Courses are taught in English (100%). Prospective students do not require any German proficiency.
During the MPP programme, students who are not proficient in German will attend integrated German language courses in order to reach level A2 or more.
Students may choose to write their Master's theses in either English or German.
The application period usually opens on 1 December (for the student intake in October of the following year).
The priority deadline for all applications is 29 February.
The non-priority deadline for all applications and the final deadline for all applicants who need a student visa prior to arrival is 30 April.
The final deadline for applicants from EU or EFTA countries and for all applicants who do not need a student visa prior to arrival is 1 September.
You will find all information regarding admission requirements, application procedure, etc. on our admissions website.
Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) programme trains future decision makers with the analytical tools and practical skills to advance innovative and sustainable policy decisions.
A professional programme, the two-year interdisciplinary and practice-oriented MPP is designed for young professionals pursuing a career in public service, government agencies, international organisations, consultancies and the non-profit sector. Conscious of the Western bias in policy education, the programme puts specific emphasis on the agency of the Global South by training for critical and context-specific policy analysis.
Drawing on political science, economics, statistics, public administration, ethics and law, the MPP curriculum provides the skills for advancing lasting solutions. The integrated practice spine comprises a mandatory internship and the team-based capstone project: a semester-long pro-bono consultancy with an external policy client.
During their studies, MPP students advance their knowledge in two out of four specialisations:
The programme offers integrated study terms abroad, including with the Federmann School of Public Policy (Hebrew University Jerusalem) or Central European University (Vienna).
Our students benefit from high levels diversity in terms of countries of origin as well as academic and professional background. The Brandt School is currently home to over 100 students from 46 countries as well as an international faculty, and its truly international environment is an essential asset of the MPP programme.
The MPP's Core Curriculum consists of the following mandatory modules: Policy Analysis, Public Administration and Management, and Methods.
Policy Analysis Module (first and second semesters): Building on the interdisciplinary approach of the Brandt School, these courses include an introduction to public policy as a discipline, while simultaneously utilising methods and frameworks from other disciplines, which are useful when analysing public policy. The three courses that lay the foundation for the upcoming semesters are as follows: Introduction to Public Policy, Economic Policy Analysis, and Comparative and International Public Policy.
Public Administration and Management Module (first and second semesters): Students learn more about management within the public sector. In these courses, students gain an understanding of key issues regarding the management of public service provisions and learn to make sound policy decisions within the limitations of financial budgets and according to their ethical implications. The courses are Public Administration and Finance, Management and Leadership, and Ethics in the Public Sector.
Methods Module (second and third semesters): Students learn about research design and methods in order to be able to independently plan and carry out a research project in the framework of the Master's thesis. The two courses (Quantitative Methods and Advanced Methods) introduce quantitative empirical approaches to policy analysis and widely used qualitative or mixed-method approaches.
In addition to the courses from the core curriculum, students choose two of the following four Specialisation Modules according to the personal interests and professional needs of each student (usually completed within the first three semesters):
Each specialisation module consists of elective seminars and a module examination. The variety of courses helps students develop and specialise their individual profiles.
The Practical Training Module consists of a policy internship and a project group. The latter confront students with an external client and a real-world policy challenge that they address during their third semester.
Students improve their language competencies within several Language Modules. Students may choose from a wide variety of languages. Basic German is compulsory of all students without prior knowledge of the language.
The fourth semester is devoted to the Master's thesis, accompanied by a thesis colloquium.
The MPP programme is comprised of a minimum of 120 ECTS credit points. In each of the four semesters, students should earn around 30 ECTS credit points.
PDF DownloadThe Brandt School offers an Erasmus exchange programme with the Department of Public Policy at the CEU in Vienna, Austria. As part of the programme, up to two MPP students may spend a semester abroad. Furthermore, the Brandt School has academic agreements with universities in Colombia, Jerusalem, and Malaysia, and we are currently working on further agreements.
Please check out our exchange semester website for further details.
An internship, usually completed between the second and the third semester, is a requirement for completion of the degree. Designed to be an integral part of our students' education, the primary purposes of the internship are:
The Brandt School provides assistance with application formalities, recommendations, contacts to alumni, information on current openings and previous internship placements at government agencies, international organisations, NGOs, and other non-profit or for-profit organisations in Germany and worldwide.
