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Public Policy and Human Development – (M.Sc.)
Maastricht University
Faculty of Humanities and Sciences
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| Application Deadline: | Start in 1 September: July (non-EEA: June). | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 1,771 ≈ € 12,000 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Maastricht / Netherlands / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Special: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 60 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Maastricht University
The Master in Public Policy and Human Development equips students with a variety of skills, tools and knowledge which enable them to work as policy designers and policy analysts.
The Master of Science (MSc) in Public Policy and Human Development emphasises the connection between public policy and decision-making processes, or more specifically, the effectiveness and efficiency of governance. Students are equipped with a variety of skills, tools and knowledge which enable them to work as policy designers and policy analysts. They are capable of working within public and private institutions at local, national and international levels. Public policy issues are growing in complexity and there's an increasing interconnectedness between local, national and international levels of decision making and implementation. This can be seen in current public policy concerns such as: * the impact of immigration policies * healthcare access for children in developing countries * mitigation of the effects of global warming * the conflict of China's economic growth and its sustainable development * the watchdog role of the media Due to the increasing complexity of the issues, there is a growing need for specialists in policy analysis who have a combination of technical skills as well as theoretical and specific area knowledge.
Contents
Types of teaching (in year 1):
- theory: 60%
- practice: 0%
- self study: 40%
Programme internationalization:
- Studying abroad is optional.
This programme has a workload of 60 ECTS.
Specialities:
Social Policy Design and Financing:
A form of social protection is needed to guarantee dignified survival for those unable to work, whether temporarily of permanently. Public social protection systems redistribute 5-35% of GDP, depending on the level of development. Deficient and/or inefficient design and management within (and coordination between) social protection institutions may lead to wastage of public resources or to socio-economic inefficiencies, ineffectiveness and misallocation of social transfers. The failure to invest an adequate share of public resources in social protection leads to avoidable loss of welfare and economic performance. In both cases those most in need may not receive a fair share of scarce public resources. This raises debates about the organization and impact of social protection systems, their financing and sustainability. Public policies are needed in the areas of poverty reduction, labour conditions, healthcare, human capital development, and income security systems (such as retirement pensions). The specialization Social Policy Financing and Social Policy Design discuss these issues in an accessible, contemporary and practical manner.
Trade and Development Law:
The specialization gives an introduction to rules of international law that aim to promote human development. Projects and programs aimed at judicial reform and support for the rule of law in developing and transitional countries have increased significantly in recent decades, often with little attention paid to the context in which these activities are carried out or the assumptions underlying their development and implementation. This specialization critically assesses the goals of economic development and the role of legal rules in facilitating or hindering that process, as well as the international activities directed at judicial reform and other legal assistance in developing and transition countries. We examine the current international legal development regime; examine the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to failure of efforts at legal reform; analyse the reform strategies of selected development agencies; and explore alternative modes of analysis that may lead to more effective strategies than many legal assistance programs have enjoyed to date.
Migration Studies:
According to the International Organization for Migration, there are some 191 million international migrants worldwide, constituting 3% of the world population (2005). Remittance transfers currently amount to more than US$300 billion, surpassing foreign direct investment and official development aid in many countries. Migration is a controversial topic in the international and national policy arena and the effects of migration need to be studied carefully. While mass media often focus on a few spectacularly problematic integration cases, this specialization studies the key issues in-depth and with scientific rigor. The four courses introduce the essential components of migration studies such as trends, theories, causes and effects, and migration policy. Students will be able to explore the area of migration studies by taking courses with a broad perspective on the prevailing theory and practice. Particular emphasis is put on practical fieldwork. Students are trained for the international labour market as policy advisors, practitioners, researchers, etc.
Risk and Vulnerability:
Throughout history, societies have had to face disasters and crises. Recent examples include natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, medical crises such as mad cow disease, or man-made catastrophes such as the Chernobyl incident. -How do we deal with uncertainty and risk?ââ¬Â is a relevant question for decision makers and their advisors, as well as for key actors in society such as environmental lobbyists. This specialization follows a process approach, starting with risk assessments, discussing the building of more resilient societies and studying how to manage the situation if a crisis occurs. The concluding course discusses how to communicate risk to the general public. This specialization is taught in collaboration with United Nations University's institute on Environment and Human Security (EHS).
