Public Policy
Degree Profile
The Brandt School
The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt is one of Germany‘s leading policy schools. Our practice-oriented, international, and interdisciplinary approach and our internationally renowned faculty make us a unique place for policy teaching and learning.
- We train future leaders in government, civil society, and private enterprise in addressing the complex public policy challenges of our time.
- We are home to cutting-edge research on key areas in sustainable development, that is climate change, inequality, digitalization, violent conflict, and health.
- We generate impact by feeding results back to politics and society in general to inform evidence-based policy making.
The Brandt School is uniquely located in Thuringia’s capital Erfurt, in the very center of the unified Germany, carrying deep historical significance from the Reformation to the Thirty Years‘ War, from Weimar to the Wall, with close infrastructural and intellectual ties to other important centers such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Prague, Brussels or Paris to name but a few.
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.
The Master of Public Policy
The Brandt School’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year practice-oriented, international, and interdisciplinary degree program. It is designed for young professionals who wish to pursue a career in public service, including government agencies, international organizations, and the non-profit sector.
Drawing from political science, economics, sociology, public administration and law, the MPP curriculum equips professional policy analysts and future decision makers with the knowledge and practical skills they will need to advance the public interest and make sound evidence-based policy decisions.
Throughout the coursework, research, and field experience, students develop a deep understanding of the policy process and the involved institutions and actors. The rise of the global South is embraced as is the continuing relevance of the global North’s legacy. The curriculum is neither limited to mature democracies, nor to elite decision-making, but encompasses all types of policy environments, from state administration to non-state governance, from conflict and transition to development and preservation.
Since 2004 more than 770 students from all over the world have graduated with an MPP. At the Brandt School, diversity is a fact – and to us, this is an invaluable asset. The diversity of the people at the school is reflected in various characteristics such as origin, age, professional, and academic background. Our alumni come from around 100 countries and students from 30–40 different countries regularly take up their studies in the current MPP classes. They not only learn from faculty and with each other, but also from each other and our faculty from them.
Our commitment to diversity is also reflected in graduate teaching. Mandatory courses cover global case studies in „Comparative Public Policy,“ strategies of cross-cultural collaboration in „Management and Leadership,“ and heterodox approaches in „Economic Analysis and Modeling.“
We also offer courses with relevant focuses. Previous ones have looked into „Gender and Conflict“ or looked into „Advancing Gender-smart Climate Finance“. In our public events, conferences, and discussions, we take care to provide space for a diversity of voices and positions.
The Master of Public Policy at the Brandt School
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Career Opportunities
Our MPP program trains students for careers in state-level and national governments, public administration, international organizations, civil society, think tanks, consultancies, and other private companies.
Mainly training policy analysts and future leaders, the MPP has also paved the way for many alumni to work as social entrepreneurs, diplomats, development experts, stakeholders, journalists, managers, and researchers, for example:
- The European Parliament
- The World Bank
- The United Nations
- The Foreign Ministry of the Ukraine
- The World Wildlife Found
- Kinship Foundation
Details of the degree programme
Structure of the Public Policy degree programme
Program structure
MPP candidates study two years full-time, earning a total of 120 credit points (ECTS). The first three semesters are dedicated to course work and the practical modules. During the fourth term, students write their thesis.
All students take eight core modules:
Core Modules:
- Introduction to Public Policy
- Economic Policy Analysis
- Comparative and International Public Policy
- Public Administration and Finance
- Management and Leadership
- Ethics in the Public Sector
- Quantitative Methods
- Advanced Methods
In addition, students may choose two out of four specializations:
Specialisation Modules:
- Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship
- International and Global Public Policy
- Development and Socio-Economic Policies
- Conflict Studies and Management
Practice Training Modules:
- Bridging the gap to the policy world is an important part of our teaching philosophy. MPP students, therefore, work with practical examples and professional partners and solve real-world policy challenges as part of a policy internship and a project group.
Language Module:
- Students improve their language competencies within several language modules. Students may choose from a wide variety of languages. Basic German is compulsory for all students without prior knowledge of the language.
