Executive Master of Public Administration (Executive MPA) Hertie School

English is the official language of instruction at the Hertie School. Students do not need to be able to speak German.

The Executive MPA at the Hertie School is designed for leaders who want to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges of modern governance. The programme provides participants with a solid foundation in principles of governance, public policy, and management and empowers them to lead teams and organisations, shape decision-making, and manage change in the workplace.

A flexible programme

The programme accommodates the busy schedules of working professionals and can be studied full-time in one year or part-time in two to four years. The programme consists of 43 days of attendance.

The quality of the Executive MPA programme is rooted in two principles: interdisciplinarity and practical application. The programme combines economics and social sciences to further students' understanding of complex governance challenges and management solutions. The participants work on international case studies and discuss phenomena against the background of their own work experience. Experts from all sectors regularly share current issues and discuss challenges and possible solutions with the students.
Students choose five electives that allow them to specialise in an area of governance, policy, and management, or they can broaden their understanding of a different field of public policy, governance, or analytical tools. 

All courses can also be booked individually as an executive training course or combined as a certificate programme. This allows participants to work their way up to a full Executive MPA degree step by step and accrue credits for the programme over time. All credits earned and fees paid for individual courses can be fully transferred to the Executive MPA.

Participants also complete skills courses in subjects, such as negotiation training, conflict management, consulting, or leading teams. They gain additional insights in a four-day workshop in a major European city and political hub.

1 June: priority deadline for scholarships*
1 August: final application deadline

The programme starts in early September. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The selection committee will invite pre-selected candidates to an online interview.

*For those in need of financial assistance, early application is strongly encouraged in order to increase the chances of receiving a tuition waiver.

Before submitting your application, remember to read our admission requirements carefully.

The tuition fee for the programme is 38,500 EUR, regardless of whether it is completed in one or two years (two-year programme: 9,625 EUR per semester; one-year programme: 19,250 EUR per semester).

The Executive MPA can be studied full-time in one year or part-time in two to four years.

The programme consists of 43 days of attendance. Courses take place in blocks of two or three days each. The block system makes it possible for professionals who live outside of Berlin, outside of Germany, or even outside of Europe to study part-time.

Core programme

In the module Governance & Public Policy (three courses), students cultivate skills in understanding and analysing the challenges of modern governance and 21st century policy-making. Students will be introduced to academic debates, theoretical arguments, and methodological approaches from an interdisciplinary perspective, and they will gain an understanding of how collectively binding decisions are made, contested, and influenced across sectors and levels of governance.

Management: Challenges, Concepts, & Resources (three courses) gives students an overview of the key challenges faced in modern management, leadership, and decision-making and trains students to cope with these challenges in future leadership roles. Focusing on underlying theories, main concepts, and methodological tools, this module introduces the practicability and pitfalls of central tools and reforms in the context of public administration and, in particular, financial management.

Portfolio electives

Students choose five portfolio electives. Courses are clustered in four fields:

1. Management and Leadership electives focus on organisational design, change management, leadership skills, and management tools.
2. Digitalisation and Governance of Artificial Intelligence electives focus on digitalisation in various sectors, including questions regarding regulation and governance and the use and implications of artificial intelligence tools across sectors.
3. Policy Analysis electives focus on specific policy fields, including social policy, climate and sustainability, economics, and inequality, among other topics.
4. Governance electives focus on topical questions of governance, including concepts of multi-level governance, conflict and crisis management, and global governance challenges.

Professional development

Students will complete two skill training courses that strengthen competencies in disciplines such as negotiation training, conflict management, leadership, foresight analysis, or design thinking. Additionally, all students attend a workshop in a major European city and political hub to get behind-the-scenes policymaking insights.

Master’s thesis

Students conclude their studies with an independent research project on a topic relevant to their current role or future career plans.

For more information on the Executive MPA curriculum, please have a look at our website.

