brochure mpp

United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation andTechnology (UNU-MERIT)

Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG)

Master of Science in Public Policyand Human Development

Why study at Maastricht University?

Established in 1976, Maastricht University (UM) is the most international university in theNetherlands. With about 16,000 students and 4,000 staff, UM is renowned for excellence andinnovation in learning. High rankings in Dutch and international publications attest to our focuson quality.

International orientationA bilingual (Dutch & English) university, UM offers Europe-focused and internationally-orientedbachelor’s, master's and PhD programmes. About half of the students and one-third of theacademic staff are non-Dutch, representing over 100 nationalities. This cultural diversity greatlycontributes to our ‘international classroom’.

Small-scale teaching modelProblem-Based Learning (PBL) is a hallmark of UM’s innovative character. This student-centrededucational model is about analysing real-life problems and exchanging knowledge in achallenging and effective way.

Interdisciplinary approach to education and researchAt UM education and research are integrated, and organised thematically: ’Learning andInnovation’, ‘Quality of Life’, and ‘Europe and a Globalising World’. Researchers, teachers andstudents from all faculties come together to try and find solutions for socially relevant issues, such as healthy ageing, sustainability, the European integration process and the impact oftechnological development.

UM alumni go placesReports of the Maastricht University Research Centre for Education (ROA) show that our alumni aredoing well in their careers all over the world (www.roa.nl).

Kennis-As LimburgUM, MUMC+ and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences aim to play a leading role in the sustainableeconomic development of Limburg through the Kennis-As investment programme. Kennis-Asconnects the campuses in Maastricht, Geleen, Venlo and Parkstad. Within ten years, thesecampuses should be working together as one international knowledge centre with expertise ontopics such as biomaterials and innovative healthcare. Kennis-As will result in new jobs, studyprogrammes, international networks and easier access to academic knowledge for enterprises.

The city of MaastrichtLocated in the centre of Europe and with a truly international feel, Maastricht is one of the oldestand most charming cities in the Netherlands. It can be reached through eight different airportsand is well served by international trains.

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From the Dean's Office 4

Introduction: The Importance of Governance 5• Our students 6• What to expect? 6• Learning: A broad range of methods 6• Online learning facilities 6• Teaching staff 7• Guidance and support 7

MSc of Science in Public Policyand Human Development 8• Duration 9• Double degree 9• Programme objectives 9• Career prospects 9

Programme Description 11

Overview 14

Specialisations 15• Thesis 21• UM Honours programme - Premium 21• Career Opportunities 21

Practical Information 22• Application and admissions 22• Tuition fees 23• Scholarships 23• Application deadlines 23• Student organisations 24• Contact information 28• Open Days 28• Student for a Day 28

Contents

Maastricht University is a signatory of the "Code of conduct with respect to

international students in Dutch higher education". More information about this

code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl

United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars

engaged in research, postgraduate training and the dissemination of knowledge

aimed at resolving the pressing global problems of human survival, development

and welfare, in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United

Nations.

The Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development programme is

accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders

(NVAO). For more information on NVAO, please visit www.nvao.nl

The Maastricht Graduate School of Governance is a member of APPAM, the

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, and NASPAA, Network of

Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.

From the Dean’s Office

Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development4

The Master of Science programme in Public Policyand Human Development (MPP) is a uniquepartnership between Maastricht University (UM)and the United Nations University (UNU).

On the UM side, input to the programme isprovided by the Maastricht Graduate School ofGovernance (MGSoG), which is the university'sgraduate school on public policy and governance.Over time, the School has been steadily growingin reputation with its rapidly expanding numberof alumni involved in public governance acrossthe globe and the rising number of students whoapply for the Master of Science programme inPublic Policy and Human Development.

Established in 2005, the School is full of ambitionand run by a highly motivated staff. In its firstdecade the School established itself as one of thefew graduate schools in Europe in public policyproviding highly ranked multidisciplinary training.To better reflect the inter-disciplinary nature ofpublic policy, the School was built on academicresources at Maastricht University andcontributions by numerous partners, includinginternational organisations, NGOs, national andsub-national public actors and private businesses.

On the UNU side, the Maastricht-based researchinstitute UNU-MERIT already had a 20-year longresearch tradition when the School joined it in2010. The integration of the School intoUNU-MERIT was an opportunity to implementUNU's new plans for becoming active ingraduate-level education. The School’s integrationwas a major step in the expansion of thecooperation between UNU and UM, and itestablished the School as the United Nations' firstgraduate school in public policy.

The mission of the Master of Science programmein Public Policy and Human Development is totrain specialists combining a high level ofacademic scholarship with leadership, in order tostrengthen governance capacity in domestic andinternational organisations. The programmeoffers specialisation tracks in cooperation withUNU, such as 'Risk & Vulnerability' taught by theUNU Environmental and Human Securityinstitute in Bonn, 'Regional Integration &Multi-Level Governance' taught by the UNUCentre for Regional Integration Studies in Bruges,and 'Innovation, Institutions & Development'taught by UNU-MERIT. These UNU tracksaugment specialisation tracks offered byMaastricht University in collaboration with otherpartners at the UN and elsewhere, such as 'SocialProtection Policy, Migration Studies' and 'ForeignPolicy & International Relations'.

