Public Administration – (M.Sc.)

Contents

The Master´s programme aims to provide students with a profound awareness of the distinct nature of governance in the public sector and a thorough understanding of the various public administration theories and approaches which are commonly used. Additionally, Leiden graduates possess the capacity to identify a theoretical framework suitable for addressing public administration problems and issues. They can independently conduct and report about basic research in public administration issues.

The programme consists of introductory lectures and specialised seminars, with a minimum of six contact hours per week. Assessment takes place through written exams, research papers, oral presentations and a thesis. Both group and individual guidance is offered in writing term papers and the final thesis.

Each specialisation consists of compulsory (15 Ects), specialisation (15 Ects) and elective courses (15 Ects). Courses are worth 5 or 10 Ects. Elective courses are open, that is, students are completely free to choose from all other Master's courses offered by the department of Public Administration. The Public Administration and Public Affairs track has no specialisation courses, which makes it a more general specialisation. Students should however attend 10 Ects on the topic of their Master's thesis.
The Master's programme is concluded with a thesis (15 Ects) or with the Capstone project (15 Ects).

Structure and duration

The MSc Programme starts in September and February and covers one year. Courses are offered during two semesters: September-January and February-June. Upon entering the MSc in Public Administration students choose one of the following specialisations;

• Crisis and Safety Management
• European Governance
• International Development Administration
• Public Administration and Public Affairs

Specialisation: Crisis and Safety Management

The safety of citizens has been a traditional responsibility of the state. In recent years, however, the capacity of national governments to protect citizens and to secure critical infrastructures has come under pressure. The modern society appears increasingly vulnerable to a variety of well-known threats such as terrorism (9/11, Madrid, London, Van Gogh), climate change and natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami), but also less visible threats such as organised crime, illegal immigration, energy, and infrastructural breakdowns.

We expect governments at all levels of society (from local government to EU, from local police to international organisations) to prevent citizens from these threats. If a threat materialises, we expect governmental elites to manage the crisis. In the aftermath of critical breakdowns, we expect governments to investigate what went wrong and to make sure it will never happen again. All these activities fall within the category of safety, security and crisis management.

This specialisation is organised around two dimensions. First, the courses explore the dynamics of crisis and safety. More specifically, we look into the causes of safety and breakdown, the process of escalation that marks crisis episodes, and the return to a new state of order after a crisis. Second, we explore the pitfalls and possibilities of crisis and safety management. We consider common pathologies and `best practices´. We study why some sectors and societies are safer than others, and why some response systems manage crises better than others.

This specialisation prepares students for a career in the rapidly expanding domain of national and international security and safety management. In recent years, there has been a rising demand for professionals with a background in crisis and safety management, both in the public and private sector. Students with this specialisation can apply for jobs in policymaking departments, local and provincial government, international organisations and NGOs, consultancy agents, and private industry.

Specialisation: European Governance

This track is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the key theoretical and empirical issues related to governance in Europe. The central focus of most courses is the European Union, with particular attention to the impact of the EU as a set of governance structures beyond the nation-state.

The core curriculum concentrates on multilevel governance in the EU, EU institutions and decision-making, and policy implementation in diverse policy areas. More specialised seminars focus on the transposition of EU legislation, the building of democratic institutions and multilevel governance in comparative perspective.

Students who attend the European Governance track can choose to participate in the European Master of Public Administration Programme (EMPA). EMPA is a joint enterprise of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), Leiden University, Erasmus Universiteit (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften (Speyer, Germany) and the Universityof Economic Sciences(Budapest, Hungary). During one (extra) semester, students have the opportunity to attend courses at one of these qualified partner institutions. After successful completion, students receive the EMPA certificate.

Specialisation: International Development Administration

This specialisation concentrates on public administration and state-society relations in transitional societies. It studies international relations, international organi'sations, and national administrative systems in specialised seminars, aiming to acquaint students with current theory and research on issues that are high on both international and national agendas, notably "good governance and corruption," "ethnic and religious divisions," "equality and distribution," and "democracy and decentralization." The specialisation aims primarily to provide students with general theoretical ideas needed to understand, research, and work with the world beyond Europe and the USA.

The literature and classes take a comparative perspective and make use of research and case examples from countries around the world. Globalization produces an expanding job market for people with knowledge of cultures, societies, and administrative systems outside "the West." Students who took this specialization found careers in international organisations (United Nations, Novib, World Bank) and smaller, local NGOs. Many also work for governmental organisations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various Agencies for Development Cooperation, the Diplomatic Service, etc. An increasing number of students are also employed in internationally operating companies, and, finally, a selection of our students choose an academic career.

Specialisation: Public Administration and Public Affairs

This track concentrates on theoretical and practical questions concerning the organisation and management of the public sector. It explores themes such as institutions and institutional change, interest groups and government, the normative basis of administration, civil service systems in comparative perspective, local and regional government, and crisis management. Students are encouraged to follow their own interests and to specialise in themes offered in seminars such as Administration in non-Western Societies, Crisis Management, and Strategic Management.

The track focuses on organisation and management of the public sector, the normative basis of administration, the ways in which public administration is conceptualised in different national contexts, and institutional change as a consequence of citizen demands and the influence of the European Union (`regionalisation´ versus `globalisation´).

Research/PhD

After successful completion of the MSc/MPhil programme, it is possible to enter a four-year PhD programme. In some cases, the PhD will be a continuation of the MSc/ MPhil research project. The PhD programme involves additional research and coursework, the specific requirements of which are determined in agreement with the supervisor of the dissertation.

This programme has a workload of 60 ECTS.

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: Netherlands

Funding details

Scholarships / Grants:

Leiden University:
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