This challenging two-year Research Master's programme focuses on key issues of Public Administration and Organisation Theory.
During the programme, you will gain in-depth knowledge about societal problems and the challenges of public organisations. You will combine theories of public administration, organisational science, and management with in-depth training in research methods. There is a focus on the challenges that governments nowadays face, such as mediatization, ageing, declining trust in the government and societal fragmentation. Challenges within public organisations are analysed, such as management professional conflicts and the role of risk when innovating. After obtaining this research master you are one step ahead of other job seekers when applying for positions in research, consultancy or policy advice.
Young Innovators
Are you curious, entrepreneurial, intellectually versatile, socially responsible? Do you want to get more out of your Master's programme, and learn to work across disciplinary boundaries to both researches and actively (co-)create innovative initiatives that will make the world a slightly better place? Then the Young Innovators honours programme (15 ECTS) might be of interest to you!
Three core areas of research and innovation
The programme will focus on exploring and designing innovations in three areas:
Sustainable innovations in health
Sustainable innovations in the economy
Sustainable innovations in urban living
Think outside your discipline
These multifaceted themes demand the joint efforts of experts from the sciences and humanities alike. They require knowledge of energy, climate dynamics, food, technology, and health. But insights into the dynamics of societies, law and economics, languages and cultures, or history and philosophy are just as essential.
The issues transcend national and cultural borders. Therefore the programme aims at substantial participation of international students and is taught in English.
Why study Research Master Public Administration and Organisational Science
Explore societal problems and critical challenges in the Master’s programme Public Administration and Organisational Science.
A changing climate, porous borders, the knowledge economy, the internet of things or robotics. The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, throwing up tantalizing opportunities as well as wicked problems for the way in which we govern our societies. Private organisations, civil society groups and the public sector share the responsibility to tackle these modern challenges.
Public administrators respond to these challenges in a variety of ways. They initiate reforms to make public management less bureaucratic and more accountable, they activate and enable citizens, they help businesses become more competitive while enhancing social responsibility, and they support civil society initiatives to provide voluntary community services. You will analyse how such initiatives help governments cope with the challenges of modernity. As a student of this research master, you will analyse how such initiatives can be beneficial.
Why study a Research Master in Public Administration in Rotterdam?
This Master's degree is a joint programme offered by six Dutch universities: Utrecht University, Tilburg University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Twente, Radboud University and the Free University of Amsterdam. The participating institutes belong to the best Public Administration and Organisation Science research groups in Europe. Their multidisciplinary, international faculties offer state-of-the-art insights into public sector governance, management and policy. All courses are taught in English.
Unique about this two-year Master’s programme is the intensive interaction between professors and students and the personal attention and the international study climate. In previous years, we have had students from all over the world.
About the programme Research Master Public Administration and Organisational Science
The research Master in Public Administration and Organisational Science comprises three pillars.
The first pillar contains the core theoretical themes in the fields of Public Administration and Organisation Science, such as public policy, public management, bureaucracy and public service, and human resource management. These courses connect classic theories to cutting-edge research. Students both develop knowledge about theories and learn to apply them in research. It offers room to develop your personal interests through a tailor-made tutorial.
The second pillar consists of a broad range of philosophy of science and research methods courses. These courses will focus both on high control designs such as experimental and survey research as on low control designs such as case studies and field research. The programme will provide you with a broad basis that is needed for researchers in this field. We offer various choices in this pillar so that you can choose the modules that are most valuable to you.
The third pillar consists of both applied and fundamental research projects, resulting in a (smaller) group thesis at the end of the first year and a (larger) individual thesis at the end of the second year. A policy-oriented research project typically involves a specific organisation or policy problem. The aim of the project is to offer advice on a current issue, and this requires you to conduct research in a real-life setting. A theory-oriented research project involves the writing of an academic article or the formulation of a detailed PhD proposal, which can serve as the basis for a future PhD project. (Please note that completing this Master's programme does not automatically guarantee you a PhD position).
Educational Methods
Lectures
Tutorials
Individual and small group assignments and presentations
Visits to knowledge institutes with leading researchers
Research thesis traject with seminars, group work (including peer feedback), virtual discussion boards, and individual supervision
Factsheet summary
Instruction language: English
Mode of study: Full-time
Type: Research Master
Faculty: Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Location: Campus Woudestein, Rotterdam
Start date: September
Duration: 2 years
Study points (EC): 120
Degree: MSc
Double degree: No
Application Deadline (EEA): 1 April
Application Deadline (Non-EEA): 1 April
Internship: No
Funding: Government