Through the cooperation with UNU, the master'sprogramme has been transformed into adouble-degree programme with a trulyinternational character, preparing professionalsfor policy analysis, policy design, policymonitoring and policy evaluation across theglobe. We look forward to a bright new era for theprogramme embedded and safeguarded withinboth Maastricht University and UNU-MERIT.

Professor Dr. Bart VerspagenDean of the Maastricht Graduate School ofGovernanceDirector of UNU-MERIT

Introduction: The Importance of Governance

The actions of public authorities shape the lives ofindividuals across the globe. The impact of theseactions often reaches much further thanoriginally intended and sometimes far beyond thephysical borders of nation states. Today we define'governance' as a process involving many layers ofpublic authorities ranging from internationalorganisations to local administrations. Moreover,the process of governing is no longer the exclusiveresponsibility of politicians and civil servants.

Semi-private, private and non-governmentalparties are becoming increasingly importantactors in all stages of complex policy processes,ranging from conceptualisation and design, to theimplementation and evaluation of policy actions.

The concept of 'good governance' refers toefficient and effective policies that reduce therisks for corruption and wastage. Experienceshows that good governance is not somethingthat can be implemented overnight. Thedevelopment of a progressive, well-balancedpolicy requires independent professionals.

UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance trainsthese professionals and researchers in policyanalysis, risk assessment, policy design, policymonitoring, policy evaluation and methods andtechniques of policy research.

All academic activities of the institute share ananalytical approach to policy problems andtheoretical problems relevant to policy design andimplementation. The specialisations offered in ourmaster's programme focus on the most relevanttopics of public policy: Social Protection Policy;Migration Studies; Risk and Vulnerability; RegionalIntegration and Multi-level Governance;Innovation, Institutions and Development;Foreign Policy and International Relations.

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6 Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development

Our studentsWe welcome highly motivated students from avariety of professional and academic backgroundsand aim to build a diverse and inter-disciplinarystudent body every year. Our students are definedby a solid academic record, a demonstratedcommitment to public affairs at the national andinternational level, and an outstanding potentialfor career growth and leadership.

In recent years, we have received over 500applications from over 100 countries around theworld annually, representing many differentacademic disciplines and regional cultures. Ourstudents and researchers form a multicultural mixof dozens of countries around the world: France,Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico, Turkey,India, Ghana, Thailand, Peru, Australia, China,Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Albania, Bhutan,UK, USA and many more. This diversity results in astimulating blend of country-specific knowledgeand individual experience where students notonly learn from their teachers but also from eachother. This contributes to a lively andopen-minded environment in which studentssoon feel at home.

What to expect?• An intensive, inspiring one-year programme• The development of valuable skills and relevant

knowledge• Classes in small groups• High-level guest lecturers• Training courses, workshops, seminars,

presentations and debates

Learning: A broad range ofmethodsMaastricht University has long been known for itsflexible and innovative use of teaching methods.It was one of the first universities worldwide toadopt the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system toprepare students for the realities of working life.PBL works by taking students through thediscussion, analysis and solution of problems inseven steps. This allows students to play a moreactive role in their own education, by structuringthe debate. The master’s programme additionallybenefits from contributions from many externalexperts and guest lecturers. The over 100instructors and guest speakers in the programmeapply a broad range of teaching methods: fromPBL tutorials, simulation exercises, case studiesand mock trials, to more traditional methods suchas lectures and seminars.

Teaching staff

We aim to prepare MPP students for professionaland academic careers and this goal is reflected inthe selection of our teaching staff. Besideslecturers from Maastricht University and guestlecturers from Oxford, Syracuse, Liège and variousUnited Nations University institutes, we inviteexperienced practitioners from policyorganisations at the international, national andlocal level. In recent years, we have benefited fromcontributions by staff from the ILO, World Bank,EPRI South Africa and others, with over 100instructors and guest speakers contributing ineach academic year. With guest lecturers frominternational universities and organisations, theprogramme creates an interesting balancebetween the theoretical and practical approachand ensures that students receive exposure torelevant and current knowledge.

Guidance and support

Student guidance and support start withproviding interested students from all over theworld with up-to-date information on all aspectsof studying at the School through our electroniclearning environment Eleum, as well as a learningblog and a dedicated Facebook group for everyacademic year. Before and during their study, ourstudents can count on support from the Board ofAdmissions, the Student Affairs Office and theEducation Director, as well as numerous staffmembers, including specialisation and thesiscoordinators, and from their personal thesissupervisor for help in matters of study choices,progress and planning.

Maastricht University’s central Student ServicesCentre provides many additional services,including student deans who can assist withfinancial and administrative questions, studentpsychologists who support fellow students intimes of crisis, and a Career Services unit wherestudents can receive guidance in applying forpositions and securing jobs.

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“I had the opportunity and good fortune to teach a one-week graduate level course on policyimplementation. My teaching experience at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance wasvery positive and I am impressed by the quality of students, the faculty and staff, the facilities,and the international goal-oriented mission of the programme.”

Prof. Dr. David Van SlykeProfessor of Public Administration in the Department of Public Administration at the Maxwell School ofCitizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, USA


Policy issues are growing more complex, andpolicy making has become a structuredinteraction between networked actors, withnational governments and internationalorganisations playing central roles. More thanever, there is a clear need for specialists in policyanalysis who can work in international andmulti-levels policy processes, taking on duties inthe analysis of policy problems and theimplementation and evaluation of solutions. To bewell equipped in this domain, actors require acombination of theoretical backgroundknowledge, technical skills and the opportunity topractise them, and an understanding of key policyfields.