- support regarding housing, visa, health insurance, etc.
- mentoring and counselling through faculty, staff, and senior students
- preventive health offers
- university sports courses
- …and many more.
Video presentation of the Master of Public Policy degree programme
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Our students & former students
Great place to study: I was originally an engineer, so public policy was something new for me. The lecturers are excellent and very guiding, now I can cope with the studies. The course materials are all very interesting because they are of high quality but also easy to understand. The library of the univ is so beautiful and comfortable.
Rating from Habibul on Studycheck
Studying at the Brandt School offered me the valuable opportunity of interacting with students from all over the world, profiting from different points of view and learning in a diverse and motivating environment.
Ayanga Edubio, former student from Nigeria
Open Day
Open Day
Numerous information and counselling services offer you the opportunity to see the study and living conditions in Erfurt for yourself at the Open Day. Get to know the green campus and the beautiful old town centre on guided tours. Information on the programme: Open Day
Order or download information material
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Admission requirements
Admission requirements for Public Policy
Admission requirements
- higher education entrance qualification (i.e., high school diploma)
- college or university degree (i.e., Bachelor, Master, Diploma, state exam, etc.) with a duration of at least six semesters, ideally in subjects from the social sciences, economics, or law
- professional work experience (minimum of one year)
- above-average grades or above-average professional performance
- strong analytical skills and pronounced interest in solving political problems
Language requirements for public policy
Language requirements
Proof of excellent English language skills is required for admission to the degree programme. The following are accepted as proof
- TOEFL iBT: at least 90 points
- IELTS: 6.5 points
- Language certificates: Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE)
The test results should not be older than two years. A test is not required for applications from native English speakers or university degrees from English-speaking universities.
Language Centre
The Language Centre offers around 140 language courses per semester in 16 modern and old (foreign) languages.
It supports you in acquiring and improving your language skills.
www.uni-erfurt.de/sprachenzentrum
10 Reasons for Starting the Master of Public Policy at Brandt School
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This is what our students say
The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy provided an exceptional educational experience, equipping me with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the field of public policy.
Rating of Newaz on Studycheck
The course provides an interested student a wide array of disciplines to choose from. Furthermore, the course is, in true sense, inter-disciplinary. The faculty engage with students and learning is omini-directional. Class discussions at Brandt School are rich in content owing to insights from students of more than 30 countries.
Rating of Rakshit on Studycheck
The Brandt School offers its students the opportunity to develop innovative and sustainable social projects.
Application portal opens on January 1.
- Priority Deadline: February 28 (February 29 for leap years)
Priority Deadline for all applications (strongly recommended). For the applications submitted before this date, the decision will usually be announced in March or early April.
- Non-Priority Deadline: April 30
Non-priority Deadline for all applications / final deadline for all applicants who need a student visa prior to arrival. For applications submitted before this date, the decision will usually be announced in May or early June.
- Finale Deadline: July 15
Final Deadline for EU + EFTA nationals, and for all applicants who do not require to apply for a student visa prior to arrival. The decision will usually be announced in August / early September.
We recommend applying as early as possible. For more details, please click here.
The MPP program officially begins each year on October 1st. The orientation week takes place in early October.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Purpose
- Certified Copies of Diplomas, Degree Certificates and Transcripts
- Proof of Professional Work Experience
- Proof of English Proficiency
- Copy of Your Passport
Student advisory service
Get in touch with our students!
If you would like to learn more about life as a student at the Brandt School, feel free to contact the Brandt School Student Government.
Downloads
Flyer Welcome to the University of Erfurt in English (pdf)
Flyer Master of Public Policy (pdf)
MPP Curriculum (pdf)
Alumna Fatima Farooq Murawat
Willy Brandt School of Public Policy alumna Fatima Farooq Murawat sits down with hosts Grace Nahurira Mutabazi and Loise Effah Yeboah in this episode to share her thoughts for MPP students on how to make the most of their time at the Brandt School.
Listen to the podcast:
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Podcast: "Climate change and climate justice" (in German)
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