Studiegids

nl en

Public Administration: International and European Governance

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.

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.

Specialisation: IEG

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 (15 or 20 ECTS).

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

Courses

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block 1

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

Block 2

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

Block 3

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

Block 4

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

Master Thesis Public Administration

Master's Thesis Public Administration 20

Electives

Comparative Public Management 5
Markets and Competition Policy 5
EU Policymaking and Implementation 5
Lobbying and Public Affairs in Theory and Practice 5
Regulation and Governance (elective) 5
Data-driven Policymaking 5
Managerial Economics, Business and Politics 5
Markets in the Welfare State 5
Public Leadership Across Borders 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: R. (Rassoul) Coelen

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 are your first point of contact within the programme. They can help you with study-related questions and problems, such as study delay, planning and choices, thesis issues, internships, exchange, rules and regulations etc. Please inform them of personal circumstances, especially when they affect your studies and/or wellbeing. Examples include (acute or chronic) illness, disability, family circumstances, pregnancy, top-level sport and certain board activities.

Depending on your question or problem, the study advisers might forward you to the:

  • Student counsellors. They help you with any questions or problems you might have concerning combining studying with top-level sport, a disability or pregnancy/with children, academic delay, complaints and financial matters.

  • Student psychologists. They can help you with study-related and personal problems. They also provide mindset and study skills courses and workshops, and support groups for students who are writing their thesis.

  • Board of Examiners. The board of examiners is responsible for examination and monitors the level of exams and elective courses/packages, including adherence to the rules and regulations, granting exemptions and taking measures with regard to fraud, plagiarism etc. For individual requests to the board, please read the rules and regulations.

  • Educational Service Centre (OSC). The OSC is responsible for the organisation of exams and exam facilities, registration of final grades and processing of requests in uSis, diploma requests, transcripts and schedules. They can be reached at the desk and by telephone during opening hours, and via email 24/7.

Complaints

  • The study advisers are the first point of contact within the programme. Please inform them about your complaint first so they can forward you the right contact person, department or procedure.

  • The university offers different channels 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

Research Methods (IEG and PML February 2020 cohort and earlier)
Due to the restructuring of the program the course Research Methods is no longer offered from the academic year of 2021-2022 onwards. If you are still in need of this course please conact Study Advice before September 1st, 2022.

Welcome

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 Public Administration (MPA).

We organise a welcome meeting for our new MPA students on Friday, 3 February 2023 at Wijnhaven. During this meeting, you will become acquainted with the overall programme and your specialisation. The programme and specialisation coordinators, study adviser and student mentors will provide you with essential information, from course overviews and thesis to extracurricular activities and career services. 

The programme is as follows. 
14.15 – 15.00 Optional: information session for new students at Leiden University Room 3.50*
15.00 – 15.15  Walk-in  Room 2.02 
15.15 – 15.45  Welcome by Dr. Rik de Ruiter, programme coordinator of MPA, and Jolanda den Heijer, study adviser  Room 2.02 
15.45 – 16.00  Break   
16.00 – 16.45 

  • Economics & Governance: presentation by Prof. Olaf van Vliet, specialisation coordinator, and Silke Osinga, student mentor Room 2.01 

  • International & European Governance: presentation by Dr. Rik de Ruiter, specialisation coordinator, and Daniëlle Kuper, student mentor Room 3.60

  • Public Management & Leadership: presentation by Dr. Joris van der Voet, specialisation coordinator, and Anna-Maria Janssen, student mentor Room 3.48 

16.45 – 17.00 Class of February 2023 picture Spanish Steps
16.45 – 18.15  Drinks Wijnhaven Restaurant

For new students at Leiden University we offer an information session. During this session, we will inform you on course and exam enrolment, schedules, rules and regulations, facilities and other useful resources *.

If you are an international student coming to the Netherlands, please read the Student Welcome Guide carefully. We also recommended you to participate in the Winter Orientation Week Leiden (OWL). Dutch students are also welcome.

You can find the weblinks to the MyStudymap, uSis, Brightspace and MyTimetable here and in the Prospectus. Please find (other) practical information in attachment and on Information for new students. You can already enrol for the courses in block 3 until five days before the start of the course.

We look forward to meeting you on 3 February!

Kind regards, 

Ms. Tineke Choi, MSc 
Ms. drs. Jolanda den Heijer 
Mr. Dave Eikenbroek, MA 
*Study advisers Institute of Public Administration**

Career preparation

This page is only available in English.