Internships are not an integral part of the programme, but we support students who are interested in an internship at the beginning or end of their studies.

9,625 EUR

The tuition fee for the programme is 38,500 EUR, regardless of whether it is completed in one or two years (two-year programme: 9,625 EUR per semester; one-year programme: 19,250 EUR per semester).

Approx. 300 EUR per semester for the public transportation ticket (only mandatory for one-year, full-time students)

The Executive Master of Public Administration is aimed at professionals from all sectors. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A good higher education degree in any discipline (typically, Executive MPA participants have a background in business/economics, law, social science, or natural sciences)
• At least three years of relevant work experience (average is nine years)
• Proficiency in English

Find detailed information on admission requirements on our website.

Unless you are a native speaker or you have completed your entire undergraduate degree at an English-language university, you will need to verify your language skills with an official English test.

The Hertie School recognises the Cambridge ESOL qualifications CPE (C), CAE (B), and the IELTS (with an overall score of at least 7.0) as well as the TOEFL test (PBT 577, CBT 233, iBT 90) and the online Duolingo exam (115).

Non-native speakers who can provide proof of substantial work or study experience in English may not have to provide language test results.

1 June: priority deadline for scholarships*
1 August: final application deadline

The programme starts in early September. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The selection committee will invite pre-selected candidates to an online interview.

*For those in need of financial assistance, early application is strongly encouraged in order to increase the chances of receiving a tuition waiver.

Before submitting your application, remember to read our admission requirements carefully.

The Hertie School grants a limited number of partial scholarships to excellent Executive MPA candidates. Candidates who seek financial support are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline on 1 June.

All questions related to getting started as a student at the Hertie School and getting settled in Berlin can be directed to our Student Life team. They support admitted applicants with health insurance, visa applications, residency registration, and finding accommodation.

For more information on housing options in Berlin, have a look at our website.

Career planning is a lifelong matter. Be it a CV check, mock interviews, general orientation, or decision-making, our Career Development team at the Hertie School supports students and alumni in all matters of their professional development.

The Hertie School is a private university based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2003 by the Hertie Foundation, the Hertie School became Germany’s first professional school for public policy and was granted official state recognition in 2005.

Interdisciplinary and practice-oriented teaching, first-class research and an extensive international network set the Hertie School apart. In preparing exceptional students for leadership positions in government, business, and civil society, the Hertie School is positioned as an ambassador of good governance and is characterised by public debate and engagement. "Understand today. Shape tomorrow." is our motto.

The Hertie School has four Master’s programmes: the Master of Public Policy (since 2005), the Executive Master of Public Administration (since 2008), the Master of International Affairs (since 2015), and the Master of Data Science for Public Policy (since 2020).

Together with the Freie Universität Berlin and the Social Science Centre Berlin (WZB), the Hertie School formed the Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS) to offer doctoral training for the Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS) Cluster of Excellence.

Berlin is in the heart of Europe. And we are in the heart of Berlin.

Germany's capital is a hub for political and cultural events, and a crossroads for travel in Europe and beyond. Located in the city's "Mitte" neighbourhood, the Hertie School is just minutes away from the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and other important political and historic landmarks.

Berlin is a political hub: diverse and international.

As the capital of Germany, Berlin is the epicentre for political decision-makers and policy debates. It is also a city where history is all around, a fascinating backdrop for studying public administration. Berlin draws young people from around the world, bringing with them a diverse set of cultures, skills and activities.

Berlin is affordable and easy to navigate

Among Berlin’s many assets is its affordability. Housing and general expenses are relatively lower than in many major capitals worldwide. It is especially welcoming for students, with countless special discounts at many venues.

It is also known as a very bike-friendly city, thanks to a flat landscape and many cycling paths. Whether on foot, by bike or public transportation, life in Berlin is accessible and easy-going. Full-time Executive MPA students in Berlin also receive a semester ticket as part of their student ID that is valid for all means of public transportation in the entire city.