Approx. 270 EUR per semester
With an estimated average cost of living of 861 EUR per month (including accommodation, food, health insurance, etc.), studying in Erfurt is more affordable than in most other German university towns.
Test scores must not be older than two years.
The application period usually opens on 1 December (for the student intake in October of the following year).
The priority deadline for all applications is 29 February.
The non-priority deadline for all applications and the final deadline for all applicants who need a student visa prior to arrival is 30 April.
The final deadline for applicants from EU or EFTA countries and for all applicants who do not need a student visa prior to arrival is 1 September.
You will find all information regarding admission requirements, application procedure, etc. on our admissions website.
Please submit your application for the MPP at: https://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/brandtschool/studies/admissions/admission-requirements
As a full-time student in Germany, you are allowed to work part-time alongside your studies. As an international student from outside the European Union, you are allowed to work:
The university’s "Studierendenwerk" has set up a student job agency in conjunction with the Erfurt Employment Office. In addition, various departments at the university often hire students for temporary work.
There are a few opportunities to work as a student assistant at the University of Erfurt or at the Brandt School itself.
Outside of the Brandt School, German language proficiency can be a major asset in terms of employability.
The Brandt School makes every effort to secure a place in one of the student halls of residence for all MPP students. However, this means that your application should arrive as early as possible, as rooms are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
The halls of residence are administered by the university's "Studierendenwerk" (Student Services Organisation). Rents are priced according to the size and quality of the room and according to the number of occupants. The same rental and residential conditions apply to all rooms in the various halls of residence. The rent includes service costs (heating, water, electricity). A deposit of 300 EUR must be paid for all placements in student halls of residence. Students generally live in rooms in shared apartments. A limited number of single apartments are also available.
Off-campus accommodation is available in Erfurt. Students who opt not to live in the student halls of residence typically have not too much difficulty in finding a small room or apartment at a reasonable price once they have arrived in Erfurt.
Our Career Service assists students with finding internships and connects them to our potent alumni network for their professional future.
Since 2004, more than 730 students from all over the world have graduated from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. The Brandt School alumni network is unique because of the diversity of our alumni and the variety of organisations, institutions and countries in which our alumni work. We have alumni based in every region of the world in an array of fields including 28% in the private sector, 26% in public administration/politics, 15% in NGOs, 13% in research institutions/think tanks, 12% in academia, and the other remaining 6% in other fields.
Our dedicated administrative staff and our faculty are very approachable, and they help our international students with academic issues as well as more mundane topics during their stay.
The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, Germany's oldest public policy school, is situated within its newest public university, the University of Erfurt. Created in 2002 as part of the Faculty of Legal, Social and Economic Sciences and turned into an independent research institution in 2008, the school has operated since as an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented and international institute of higher education that has been preparing students for the demands and challenges of today's complex political world.
The University of Erfurt's long history dates back to 1379. In the 15th century, it became one of Germany's most important scholarly institutions. Closed in 1816, the university was reopened in 1994.
Today, the University of Erfurt is a university for the arts and humanities, with a particular focus on cultural and social sciences. Forward-looking academic programmes that combine subject-specific knowledge and professionalisation, modern forms of teacher training, and an interdisciplinary general education programme are particular distinctions of the University of Erfurt.
Our mentoring programme and excellent student-faculty ratio guarantee that you will receive a high-quality education. Membership in key research associations and innovative graduate schools ensure first-rate research at the University of Erfurt, further characterised by a high degree of internationality and academic collaboration that transcends traditional subject lines.
The campus is close to Erfurt's city centre, making the University of Erfurt a lively part of the Thuringian capital, with its low cost of living and its wide range of cultural and recreational activities.
The beautiful medieval city of Erfurt is one of the oldest cities in central Germany, and – at the same time – the thriving and modern capital of the Free State of Thuringia, with a population of over 200,000.
Erfurt is located in the heart of Germany, making it an ideal location for transport and travel. You can jump on a train and reach famous and buzzing German metropolis in almost no time: Leipzig (one hour), Berlin (two hours), Munich (under three hours), etc.
Numerous theatres, cinemas, museums, and leisure facilities, as well as impressive nature reserves (Thuringian Forest), can be found in and around Erfurt.
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