (inter)national public institution or the private sector.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block I

Architectures of International and European governance 5
Global challenges and public policies 5
Public Institutions 5

Block II

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (IEG) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Block III

Management in International Administrations 5
Decision-Making in Multi-level Governance Systems 5

Block IV

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (IEG) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Master's Thesis Public Administration

Master's Thesis Public Administration 20

Electives

Markets and Competition Policy 5
Comparative Public Management 5
EU Policymaking and Implementation 5
Data-driven Policymaking 3-5
Markets in the Welfare State 5
Managerial Economics, Business and Politics 5
Politicians and civil servants 5
Regulation and Governance (elective) 5

February 2020 intake

Research Methods (IEG) 5

PML

If government wants to solve societal challenges and improve society, individual public organizations must be able to achieve results. The Public Management and Leadership specialisation focuses on how management and leadership shape the performance of organizations in the public sector. In times of increasing complexity, management is needed to ensure that public organizations operate in an effective, efficient and reliable manner. At the same time, leadership is necessary for public organizations to be adaptive, responsive and innovative.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block I

Public Institutions 5
Strategic Public Management and Collaboration 10

Block II

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (PML) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Block III

Public Institutions 5
Leadership and Organisational Behaviour 10

Block IV

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (PML) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Master's Thesis Public Administration

Master's Thesis Public Administration 20

Electives

Markets and Competition Policy 5
Comparative Public Management 5
EU Policymaking and Implementation 5
Markets in the Welfare State 5
Managerial Economics, Business and Politics 5
Politicians and civil servants 5
Regulation and Governance (elective) 5
Data-driven Policymaking 3-5

February 2020 intake

Research Methods (PML) 5

E&G

The Economics and Governance specialisation of the Master Public Administration teaches you to formulate problem-solving approaches to concrete policy issues found at the intersection between economics and public administration. This specialisation is a unique joint offering of the Department of Economics and the Institute of Public Administration.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block I

Public Institutions 5
Research Methods: Applied Empirical Economics 5
Welfare State Economics 5

Block II

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (EG) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Block III

Public Institutions 5
Political Economy in International Perspective 5
Economics of Regulation 5

Block IV

Research Design 5
Public Policy and Values (EG) 5
Elective (see below) 5

Master's Thesis Public Administration

Master's Thesis Public Administration 20

Electives

Markets and Competition Policy 5
Comparative Public Management 5
EU Policymaking and Implementation 5
Markets in the Welfare State 5
Managerial Economics, Business and Politics 5
Regulation and Governance (elective) 5
Politicians and civil servants 5
Data-driven Policymaking 3-5

February 2020 intake

Regulation and Governance (February 2020 intake) 5

Organisation

Board and co-participation

The programme Public Administration has a programme board that consists of:

  • Programme coordinator, responsible for the content of the programme amongst other things: Dr. R. (Rik) de Ruiter.

  • Student member of the board, who brings in the student perspective of the programme board: S.M. (Sandra) Schott.

The Master Public Administration has a Programme Committee (OLC). This is a co-participation body that consists of academic staff as well as students.

Study counseling and support

The study advisers from your programme can help you out with programme related questions and problems, like if you fall behind with your studies, your study planning, examination rules and regulations etc. Please see below:

  • Personal circumstances:
    By this we mean: illness, disability, special circumstances within the family, pregnancy and certain board activities. If you’re not sure about your situation, please also come by the study advisers.

  • Other study related issues:
    Study progress, rules and regulation Institute of Public Administration/ University, problems with thesis.

Furthermore, there are also:

  • Student counselors: they answer your questions and help you out with problems where different regulations and legal conditions play a role;

  • Student psychologists: they can for instance help you with fear of failure, procrastination, hindering thoughts and they also provide study skills workshops and support groups for students who write their thesis.

You’re always welcome to come by the study advisers first if you are in doubt as to whom you should turn to.

Other important departments:

  • The Board of Examination is, among other things, responsible for the organization of exams and they also check up on the fulfillment of the Regulations for Teaching and Examinations. Furthermore, the Board of Examination also processes individual requests from students regarding their programme. For individual questions to the Board, please read the rules and regulations.

  • The Education Services Centre (OSC) takes care of the registration of study and education information and is available for students by telephone and at the desk during their opening hours.