Our one-year master's programme aims toprovide such skills. The curriculum consists of twosemesters of studies and a master’s thesis.

The academic programme during the fallsemester is identical for all students and focuseson fundamental knowledge and skills needed bypolicy makers and analysts regardless of theirsubject area.

In the spring semester, students can choose oneout of six areas of specialisation:

• Social Protection Policy (in cooperation with ILO)• Migration Studies• Innovation, Institutions & Development (in

cooperation with UNU-MERIT)• Regional Integration & Multi-Level Governance

(in cooperation with UNU-CRIS)• Risk & Vulnerability (in cooperation with

UNU-EHS)• Foreign Policy & International Relations

MSc in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP)

Duration

1 September - 31 August(12-month full-time study)

Double degreeAfter successful completion of the programme,students obtain a double Master of Science (MSc)degree in Public Policy and Human Development.Graduates receive two diplomas, the firstdelivered by Maastricht University and accreditedby the Accreditation Organisation of theNetherlands and Flanders (NVAO), and the secondissued by United Nations University.

Programme objectivesThe programme trains students to analyse,monitor and evaluate policies and to formulaterecommendations for improving or replacingexisting policies, or proposing new policies.Students are equipped with a variety of skills,tools and knowledge, that will help them to workresourcefully as policy designers and policyanalysts in public and private institutions.

Career prospects

Since its founding in 2005, almost 500 studentshave successfully graduated from the School.Many of them have gone on to work as publicpolicy actors at local or international level. Ouralumni are trained policy designers and analysts,working in the areas of public policy, consultancy,NGOs and academia.

With the skills acquired in the programme, ouralumni are able to identify and review thedifferent options and implement the best policy.In their work, they are able to integrate legal,social, cultural, political and financial aspects,while ensuring the economic viability andsustainability of their policies. Policy monitoring,evaluation, innovative thinking, strongquantitative skills and critical analysis are logicalelements in our alumni toolbox.

Alumni are able to work throughout the world inpublic and private institutions of both developedand developing countries, including national,regional and local governments, ministries,pension funds, market authorities, NGOs,international organisations and consultancies.

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“My career direction, as it is now, is exactly where I hoped it to be when I started with the master'sprogramme. The School could not have prepared me any better!”

Ms Anne-Marie Tosserams, MPP Inaugural MPP cohort 2006-2007Project Manager, International Cooperation Agency of Netherlands Municipalities, The Hague, the Netherlands


Given the diverse set of actors working in the fieldof governance, it is not surprising that many ofour alumni now work for private businesses -particularly consultancies such as KPMG andPriceWaterhouseCoopers - and NGOs such as theGlobal Reporting Initiative, AfricanParliamentarians' Network Against Corruption orCivil Servants and Allied Workers Union ofZambia.

Finally, a substantial share of our alumni decidedto continue doing academic research and joineduniversities such as the London School ofEconomics and Political Science, Sciences-Po inParis or Erasmus University in Rotterdam,Maastricht University or UNU-MERIT.

The map below shows the geographicaldistribution of our alumni around the world.

Fig. 1: Areas of employment of our alumni (internal survey)

Fall Semester

Introduction and overviewThe fall semester consists of seven courses and astudy month. The objective for this semester is tocover general aspects of governance, drawing onseveral academic disciplines such as politicalscience, sociology, public finance, microeconomics, international relations, publicmanagement and public policy. This semesterspecifically aims to attain three goals:

1. to bring all students up to speed on the basics inpublic policy and public economics;

2. to equip all participants with competences inresearch design and methodology needed foracademic work and professional careers; and

3. to practise the core skills of policy analysis.

The fall semester prepares students for thedetailed analysis of issues studied in theconsecutive specialisation.

Public PolicyWhile experts may estimate the costs andbenefits of policy options, the outcomes dependon final political decisions. Understanding thesepolitical factors is essential for effective policymaking and a careful examination of the politicalimplications of policy proposals is imperative forthe success of policy actions.

A skilled analyst is able to identify the key actors,their concerns and goals and the power they holdin their specific cultural background. Thesuccessful analyst is also aware of howinstitutional structures affect choices andoutcomes. The course is primarily PBL-based,allowing students to play an active rolethroughout the four weeks while practising theiranalytical and team-working skills. Students willhave the opportunity to investigate therelationships between different policy objectives,institutions and structures, and to critically review

and translate their findings into well-definedproposals.

Additionally the course focuses on how thetraditional role of the state has changed as aresult of new forms of 'governance', which has inturn led to the emergence of new actors and newforms of international cooperation, such asinternational regimes. Important concepts in thecourse are states and markets; bureaucracy andimplementation; leadership and capacity; andelectoral incentives.

