Master of Arts in Public Management and Policy

Qualification awarded

Master of Arts (MA) in Public Management and Policy

Organisers

University of Lausanne
University of Berne
University of Lugano

Language of the site where courses are taught

Recommended language level: C1

Students must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university or higher education institution in the field/s of economics, business administration, political sciences, sociology or law.

Holders of Bachelor’s degrees in other fields may be accepted under certain conditions.

The increasing complexity of the tasks fulfilled by the State and the manner in which it carries them out require a new understanding of public services and a thorough modernisation of public administrations. The Master of Arts in Public Management and Policy aims to provide future decision-makers with broad, interdisciplinary knowledge and enable them to understand and resolve managerial, economic, political and legal problems. Furthermore, because Switzerland sits at the crossroads of three major linguistic cultures, a multicultural approach to running public and parapublic institutions and sectors is essential. 

The first two semesters are made up of obligatory common classes that form the course’s core and during which time the students undergo basic interdisciplinary training, either in Lausanne, Berne or Lugano.

In semesters 3 and 4, students choose their own orientation and classes from among the many proposed by the course’s different partners on their respective campuses. During this time, students may also carry out an internship or work placement and they must write a disseration.

Each subject is evaluated via written course work for seminars and tutorials and via written or oral examinations.

•    Federal, cantonal and communal public administrations
•    Non-profit organisations
•    Parastatal institutions
•    Public associations
•    Journalism
•    Doctoral studies
•    Public and private companies
•    Research and teaching
•    International organisations

An application dossier should be presented to the Admissions Office in good time

The registration deadline is 30 April. This programme begins in the autum semester.

Candidates who require a visa to study in Switzerland should present their application dossier at least two months before this deadline (this particular deadline is only valid for admission to the University of Lausanne).