Public Governance & Strategy
Winter intake start date
2027-02-01
Winter intake deadline
2026-11-25
The leaders of today and tomorrow face immense challenges, such as climate change and energy transition, refugee crisis, transnational organized crime and urban inequality. Involving multiple actors and operating at global and local levels, these challenges require innovative solutions. The MSc Public Governance combines public administration, economics and law to lay the foundation for a career in government or the private sector, in the Netherlands or abroad.
Start your Master's by getting to know your teachers and fellow students during a festive kick-off. Throughout the program, you will collaborate with your fellow students during group work. During the first semester, you will cover the theoretics and practice of governance basics. After that, you will choose one of the four themes and specialize in one expertise. This also includes an internship and/or elective. Conclude the program with a Master's thesis.
Become part of a small-scaled, closely connected and multidisciplinary community of talented students, outstanding scholars, and eminent alumni from all over the world.
- Cross boundaries. Adopt a comparative, transnational perspective on public governance, to learn from other cities, regions and countries, or global and European institutions - what works, and why?
- Put theory into practice. Gain essential experience with tackling complex societal problems by working with 'real life' clients in the Governance Clinic. Obtain expert knowledge and academic skills, but also train (soft) skills like creative thinking, communicating and collaborating, as well as being adaptive and exercising leadership.
- Team up. Learn to co-create innovative governance solutions with fellow students, leading experts in the field, and key stakeholders, such as citizens, non-state actors, businesses and governments.
- Shape your portfolio. Specialize in one of four themes and become an expert in this area of governance:
- Democratic Governance and Innovation
- Justice, Security, and the Governance of Risks
- Governing the Transition to a Sustainable Society
- Governance for Health, Education, and Welfare
- Benefit from mentoring. You get personal guidance and help from lecturers, as well as tips and tricks from fellow students via the buddy system - to help you learn, grow and develop, beyond merely collecting ECTS's.
Typical courses are:
- Good Governance
- Governance Clinic
- Public Entrepreneurship and Strategy
- ECTS transcript – If you are still completing your Bachelor’s degree, upload an ECTS transcript showing the subjects you have studied, your grades, and the number of credits awarded. Your Bachelor’s diploma must be uploaded later, as soon as you receive it.
- Bachelor’s diploma – If you have already graduated, upload your Bachelor’s diploma. A separate ECTS transcript is not required.
Note: Your Bachelor’s degree must be in the same or a related field as the Master’s programme you are applying for. The university will check whether you have completed enough relevant subjects and ECTS credits.
Important! View the full requirements on the university’s official website. Requirements may vary depending where you completed your bachelor education.
Applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or upon previous studies. Usually English language skills can be proved by the following documents:
- TOEFL iBT*
- IELTS Academic
- A Cambridge English qualification
- Higher education degree completed in English
- Secondary education completed in English in a country or school qualification accepted by the university
- An English subject and grade on your secondary school leaving certificate that meet the university’s requirements
- Other
Important: Accepted methods and minimum results depend on study programme and the country where you completed your education. Check the official requirements for your chosen study programme.
*Use the Kastu promo code LTU1000102 when registering for TOEFL iBT and receive a 5% discount.
Fully prepared to enter the labor market with a distinctive education
After completing the Public Governance program you will be fully prepared to enter the labor market with a distinctive education:
You will be equipped with the skills to analyze wicked problems and appreciate different interests visible from economical, judicial, political and institutional perspective.
In order to make these analyses you will be able to use both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Finally, you will be experienced in taking responsibility in researching a complex and uncertain problems in the public sector.
Broad range of professions
The need for bright, young people with these competencies is rising not only in the public sector. Graduates are eligible for a broad range of professions, including the following: managers, strategic advisors, consultants, trainees, researchers or other leading positions in the public sector.