Public EconomicsPublic economic theory is used to analyse the roleof markets and market failures, externalities andcorrective taxation, public goods and collectivedecisions, the pricing and regulation of naturalmonopolies, commodity and income taxation,capital and corporate taxes. This course is anintroduction to theoretical foundations ofefficiency and effectiveness criteria; net presentvalue analysis and the mechanics andfundamentals of cost-benefit analysis and theircommon mistakes. The analysis of these topicsand the underlying economic theory form thebackbone of the course and the basis for theelaboration of further training in the followingcourse of the semester. Empirical analysis is usefulin determining the possible effect and size of theintervention, because when carried out incorrectlyit can have a negative effect on the income leveland, as such, cause social problems. Thereforeappropriate design and relevant techniques forevaluating and assessing the effects of policyintervention are crucial.

Public Policy AnalysisThe formulation and implementation of publicpolicies are important responsibilities of moderngovernment. The focus here is the interaction

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between public authorities and stakeholders. Toenhance this interaction, appropriatemechanisms of coordination and hierarchy inpolicy design and implementation are vital. Thiscourse is designed to help students develop theskills required to define and critically analysepolicy issues, articulate relevant decision-makingcriteria for policy analysis, evaluate alternativesolutions, and assess the means and costs ofimplementation. Students focus on actors,institutions and policy instruments to gain asystematic way of thinking about thedevelopment, design and assessment of publicsector policies. During this course specificattention is also given to policy evaluation andpolicy simulation through real-life exercises.

Statistics LevellingThis course serves as an introduction to statistics,covering required concepts on mathematics aswell as descriptive statistics. To assist studentsseeking to bolster their quantitative skills aheadof the programme, we make this course availableonline during the summer months.

Research DesignGiven the variety of disciplines and academiccultures represented in the MPP, this course seeksto provide all participants with a shared, standardrepository of key academic skills. These rangefrom critical evaluation of fields of literature tochoosing a guiding question for research projectand appropriate selection of cases and methodsdata collection and analysis.

Intro to Data ScienceGiven the importance appropriate handling andanalysis of data plays in the world of policy designand evaluation, this course introduces students to

key concepts in data management, descriptiveand inferential statistics by way of a step-wiseanalysis of a personal, real-life dataset collected ina UN member state. Along the way, we alsoprovide basic skills in dealing with professionalstatistics software.

EconometricsThe challenge of econometrics is to find out whateveryday reality, properly recorded andinterpreted, can tell us about the relevance ofeconomic and social theories. Governancetheories concern, more often than not, the effectsof economic and social policies. It is the purposeof econometric methods to measure the impactand assess the effectiveness of policyinterventions. The problem with econometricmethods is that they depend on statisticalinduction. Apart from being fraught withtechnicalities, statistical induction is unavoidablysubject to statistical error.

Whereas a mathematical conclusion is arguably'exact', a statistical conclusion is not - eventhough deep mathematical arguments may havebeen invoked in the process. Thus every decentstatistical estimate comes with a 'standard error'attached to it, revealing the scale of the samplingerror it contains. Furthermore, ordinary samplingerror is a trifle as compared to some other kinds ofstatistical errors, called (imaginatively)non-sampling errors. These are much harder tocontrol and require more subtle methods ofstatistical analysis. Unfortunately, non-samplingerrors are conspicuously present in economic andsocial policy research.

Study month: JanuaryAfter the intensive first four months of theprogramme, January allows our students to focuson their own goals and digest what they havelearned in the first courses. They then have theopportunity to draft their thesis proposal. Thestudy month gives them the time needed tochoose a topic of interest - often in relation to theupcoming specialisation - and to do literatureresearch. Guest lectures by experiencedresearchers will provide an overview of a varietyof qualitative research methods relevant tostudents of the social sciences. The study monthconcludes with rounds of public presentations ofthesis proposals to collect feedback and advicefrom fellow students and faculty members.

Spring semester:SpecialisationsDuring the fall semester, students choose an areaof specialisation from the six tracks offered in theprogramme. Each track offers four coursescovering one particular theme of public policy. The education director and instructors of thespecialisations are available to assist studentswith the selection of their specialisation.

The specialisations are:• Social Protection Policy (in cooperation with ILO)• Migration Studies• Innovation, Institutions & Development (in

cooperation with UNU-MERIT)• Regional Integration & Multi-Level Governance

(in cooperation with UNU-CRIS)• Risk & Vulnerability (in cooperation with

UNU-EHS)• Foreign Policy & International Relations

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MSc Public Policy & Human Development

Political Science Economics

Public Policy StatisticsResearch Design

Public Economics Data Science

Public Policy Analysis Econometrics

Winter Levelling Courses Thesis Proposal

Resits Core/Specialisation

Master Thesis

Optional Summer Courses

Overview2015/2016

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Risk

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Inno

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Regi

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Levelling Courses

Study Month

Winter BreakDec-Jan

Jun

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jan

Nov

Dec

Sept

Oct

Jul-Aug

Jul-Aug

Opening

Proposal Presentation

Closing

Thesis Submission

Thesis Defence

Thesis Kick-off

Core Courses

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/governance

Specialisation Choice


Specialisations

Social Protection PolicyA sound social protection policy is designed toreduce the incidence and severity of poverty andvulnerability. This can be done by promotingefficient and equitable labour markets, decreasingpeople's exposure to risks, and developing theircapacity to manage economic and social risks,such as exclusion, unemployment, illness,disability and old age. This is done alongsideefficient design and management within (andcoordination between) social protectioninstitutions, so as to insure an optimal andsustainable allocation of public resources.

