Master of Science in Public Sector Innovation and eGovernance (PIONEER) University of Münster

KU Leuven, Tallinn University of Technology

English

This joint Master's programme aims at shaping the future of the public sector. The consortium has selected the following four broad academic subjects upon which this programme is built: (1) public governance (PG), (2) information management and information sciences (IS), (3) technology and digital evolutions for the public sector (T & DPS), and (4) public sector innovation and e-governance (PSI & eGov).

The first topic focuses on public management and public governance and is based on the expertise from the PA side of the consortium. The second topic is based on the expertise in information systems that is present in the consortium. The third and fourth topics combine the different areas of expertise involved in this programme. "Technology and digital evolutions for the public sector" emphasises the present and future role of IT and the technological/digital innovation for public administrations, while "public sector innovation and e-governance" deals with the integration of IT for innovation and the successful implementation of e-governance for public sector purposes.

The topics follow the sequence of the programme to some extent. Whereas topics (1) and (2) aim to provide students with expertise in the fundamentals of different disciplines, (3) will allow students to translate technological evolutions and possibilities for the benefit of the public sector and (4) will allow students to integrate the different disciplines into one coherent interdisciplinary knowledge framework.

In Leuven, the four subjects are introduced. In Münster, the focus is on the subjects of information systems and technology and digital evolutions, whereas public sector innovation and e-governance will be briefly introduced. In Tallinn, the main focus is on public sector innovation and e-governance, whereas technology and digital evolutions are focal points as well.

During all semesters, students should consider potential Master's thesis topics that can be discussed with staff from all three universities. Students should be proactive in this regard and can propose topics in the desired field.

1 March for the following winter semester for non-EEA student
1 June for the following winter semester for EEA students

Please note: Tuition fees apply. Here you find current information on the costs incurred. Semester contribution fees are included. 

First semester (KU Leuven):

• Public Innovation (lecture)
• Public Governance, Administration and Society (lecture)
• Digital Public Governance (lecture)
• Business Information Systems (lecture)
• Integrated Research Seminar (seminar)

Second semester (University of Münster):

• Information Systems Application (lecture)
• Digital Work & Project Management (lecture)
• Platforms and Digital Service Ecosystems (lecture)
• Integrated Research Seminar (seminar)
• One elective (lecture): Enterprise Architecture Management, Trust and Security in Data Science, Supervised Learning, Digital Innovation and Sustainable Development

Third semester (Tallinn University of Technology):

• Public Sector Innovation Lab (lecture + seminar)
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Management (lecture)
• Technology, Society and the Future (lecture)
• Elective (lecture): Governing in the Digital Era, Environmental and Social Externalities of Technology
• Integrated Research Seminar (seminar)

Fourth semester:

• Master's thesis 

2,223 EUR

Please note: Tuition fees apply. Here you find current information on the costs incurred. Semester contribution fees are included. 

Students must pay a semester contribution fee of approx. 330 EUR per semester. This includes a "semester ticket" covering public transportation in the greater Münster area as well as all of Germany.

You can find more information here:
https://www.uni-muenster.de/studieninteressierte/en/einschreibung/semesterbeitrag.shtml.

Admission to the Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Public Sector Innovation and eGovernance programme can be granted if the student accomplishes the following:

a) The applicant must fulfil the general requirements at KU Leuven, where the preliminary checks on completeness and eligibility are done.

b) The applicant must have a first academic Bachelor's degree (min. 180 ECTS) in public administration, social science, political science, information systems, information science, informatics, engineering, business, law, or an equivalent degree in the mentioned areas. Other applications will be taken into consideration depending on the other selection criteria. The admission policy is intended to ensure equal opportunity of access to higher education for qualified students.

c) The applicant must prove a good command of both spoken and written English (details below).

General admission is granted at KU Leuven, according to Belgian law and in line with the mentioned requirements. According to this decision, the students will also be enrolled at the University of Münster and Tallinn University of Technology.

Please refer to our website for detailed information on the application process.

All non-native speakers are required to submit an English proficiency test. We only accept the following language certificates:

• TOEFL, for which the minimum total score is 100 (for the Internet-based test) with a minimum of 22 on the four different components.
• IELTS, for which the minimum total score required is 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 on the four different components.
• Cambridge English Qualifications for general and higher education, for which we accept a minimum score of 184 on C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency.
• ITACE, for which level C1 is required.

These tests are not required if students can prove that some of their previous studies were successfully completed in English.

1 March for the following winter semester for non-EEA student
1 June for the following winter semester for EEA students

Students may be eligible for an ERASMUS+ scholarship.

Internships, student assistant jobs

As in all popular university cities in Germany, accommodation is in high demand and is not easy to find in Münster – but it’s not impossible either!

Please contact the International Office (Bachelor's and Master's students) or the CERes (doctoral candidates) of the university for advice. Please also note that the University of Münster (like most German public universities) does not have its own student halls of residence.