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If you aspire to have a career that makes a difference in society, public sector work can be ideal for you. A Master’s in Public Policy, therefore, shall be the natural next step in your journey. The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a 1–2-year program that maintains a structured approach towards learning about public policies, regulations, and executive, legislative and administrative processes.

MPP programs in Europe are specially taught by expert practitioners who are uniquely positioned to help you develop in-depth academic knowledge and professional competencies needed to address some of the most complex public policy problems in the current economic environment and challenges pertaining to the modern world.

A Master of Public Policy course typically starts with a carefully designed curriculum during which students not only gain a basic understanding of policymaking but also study policy analysis, program evaluation and acquire in-depth, comparative, and transversal knowledge in the field of public affairs, which combines economic, legal, ethical, historical, political, managerial and digital approaches. Students also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular field of public policy. The curriculum of this course is ideally delivered through a series of case studies, workshops, seminars, and lectures.

Why study Masters of Public Policy in Europe?

If you wish to study Public Policy, Europe is the place to be and the global rankings agree. Also compared to countries like the US, Canada, or Australia, the tuition fees at most public universities in Europe are  low and, in some cases like Germany, nothing at all. The strong cross-border cooperation within Europe has also contributed to shaping a robust international academic community that conducts cutting-edge research well suited for a Master’s in Public Policy.

There are many universities across Europe where you can pursue a Master of Public Policy, most of them have quite a flexible course structure. Many of these programs are specifically tailored for busy professionals and require less than fifty days of campus attendance. These programs are typically for one to two years and are meant for students who have at least a couple of years of work experience.

Following is the list of highest-ranked universities for Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) and Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) in Europe and their QS World Ranking (2021).

QS World Ranking Name of the University Full-time Duration
2 University of Oxford, UK 1 Year
3 Sciences Po, France 1 Year
4 The London School of Economics and Political Science, UK 9 months
5 University of Cambridge, UK 1 Year
18 King’s College London, UK 1 Year
19 Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany 2 Year
23 SOAS University of London 1 Year

While GRE might not be required by many universities for Master of Public Policy courses, your academic record, motivation, and background would play a major role in the admission process. You would be required to take IELTS if you desire to study in the UK or Germany. France, on the other hand, might give you a waiver on this if you have studied in English medium institutions throughout your life.

Is Masters in Public Policy worth it?

The Master of Public Policy program is a dynamic and comprehensive course that should not be mixed up with a typical Masters in Government Service degree. Even though the government is where public policies tend to become laws and regulations, having an MPP degree does not limit you only to government service. This course maintains a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary approach, thereby providing you with a diverse range of employment options.

Some of the major employment options that shall be available to you subsequent to acquiring an MPP degree are:

  • Political positions like working for any state legislator or local official, where you may be required to carry out responsibilities associated with policy development, legislative analysis, campaign operations, as well as events and public relations.
  • Non-political options that are within the government sector, ranging from legal analysis and administration to program analysis and management. You might even work with diverse international, national, state, or local agencies that focus on policy development.
  • As an MPP degree holder, you can work within the non-profit domain and conduct policy research. You may even carry out advocacy work on particular issues, which include policy management, communication, and development. The options available to you would ideally include becoming an entrepreneur and starting your own NGO or non-profit or work with any government relations team or private organization.
  • A growing number of organizations belonging to the private sector are also employing MPP graduates. This increasing popularity is largely associated with the fact that modern businesses slowly realize the role of policy development and implementation in influencing and impacting corporate decisions. In addition to government relations and advocacy roles, you may even explore positions in management, marketing, program analysis, public relations, communications, and more in the private sector.

Popular public policy jobs today include local government officer, civil service administrator, foreign affairs officer, and social researcher.  After completing your degree, you shall not only be able to explore a wide range of careers, but also enjoy the ability to switch from one sector to another seamlessly.  These factors make pursuing an MPP course truly worth it.

Interested in knowing how you can apply to MS in Public Policy courses in Europe? Connect with our counselors for a free 15 minute session and they will guide you and create your personalized admissions roadmap.

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