The Social Protection Policy Design and Financingspecialisation is a compilation of applied coursesaimed at giving future policy analysts andpractitioners a comprehensive view of socialprotection policy. Backed by traditional andstate-of-the-art theories, the specialisationincorporates social situations in local, regionaland international contexts and introduces a rangeof possible policy interventions and techniques ofrational decision-making in public policy.

Through the interlinked and interdisciplinaryspecialisation modules the students will beexposed to a spectrum of theory and real-life casestudies, from micro and macro perspectives. Theywill learn how to define the problems which facesocial protection analysts and practitioners; andhow to be able to diagnostically identify the rangeof policy options available to address socialchallenges.

Topics covered during the specialisation include:poverty and inequality theories andmeasurement, risks and vulnerability, the political,economic and social forces that influence andshape how different countries respond tochallenges of poverty and inequality, socialprotection policy instruments, humandevelopment issues (including the human rightsbased approach to development), the nature andeconomics of the various welfare state models,quantitative techniques in social policy design.Social budgeting and actuarial analysis, and thedesign and identification of social protectionprogrammes.

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February The Global Challenge: Beyond Poverty and Inequality

March Understanding Social Protection: From Justification to Intervention

April Quantitative Techniques for Social Protection Policy Design

May Financing Social Protection


Migration Studies

Migration is a growing phenomenon that hasgained importance in the public debate ondevelopment, welfare and immigration policy.According to the International Organization forMigration, it is estimated that there are 191million international migrants worldwide,constituting 3 percent of the world population(2005). Remittance transfers (the money thatmigrants send back to their home countries)currently amount to more than US$300 billion,surpassing foreign direct investment and officialdevelopment aid in many countries around theworld.

Migration is a controversial topic in theinternational and national policy arena and theeffects of migration on migrants, their familiesand communities in the host and origin countriesneed to be studied carefully. While mass mediaoften focus on a few spectacularly problematic

integration cases, the courses in thisspecialisation study the key issues in-depth andwith scientific rigour.

This specialisation comprises four courses thatintroduce students to the essential componentsof migration studies including trends, theories,causes and effects, and migration policy. Studentswill have the opportunity to explore the area ofmigration studies by taking courses with a broadperspective on the prevailing theory and practice.Particular emphasis is put on practical fieldwork.

The Migration Studies specialisation trainsstudents for the international labour market aspolicy advisors, practitioners, researchers, etc.,working for governments, internationalorganisations or academic institutions.

February Introduction to Migration Studies

March Migration and Remittance Effects

April Data Collection and Analysis for Migration Studies

May Comparative Migration Studies

Innovation, Institutions andDevelopment

This specialisation addresses how institutions canbe designed to stimulate innovation andultimately development. In doing so, thespecialisation undertakes three steps. First, ahistorical perspective that shows the growth ofcountries. Using macroeconomic theory, a numberof simple questions are answered: how haveaverage living standards between countriesdiverged or converged? What influence did theglobal economic environment play? How is theproduction and use of technological knowledgedistributed in the world? And how does this relateto the global income distribution betweencountries?

The answer to these questions leads us to a basictheory of economic growth. In the second step,we use a comparative approach to describe andanalyse the relative growth performance ofcountries in four world regions: Latin America,Asia, Africa, and the developed world (Europe,North America, Australia). During this step, wefocus on the way in which public actors contribute

to development, especially in terms of policiesthat facilitate technology transfer.

This includes national governments, but alsointernational institutions (e.g., WTO, World Bank),and other factors, such as multinationalcorporations or intellectual property rights.Finally, we focus on the role of innovation as a keyengine of growth. The development and use ofknowledge remains very much concentrated inspecific regions and sectors despite the fact thatlong-distance travel has become very easy.'Innovation systems', such as Silicon Valley, bring avariety of actors together in a relatively smallspace, creating useful dynamics of knowledgecreation and diffusion.

Upon completing this specialisation, students willhave a deeper understanding of the role of publicpolicy and (semi-) public organisations infostering innovation in these systems, therebycontributing to growth and development.

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February Innovation and the Global Income Distribution

March Innovation and Development Patterns Aroud the Globe

April Innovation Systems in the Global Economy

May Science, Technology and Innovation Policy


Regional Integration andMulti-Level Governance

In today's world, public policy making is no longera prerogative of the state. Competences tointroduce, reform and implement public policiesbecome increasingly shared, rather than divided,between various governmental andnon-governmental actors across the subnational,national, transnational, international andsupranational levels. Countries increasingly lookfor joint solutions to common policy challenges:regional cooperation is on the rise worldwide.Complex systems of multi-level governance, inwhich actors at different levels of authoritycollaborate and compete for control over publicpolicy making, have developed across the globe.

This specialisation explores how regionalism andmulti-level governance transform the ways inwhich public policy is designed and executed in

different world regions: Europe, Asia, Africa, Southand North America. The four courses of thespecialisation will investigate challenges togovernance in complex environments andanalytical approaches used to address them.Students will learn how and why micro- andmacro-regions emerge and proliferate and whichkinds of regionalism exist in different parts of theworld. They will systematically study key theoriesexplaining regionalism and multi-levelgovernance and methodology for analysingcross-regional policies and regional institutions.Governance in multi-level settings will beanalysed as regards effectiveness and efficiency ofpolicy coordination as well as its democraticquality. Current practices of regional governancewill be investigated both from an academicperspective and first-hand policy-makers'experience. The specialisation is offered incollaboration with the United Nations UniversityInstitute on Comparative Regional Integration(UNU-CRIS) based in Bruges, Belgium.