Regional Integration and Multi-level Governance:
In today's world, policymaking is no longer a prerogative of the state. On the one hand, countries increasingly look for joint solutions to common policy challenges: regional cooperation is on the rise worldwide. On the other hand, competences to introduce, reform and implement policies become more and more shared by, rather than divided between, actors at the sub-national, national, regional, international and even supranational levels. Complex systems of multi-level governance, in which actors at different levels compete for control over public policy decision-making, have developed across the globe. Students will learn how regions have emerged and proliferated in the world. They will systematically study key theories and approaches explaining regional integration and multi-level governance. Practices of regional cooperation and governance in different world regions will be investigated both from an academic perspective and first-hand policy-makers' experience. The specialization is offered in collaboration with the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration (UNU-CRIS) based in Bruges, Belgium.
Innovation, Institutions & Development:
Using macroeconomic theory, a number of simple questions are answered: how have average living standards between countries diverged or converged? What influence did the global economic environment play? How is the production and use of technological knowledge distributed in the world? And how does this relate to the global income distribution between countries? The answer to these questions leads us to a basic theory of economic growth. In the second step, we use a comparative approach to describe and analyse the relative growth performance of countries in four world regions: Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the developed world (Europe, North America, Australia). We focus on how public actors contribute to development, especially in terms of policies that facilitate technology transfer, and on the role of innovation as a key engine of growth. The development and use of knowledge remains very much concentrated in specific regions and sectors. Upon completing this specialization, you will have a deeper understanding of the role of public policy and (semi-) public organisations in fostering innovation in these systems, and thereby contributing to growth and development.
Courses:
Public Economics(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is required to apply to.
Public Policy Analysis(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is required to apply to.
Poverty and Inequality(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization (4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Risk Management in Crisis Situations(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
International Economics(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Social Budgeting(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Financing Social Protection(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
International Intellectual Property Law and Policy(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
International Development Law(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Introduction to Migration Studies(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Migration and Remittance Effects(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Data Collection and Analysis for Migration Studies(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Comparative Migration Studies(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Risk Communication(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Introduction to Regions(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Different Regionalisms(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Regionalism and Multi-Level Governance(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
Topical Issues in Comparative Regionalism(4 ECTS):
Course type: regular
This course is optional to apply to.
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
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Register Now!Requirements
Written request: motivation letter, essay, recommendation letters, CV, diplomas, transcripts, passport, official picture, English proficiency test
Previous education: bachelor's or master's degree from a relevant academic field such as economics, international relations, political science, law, social sciences, business administration, health sciences or public health.
Language test: proficiency in English, with a minimum level of 600 pbt, 240 cbt or 100 ibt for the TOEFL test or 7.0 for the IELTS test
Additional language requirements:
- IELTS overall band: 7
- TOEFL paper based: 600
- TOEFL computer based: 240
- TOEFL internet based: 100
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 600 |
| TOEFL Computer-based: | 240 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 100 |
Accreditation
Accredited by: NVAO in: Netherlands
Funding details
Scholarships / Grants:
Neso Indonesia:
StuNed Scholarships for Master studies, short courses and customized training programmes are available for Indonesian professionals with at least two years work experience in a development-related organization.
For additional information: Website
Fulbright/ NAF:
The Fulbright Center is a bi-national, non-profit organization established by international agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of The Netherlands. It promotes educational co-operation and provides information on study, research and internships in the United States.
For additional information: Website
Nuffic:
The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (Ford-IFP) provides opportunities to exceptional individuals for advanced study. If you are a resident of an eligible IFP country and would like to study in Europe, Nuffic can act as a placement partner for you.
For additional information: Website
Nuffic:
The aim of the Libertas Support Fund is to assist politically engaged students who for political reasons have been prevented from studying in their countries of origin to continue their studies in the Netherlands.
For additional information: Website
European Commission:
The Alban Scholarship programme aims at the reinforcement of the European Union-Latin America cooperation in the area of Higher Education. * for postgraduate studies. * for specialization studies at any of the eligible recognised organizations of Higher Training (companies included).
For additional information: Website
World Bank:
Successful applicants for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program will be awarded funding covering all tuition and admission fees, as well as housing and subsistence allowance. Travel expenses between the awardees' home countries and Tokyo will also be provided.
For additional information: Website
Maastricht University:
For additional information: Website
Maastricht University:
For additional information: Website
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