Frequently Asked Questions

• Excellent completion of a prior degree
• At least 2 years work experience subsequent to receiving degree
• Fluent German and English; knowledge of additional languages a plus
• A core project idea already developed, which deals with or confronts certain issues/problems/questions within a specific organization or institution

The MPP admissions committee will carefully review the submitted materials. Invitations to the introductory program talks in Berlin will then be sent to accepted students, who will then be expected to submit their binding responses on the indicated date. (Dates subject to change; this section will be updated shortly).

There are 25 open slots per year.

The degree programme will start every year in the fall.

Application documents are available on the School of Governance homepage at www.governance-school.de. For further questions, contact Anna Haupt, Tel 030/200597123, anna.haupt@governance-school.de.

Part of the given literature will be in English. In order to therefore ensure a sufficient understanding of the provided materials, a strong ability to read and understand the academic texts in English is required.

In order to study at the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance, tuition must be paid. Tuition is not used to cover costs, as it amounts to about only a quarter of the annual budget of the School of Governance. The majority of financing for the School will come from the Governance School Foundation, as well as from other foundations such as the Bosch-Foundation.

Tuition fees amount to 4,500 Euro per semester (costing a total of 18,000 Euro by the conclusion of the study programme). The HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance will only select students based upon the skills and abilities they present; financial considerations will not play a role in selecting a student for admission to the School.

Students will first be admitted; only after offers have been made will the issue of financing be discussed. Not everyone can pay immediately; we will assume that the students will understand their opportunity to study at the School as an investment in their future. We are also aware that not everyone is in a position to undertake this investment immediately, out of pocket.

For those who, for whatever reason, belong to this group and are unable to immediately finance their studies, the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance is able to offer four assistance packages, enabling:

• Low-interest loan
• Individual payment agreement
• Stipend through the Governance Foundation
• Diverse stipends through various foundations

The course workload is estimated to demand approximately 1800 hours spread out over the course of two years. This includes 40 days of classroom workshops, which will take place in Berlin, and 17 online courses. The presence required seminars will be held approximately every two months.

One of the MPP’s central curriculum components is the development of a project that will require students to confront challenges and questions within a particular area, institution or organization, and then develop and realize a viable plan for addressing these queries. All students must have a project concept and design strategy in mind from the start of their studies, so as to be able to begin working with HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA experts and coaches immediately in planning for project implementation. 

A suitable project meets the following criteria:

Sustainability
Puts institutional standards for implementation into place and provides the basis for future innovations

Comprehensive
Requires the creative use of existing resources as well as inspires the search for new ones

‘Hands-On’
Has direct practical relevance and can be completed in the given program timeframe (2 years)

Goal Oriented
Deals with a problem that reflects institutional makeup and has the potential for bringing about long-term successes

Interactive
Works with more than one actor and depends on both national and international knowledge and cooperation

Responsible
Is socially relevant and helps to support good governance

Understandable
Goals and objectives are relevant and intelligible to the public

Challenging
Deals with new problems and questions that have yet not been satisfactorily remedied/solved

A suitable project would for example deal with:

• Conception and implementation of a CSR model for a company
• Conception of a ‘Social Business’ in India
• Introduction of ‘Knowledge Management Skills’ in an organisation
• Guidance of a political campaign
• Development of a certification system against child labour in textile firms
• Conception and implementation of an environmental project in Kenya
• Fundraising for an NGO

The project is the heart of the programme. A project concept that, over the course of three semesters, can be completed successfully and achieve its goal with support from experts in civil society, business and politics is what makes the study programme what it is.

The 60 ECTS-credits are distributed as follows:

The Master of Public Policy, similar to most other non-consecutive, higher education study programs, is equivalent to 60 ECTS credit points.

All Masters Degrees are academic degrees awarded after the completion of a postgraduate study. In many European countries, these lines are drawn according to the Bologna Process, which has the goal of establishing a European system of higher education that can be easily compared. Masters Degrees are generally awarded after a one- or two- year career-accompanying program. While the so-called ‘consecutive’ study programs that usually build on a specialized bachelors degree can only amount to seven different degree titles (the most frequently given, the Masters of Arts and Science), continuing education and non-consecutive Masters programmes have the option of naming the degree that they award. In so doing, most schools choose to name the degree in such a way that it reflects the type of training a student has received. The Master of Public Policy, then, in academic reflection, is recognised by all as a valid Masters Degree.

For all questions related to the MPP degree, applications and participants, the programme coordinator is available to discuss organizational matters. For substantive issues and content related questions, faculty members are available. In addition, a coach, project supervisor and mentor will be available to each student.

Attendance is required for all programme-related courses, to ensure that all students are making consistent progress in their studies, and also to fulfil the formal conditions upon which registration in a Master programme is based. There will of course be instances in which absences from the presence-require courses are excused (in, for example, the case of sickness or personal hardship). Depending on the type of seminar, there are two basic options for how a missed course or seminar can be made up:

1. With academic guidance from the event-giver, the student can arrange to organise and finance attending another seminar.
2. A student can organise a study group, with at least four other participants from the course, to review and discuss the relevant material that was missed.

Yes. If you believe that additional documents may support your application feel free to submit them. This may include certificates referring to trainings, part-time jobs, volunteer work or social commitment that may be relevant to the application. However, please do not send any originals as we are unable to return the application.