Executive Master of Public Administration (Executive MPA)

Program overview The Executive MPA is aimed at experienced professionals who want practical knowledge and management tools to tackle contemporary governance challenges. It builds a foundation in governance, public policy, and management—drawing on economics and social sciences—to help participants lead teams and organisations, influence decision-making, and steer change within their workplaces. Classroom learning is grounded in international case studies and participants’ own professional experience, with regular contributions from practitioners and sector experts.

Flexible format and specialization The programme is tailored to working professionals: it can be completed full-time in one year or part-time over two to four years, and requires 43 days of in-person attendance. Students select five electives to specialise in a governance, policy, or management area (or to broaden into a new policy field or analytical skillset). All students also take practical skills modules—examples include negotiation training, conflict management, consulting and team leadership—and participate in a four-day workshop held in a major European city and political hub.

Stackable and practice-oriented Courses may be taken individually as executive training or combined into certificate programmes, allowing participants to accumulate credits and fees incrementally; any credits and fees for standalone courses can be transferred in full toward the full degree. The programme’s emphasis on interdisciplinarity and applied learning aims to deliver immediately relevant tools and a strong professional network for international participants working in or alongside the public sector.

Key facts and requirements

• Degree awarded: Master of Arts (Executive MPA)
• Language of instruction: English
• Designed for: mid- to senior-level professionals seeking leadership roles in governance and public policy
• Study modes: full-time (1 year) or part-time (2–4 years)
• Attendance requirement: 43 days on campus
• Electives: choose five to specialise or broaden expertise
• Practical components: skills courses (e.g., negotiation, conflict management, consulting, leading teams)
• Immersive component: four-day workshop in a major European political hub
• Flexibility: individual executive courses and certificate options available; credits and fees from standalone courses fully transferable to the full Executive MPA.programme

Program structure and format

This Executive MPA offers a flexible format for working professionals: it can be taken full‑time over one year or part‑time across two to four years. The programme requires 43 days of on‑site attendance delivered in compact blocks of two or three days each, making it viable for participants based in Berlin, elsewhere in Germany, or abroad. The block system concentrates teaching into intensive sessions so you can combine study with a professional career and international travel.

Key modules and learning outcomes

The taught core consists of two three‑course modules. Governance & Public Policy develops your ability to analyse contemporary governance challenges and 21st‑century policymaking from interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological perspectives, and to understand how binding public decisions are formed, contested, and influenced across sectors and levels. Management: Challenges, Concepts, & Resources equips you with concepts and tools for leadership, organisational decision‑making and public financial management, emphasising practical applications and potential pitfalls of reforms and management instruments. Together these cores strengthen analytical, strategic and managerial competences for leadership roles in public and quasi‑public organisations.

Electives, professional development and final project

You select five portfolio electives from four thematic clusters—Management & Leadership; Digitalisation & Governance of Artificial Intelligence; Policy Analysis (e.g., social policy, climate/sustainability, economics, inequality); and Governance (multi‑level, crisis/conflict, and global governance)—allowing you to tailor the programme to your interests and career aims. Professional development includes two skill training courses (examples include negotiation, conflict management, leadership, foresight, or design thinking) plus a workshop held in a major European city/political hub to observe policymaking up close. The degree is completed with an independent master’s thesis on a topic tied to your current role or future career plans.

Curriculum requirements (concise)

• Study modes: full‑time (1 year) or part‑time (2–4 years)
• On‑site attendance: 43 days total, delivered in 2–3 day blocks
• Core modules: Governance & Public Policy (3 courses); Management: Challenges, Concepts, & Resources (3 courses)
• Portfolio electives: choose 5 electives from four clusters (Management & Leadership; Digitalisation & AI Governance; Policy Analysis; Governance)
• Professional development: 2 skills‑training courses + workshop in a major European political hub
• Final requirement: independent master’s thesis on a practice‑relevant topic

Graduates are prepared for leadership and management roles across the public sector, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, consultancy and private firms that interact with public policy. The programme’s blend of policy analysis, management training and sector‑relevant electives equips alumni to take on positions that require strategic decision‑making, policy design and organisational change management.

Because the Executive MPA is aimed at mid‑career professionals, many participants use the degree to accelerate promotion within their current organisations, transition to policy or advisory roles, or move into cross‑sector leadership positions that demand both analytical rigour and practical managerial skills.