February Introduction to Regions

March Comparative Regionalism

April Regionalism and Multi-Level Governance

May Research Seminar: Topical Issues in Comparative Regionalism

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databases, assessment frameworks and analyticaltechniques. Students will learn how toindependently select relevant indicators andconstruct composite indices. At the end of thespecialisation, students will moreover, discoverhow to cost-efficiently and effectively deal with,communicate and manage crises situations (e.g.through risk financing). Diverse quantitative andqualitative techniques and instruments will beemployed throughout the specialisation includingseveral geo-information platforms for visualising,analysing and interpreting spatial data (ArcGIS,ArcView, ArcCatalog, ArcMap, etc).

The specialisation is taught in collaboration withthe institute of Environment and Human Securityof the United Nations University (UNU-EHS) inBonn, Germany. In addition, students will benefitfrom first-hand practical sessions with visitingdisaster-risk experts and practitioners working forgovernments, financial institutions, privatecompanies, civil society and research institutesnationally and internationally.

Risk and Vulnerability

Societies worldwide are unceasingly susceptibleto known, emerging and unknown risks anddisasters. These can either be natural(geophysical, hydrological, climatological, etc.),man-made (cyber/ICT attack, terrorism,biomedical, technological, etc.) or a mix of both(nuclear/energy disaster triggered by anearthquake). They can be voluntary or involuntaryas well as extreme or diffuse. In response to theincreasing disaster frequencies and magnitudes,and to minimise ensuing losses (human,economic, ecological, etc.), disaster-riskstakeholders worldwide are keen on findingoptimal innovative instruments that can aidvulnerability assessment (and scenario modeling)in efforts to institute effective early warningsystems, build resilience and promote adaptivegovernance temporally and spatially.

This specialisation deals with the key geospatial,technological and governance aspects in disasterrisk assessment, resilience building, crisismanagement and effective risk communication.Students will be exposed to diverse vulnerabilityand resilience dimensions, components,

February Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

March Building Resilience and Adaptive Governance

April Risk Management in Crisis Situations

May Risk Communication: The Last Frontier?


Foreign Policy &International Relations

An essential part of policy is influenced by ormade at the international stage, between statesas sovereign actors. This specialisation focuses onthe key policy areas negotiated in theinternational arena, from the flows of trades ingood and services, and intellectual property rightsto development cooperation and the promotionand protection of human rights.

We assess the goals of economic development,the influence of international mediation andnegotiation, and the role of legal rules infacilitating or hindering that process. We examinethe current international legal developmentregime; study the underlying social and economicfactors that contribute to failure of efforts at legalreform; analyse the reform strategies of selecteddevelopment agencies; and explore alternative

modes of analysis that may lead to more effectivestrategies than many legal assistanceprogrammes have enjoyed to date.

In doing so, we also aim to provide students withkey tools to participate in such processes at theinternational level. This specialisation featuresdedicated training sessions in negotiation skillsand the gathering of (open source) intelligence,and opens ways to practising these skills insimulated negotations and a mock trial. Thespecialisation is also scheduled aroundextra-curricular activities that allow students topractise these skills outside of the classroom, forexample by participating in EuroMUN, a largeModel United Nations conference held inMaastricht every year.

February Making Policy on the International Stage

March The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization

April International Intellectual Property Law and Policy

May Human Rights & Development

ThesisOne of the requirements for completing theprogramme is to write a thesis during the springsemester and summer break. Students have towork on a specific problem, conduct their ownanalysis and write a thesis reflecting theirknowledge and understanding using generallyaccepted methods of analysis and research. Thethesis can be in the form of a survey analysis,empirical investigation, literature review, casestudy or theoretical investigation. The thesis givesstudents the chance to formulate an approachand solve a problem independently, whilstdemonstrating the skills they acquired during theprogramme. The thesis track is designed to guidestudents into their own research in five steps:1. The introductory four-week research designcourse in September.2. A kick-off event in early December.3. Tutorials and workshops as students write theirfirst thesis proposal during the study month.4. Feedback by faculty and fellow students duringa public defense of the proposal.5. Personal guidance by a thesis supervisor fromUNU, UM or an external organisation.

UM Honours Programme –PremiumPremium is Maastricht University's honoursprogramme for outstanding master's students.This programme offers participants theopportunity to gain hands-on experience byworking on a real-world project for a client forapproximately three months. Each projectinvolves a small team of about five students,assisted by a content mentor and competencecoach. The Premium honours programme ismeant as an additional preparation for yourcareer. So far more than a dozen MPP studentshave completed the programme successfully.

Career OpportunitiesBoth the School and Maastricht University providesupport for MPP students applying for positions.Every year in early Spring, we host a day-longevent in which an experienced career coachprovides advice to students seeking to work forinternational organizations and the public sector.We co-sponsor the annual Carreers BeyondBorders week hosted by the United NationsStudent Association and provide free access to allMPP students. Maastricht University’s CareerServices office provides personal training andworkshops to MPP students free of charge or for alow fee.