Complaints

  • The study advisers are the first point of contact within the programme. Please speak to them first, if you are not sure where to turn to regarding the options below.

  • The university offers different portals where you can discuss your question or complaint.

  • Do you have a questions, suggestion or complaint about a specific course, exam or about the study programme and time schedule? Please check the complaints page of your programme.

  • Every faculty has a complaints coordinator: the assessor of the Faculty (student member of the Board). He or she is the complaints coordinator for all other complaints.

Study association

The study association Bestuurskundige Interfacultaire vereniging Leiden (B.I.L.) forms a link between students and the Institute and organizes several activities for students.

Transitional arrangement

This information is only available in English.

Intro

Invitation welcome meeting Master Public Administration February 2021

Dear student,

On behalf of the Board and staff of the Institute of Public Administration of Leiden University, we would like to welcome you to the Master of Science Public Administration (MPA).

We organise an online welcome meeting for our new MPA students on Friday 29 January 2021. During this meeting, you will become acquainted with the overall programme and your specialisation. The specialisation coordinator, study advisor and student mentor will provide you with essential information, from course overviews and thesis to career services and extracurricular activities.

The programme is as follows:

Economics & Governance (E&G)
10:00– 11.00 Welcome by Prof. Olaf van Vliet, specialisation coordinator of E&G, and Jolanda den Heijer, study advisor
11.00 – 11.30 Optional: Kick-off mentorship programme by Roelien van der Wel, student mentor E&G

International & European Governance (IEG)
13:00– 14.00 Welcome by Rik de Ruiter, specialisation coordinator of IEG, and Tineke Choi, study advisor
14.00 – 14.30 Kick-off mentorship programme by Babette Kolen, student mentor IEG

Public Management & Leadership (PML)
13:00– 14.00 Welcome by Dr. Joris van der Voet, specialisation coordinator of PML, and Jolanda den Heijer, study advisor
14.00 – 14.30 Kick-off mentorship programme by Ashmi Krishnan, student mentor PML

Links to join this meetings will be send to you.

You can find the weblinks to the schedules, uSis and Brightspace here and in the right-side column in the Prospectus. Please find (other) practical information on Getting started! and Information for new students.

We look forward to meeting you!

Kind regards,

Ms. Tineke Choi, MSc
Ms. drs. Jolanda den Heijer
Ms. Charlotte Rosalie, MA
Study advisers Institute of Public Administration

Career Preparation

Studying is about more than just obtaining a diploma. It is also about preparing for a professional career. How can you use the knowledge and skills that you acquire? Which specialisation should you choose within your study programme and why? What skills do you already have, and what skills do you want to develop? How do you translate the courses that you choose into something that you would like to do after graduation?

These questions and more will be discussed at various times during your study programme. You may have already discussed them with your study adviser, the FGGA Career Service and/or other students. We organise many different activities to help you reflect on your own wishes and options, and explore the job market. All these activities are focused on answering the questions: ‘What can I do?’, ‘What do I want?’ and ‘How do I achieve my goals?’.

The Career Service’s main aim is to smoothen the transition from university to the job market. We can give you personal advice and we organise different events. Each year we organise a variety of activities, such as:

  • Individual career advice and a CV check

  • Workshops and training courses, e.g. 'Networking & LinkedIn', 'CV & personal profile' or 'Interview skills'

  • Career Colleges in which alumni tell about their job, how they got their job and their typical workday

  • Information sessions, for example ‘How to find a job in the Netherlands’ or ‘Working for the EU’

  • Company visits, e.g. embassies, different ministries, the European Commission in Brussels, Accenture or AIVD

  • Internship Fair

  • Campus The Hague Career Event

You will be notified via your study programme website and Career Service email about further career preparation activities. We hope to see you at one of our online or offline events!

More information

  • Visit the Leiden University Career Zone to access online personality tests, labour market information, the Leiden University Job Portal and more.

  • Join the Alumni Mentor network to get in touch with alumni for advice.

  • Like the Career Service FGGA on Facebook and stay updated on activities, vacancies and other interesting opportunities!

  • Do you want to do an internship during or after your master’s? Find more information here.

  • Are you a non-EU/EEA citizen and do you want to stay in the Netherlands after graduation? Read more about the orientation year permit.

  • Request a CV check, make an appointment for individual career advice and/or send other questions to careerservice@fgga.leidenuniv.nl