Master of Public Policy (MPP)

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The Brandt School’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year interdisciplinary degree program. It is designed for young academics and professionals who wish to pursue a career in public service, including government agencies, international organizations and the non-profit sector. The MPP program equips future decision makers with the knowledge and practical skills they will need to advance the public interest and make sound policy decisions. Based on our students' and faculty's learnings, the Brandt School initiated a project on the Internationalization and Digitalization of Education in 2021.

Drawn from political science, economics, sociology, public administration and law, the MPP curriculum builds the skills and knowledge base required of a professional policy analyst. It includes courses in political and economic analysis, statistics, public management and ethics. Throughout the coursework, research and field experience, students develop their understanding of the policy process and the institutions and actors involved in that process. 

The MPP is a practice-oriented, non-consecutive Master degree with a standard duration of four semesters, or two years of full-time study, resulting in 120 credit points (ECTS). The degree corresponds to a second cycle/level 7 degree of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

 

MPP at a glance:
  • MPP candidates study two years full-time in English, earning a total of 120 credit points (ECTS).
  • 8 core modules focusing on Policy Analysis, Administration and Management, and Methods.
  • 4 specialization modules to choose from: Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship, International and Global Public Policy, Development and Socio-Economic Policies, and Conflict Studies and Management.
  • Practical Training Modules: internship and a capstone/project group with an external client.
  • Language Module
  • Distinguished international faculty
  • Academic exchange semesters at distinguished partner universities such as Central European University Vienna, El Colegio de Mexico, INPUMA Kuala Lumpur, and Hebrew University Jerusalem
  • Mentoring and counselling through faculty, staff, and senior students
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Make the most of it

  • Build your network during the program. Get in touch with academics and practitioners through courses, guest talks, and make friendships with fellow students to build up your professional network.
  • Improve your soft skills. Benefit from expert trainings on topics such as leadership, diversity, communication, and other career offers.
  • Learn outside the classroom. Boost your digital literacy through our Digital Learning Lab, join excursions, and work with partners to learn through experience.
  • Make an impact. Turn your project ideas into practice through our Social Impact Campus, publish your findings on our blog, or advance policy solutions through your project group work.
  • Have a say. Join the Brandt School’s student government or the University wide Student Council to represent your fellow students in relevant matters.
  • See the world from another perspective. Learn to change perspective through our context-sensitive curriculum, the interaction with your international fellow students, or an exchange semester with one of our partner universities.

General facts about the student body

Brandt School students are strategic thinkers, go-getters and use their entrepreneurial skills to bring innovative change. In addition to selection criteria such as outstanding undergraduate grades, an interdisciplinary orientation, talent and high motivation, MPP students demonstrate excellent English language skills and professional experience in politics, diplomacy, administration, the non-governmental sector and similar fields and publish their own articles.

General Stats About the Student Body

Where are our students coming from?

World Map
Africa: 10%; Asia: 40%; Europe: 28% ; Oceania: 1%; North America: 13%; South America: 8%

Mentoring and additional offers

  • Mentoring and counseling through faculty, staff, and senior students:

To ensure a high quality of teaching the Brandt School strives to continuously improve its academic services to students and lecturers. Students are closely coached and supervised throughout their studies at the Brandt School and all courses offered are regularly evaluated to maintain the high quality of our MPP program. These efforts lead to a very high rate of students successfully completing their studies at the Brandt School and starting suitable careers afterwards. Students are supported through both faculty members and administrative staff of the Brandt School. At the beginning of their studies at the Brandt School students are assigned a professor or lecturer as an individual academic mentor. The mentor is consulted at least at the beginning of a semester to discuss the appropriate choice of MPP courses. Regular consultations with the mentor ensure that the students take all mandatory courses and earn enough credits each semester. Based on each student's individual academic background and career interests, the academic mentor may also offer career advice in terms of suggesting internship areas, practice-oriented thesis topics and appropriate career options.

  • Support regarding housing, visa, health insurance, etc.
  • Preventive health offers
  • University sports courses
  •  …and many more.

MPP Experiences

See what our alumni and students have to say about their experiences at the Brandt School and what made their time with us memorable!

Tassilo Scalera

Through the school’s interdisciplinary approach, we learn a lot from different fields and get the knowledge we need to solve the problems of tomorrow in an entrepreneurial way.

- Tassilo Scalera, MPP alumnus from Germany 

With a class coming from over 20 countries, the Brandt School offers a truly international and diverse learning environment. I treasure every exchange with my fellows. It deepens my perspective and reminds me of my blind spots, making me a more understanding and humble person --- a better world citizen. Also, different specializations in the program open doors to different fields, and help me to discover my potential.

- Clara Tak Yan Law, MPP alumna from Hongkong

Clara Tak Yan Law

You can find more reviews at Google and at Studycheck.de.

About the MPP

students in lecture hall

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Do you need advice?

MPP Program and Student Inquiries
(Willy Brandt School of Public Policy)
C19 - Research Building "Weltbeziehungen" / C19.02.40

Ten Reasons for Joining the Brandt School

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Are you interested?

Find out more about requirements, deadlines and scholarships in the section

Admissions

If you would like to learn more about life as a student at the Brandt School, feel free to check out our

Social Media

For further information, you can also download the

MPP Brochure  

Start your own MPP experience now!