The School also communicates any internshipopportunities at both UNU and UM that are opento MPP students, as well as calls for applicationreceived by our partners. MPP students aregenerally well-received by internship providers,whether these are policy actors or universities,and several of our partners have internshipopportunitites reserved solely for MPP students.

Finally, if you are already working for anorganisation in the public sector, participating inthe master's programme may be supported byyour employer through a sabbatical or financialsupport. We are happy to assist sucharrangements and to ensure that you meet therequirements of your employer. Please contact usto discuss any requirements or arrangementsneeded.

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Application and admissionsEach application is reviewed by the Board ofAdmission. Admission requirements are the samefor all specialisations of the programme.

Admission requirements

• A bachelor's or master's degree from a relevantacademic field such as economics, internationalrelations, political science, law, social sciences,business administration, health sciencesor public health

• Adequate knowledge of pre-calculusmathematics and ideally descriptive statistics

• Basic knowledge of economics, social sciences,political science and/or law

• Proficiency in English: for a TOEFL test, werequire a minimum score of 600 (PBT) or 100(IBT) and 240 (CBT). For an IELTS test, we requirea minimum score of 7.0. Results of tests takenmore than three years before the date of yourapplication will not be considered. For aCambridge English: Advanced certificate, werequire Grade A. For a Cambridge English:Proficiency certificate, we require Grade A, B orC.

How to apply?

If you meet the admission requirements,please complete a registration request for theprogramme via www.studielink.nl. You willreceive confirmation of your request and logindetails for www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > MyUM. Please complete the application and uploadall documents relating to the programme in theMy UM portal. If we need further information toassess or complete your application, additionaldocuments may be requested.

Upon receipt of your application request, yourapplication will be reviewed. Within four to sixweeks you will hear whether you are admissibleto the programme.

Only complete files will be evaluated andconsidered for admission. A file is consideredcomplete when the following documents areincluded:• A letter of motivation (400-500 words)

explaining why you have chosen theprogramme, your plans for the future, and inwhich you convince the Board of Admission thatyou possess the intellectual capacities andpersonal skills to successfully complete theprogramme

• An essay of 400 words, related to one of thespecialisation topics, that displays a basicknowledge of the subject matter, a sufficientlevel of English and an appropriate academicwriting style. Please use references. Submit theessay in MS Word or searchable PDF

• A certified copy of your bachelor's and/ormaster's degree

• A certified list of grades from your bachelor'sand/or master's degree

• Two letters of recommendation by current orformer professors or employers (original hardcopies should be sent directly to the StudentAffairs Office)

• Proof of proficiency in English. Native speakersand students who have received their bachelor'sor master's education in English are exempted

• Curriculum vitae• Copy of valid passport• Passport size picture

Practical Information

Tuition feesMaastricht University has a lower and a highertuition fee. The tuition rate depends on severalfactors, such as nationality, residence andwhether this is your first or second studyprogramme. For the most up-to-date informationand to find out which rate applies to you,please use our online tuition fees guide:www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/tuitionfeesguide

The tuition rates for the academic year 2016/17are*:Lower tuition feeFull-time bachelor's and master's students:€ 1,984Higher tuition feeFull-time master's students: € 13,000

* No rights may be derived from the feespublished in this brochure.

ScholarshipsThere are various scholarship opportunities forthe master's programmes, e.g. MaastrichtUniversity High Potential Scholarship Programme,Nuffic, World Bank, etc. For more specificinformation on the application process andeligibility criteria, please visit the scholarshipsection on our website.

Application deadlinesThe following deadlines apply:• students who need a visa: 15 June• students who do not need a visa: 15 JulyPlease visit our website:www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/governancefor the most up-to-date information.

Questions about the application process?

If you have any questions about the applicationprocess, please e-mail us at:[email protected] details and tuition fees may change.Please check our website for the latestinformation.

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Student organisations

There are several students clubs in Maastricht,and many are internationally oriented with a viewto helping Dutch and foreign students to mingle.

Our own student organisation, DEMOS, was setup by a group of enthusiastic students with theaim of organising social and academic activities

for students and researchers at the School. Formore information about DEMOS, please visit:www.demos-mpp.org

The United Nations Student Association (UNSA) isa student organisation run by students fromvarious faculties. For more information aboutUNSA, please visit: www.myunsa.org

“Graduates of the MGSoG have learned to analyse complex governance problems, rationalisedifficult policy choices and put a budgetary figure on policy decisions. One could say that theirtwo prime qualities are intellectual rigour and compassion, people with “soft hearts and hardheads”. Coming to Maastricht to teach each year is like returning to school and coming home.The fact that many of our master’s students return for PhD programmes tells us that they feelthe same way.”

Prof. Dr. Michael CichonPresident of the International Council on Social Welfare and former Director of the Social SecurityDepartment of the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Master’s programmesoverview 2016/17

Arts, Culture & Society• Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and

Education (Arts & Culture) (MA)3

• Art, Literature and Society (Arts & Culture) (MA)3

• Cultures of Arts, Science and Technology (Arts & Culture, research master) (MSc)1

• European Studies on Society, Science andTechnology (European Studies) (MA)1

• Media Culture (Media Studies), 2 specialisations (MA)1

• Politics and Society (Arts & Culture) (MA)3

Behavioural & Political Sciences• European Public Affairs (MA)1

• European Studies, 3 specialisations (MA)1

• European Studies (research) (MSc)1

• Forensic Psychology (MSc)1

• Globalisation and Development Studies (MA)1

• Human Decision Science (MSc)1

• Psychology, 6 specialisations (MSc)1

• Public Policy and Human Development*, 4 specialisations (MSc)1

• Sustainability Science and Policy (MSc)1

Business & Economics(The School of Business & Economics is Triple Crownaccredited: AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA)• Business Research, 2 specialisations (MSc)1

• Econometrics and Operations Research, 4 specialisations (MSc)1

• Economic and Financial Research, 2 specialisations (MSc)1

• Economics, 6 specialisations (MSc)1

• Financial Economics, 3 specialisations (MSc)1

• Fiscal Economics (MSc)2

• Global Supply Chain Management and Change (MSc)1

• Human Decision Science (MSc)1

• Information and Network Economics (MSc)1

• International Business, 11 specialisations (MSc)1

• Management of Learning (MSc)1

• Public Policy and Human Development, 3 specialisations (MSc)1*

Graduate programmes for professionals• Business Administration (MBA)1

• Executive Master of Finance and Control (MSc)1

• Executive Master of IT Governance & Assurance(MSc)1

• International Executive Master of Auditing 1

• International Executive Master of Finance and Control (MSc)1

• Maastricht University Opleiding tot RegisterAccountant (MURA)4

Education• Management of Learning (MSc)1***

Graduate programmes for professionals• Evidence Based Innovation in Teaching (MSc)4

• Health Professions Education (MSc)1

Health & Life Sciences• Biomedical Sciences (tUL at UM and UHasselt),

5 specialisations (MSc)1

• Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (research), 6 specialisations (MSc)1

• Epidemiology (MSc)1

• European Public Health (MSc)1

• Global Health (MSc)1

• Health Education and Promotion (MSc)1

• Health Food Innovation Management (MSc)1

• Health Sciences (research), 4 specialisations(MSc)1

• Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management(MSc)1

• Human Movement Sciences (MSc)1

• Medicine (MD)4

• Mental Health (MSc)4

• Physician-Clinical Investigator (MSc/MD)4

• Work, Health and Career (MSc) 1

Graduate programmes for professionals• Affective Neuroscience (MSc)1

• Health Professions Education (MSc)1

Law• Dutch Law, 5 specialisations (LLM)4

• European Law School, 3 specialisations (LLM)1

• Forensics, Criminology and Law (LLM)3

• Globalisation and Law, 4 specialisations (LLM)1

• International and European Tax Law (LLM)1

• International Laws (LLM)1

• Law and Labour, 2 specialisations (LLM)4

• Public Policy and Human Development, 1 specialisation (MSc)1*

• Tax Law, 2 specialisations (LLM) 4

Graduate programmes for professionals• Advanced Master in Intellectual Property Law

and Knowledge Management (MSc/LLM)1

• European Master in Human Rights andDemocratisation 1

Sciences• Applied Statistics (tUL at UHasselt) (MSc)1

• Artificial Intelligence (tUL at UM) (MSc)1

• Biobased Materials (MSc)1**

• Biomedical Sciences (tUL at UM and UHasselt), 5 specialisations (MSc)1****

• Informatics (tUL at UHasselt) (MSc)2

• Operations Research (tUL at UM) (MSc)1

• Systems Biology (MSc)1**

New initiatives at UM• International Joint Research Master Work &

Organizational Psychology(expected start date: 1 September 2016)

• European Master in Translational Neuroscience(expected start date: 1 September 2016)

The programmes under ‘New initiatives at UM’ arecurrently in the process of accreditation. For moreinformation about these programmes and theirexpected starting dates, please consult www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/newinitiatives

* This programme is offered as a double degree incollaboration with United Nations University.** The master programmes Biobased Materials andSystems Biology are new degree programmes at UM,which are intended to begin on 1 September 2016. At time of publication, these programmes are in thelast phase of the process of accreditation.*** Please note that this programme is officiallyregistered as a programme in the Economics domain.This may have consequences for your tuition fee rate.Please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/tuitionfeesguide for more information.**** Please note that this programme is officiallyregistered as a programme in the Health domain.This may have consequences for your tuition fee rate.Please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/tuitionfeesguide for more information.

Language of instruction:1 Only in English2 Part Dutch, part English3 Available in both English and Dutch4 Only in Dutch

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www.maastrichtuniversity.nlBased in Europe, focused on the world. Maastricht University isa stimulating environment. Where research and teaching arecomplementary. Where innovation is our focus. Where talentcan flourish. A truly student oriented research university.

© 2015 M

aastricht Graduate School of Governance, Maastricht University. P.O. Box 616, 6200 M

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Contact informationUNU-MERIT / Maastricht Graduate School ofGovernanceMaastricht UniversityP.O. Box 6166200 MD MAASTRICHTThe NetherlandsPhone: +31 43 388 4650E-mail:info-governance@maastrichtuniversity.nlwww.maastrichtuniversity.nl/governance

Open DaysEvery year around February/March and inOctober

Student for a dayGet a a taste of our master’s programmefirst-hand by spending a day at our School,attending a lecture or a tutorial, or simplymeeting current students or the coursecoordinator? Check our website for moreinformation.

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