Public policy

Application requirements

The prerequisites for studying the Master's degree in Public Policy are the completion of a first or second level of higher education, an active interest in public affairs, and active participation in public affairs as a possible advantage. The most important prerequisites for studying a Master's degree in Public Policy are a willingness to work, a desire to advance one's knowledge and the ability to accept and incorporate feedback. The multidisciplinary nature of public policy allows graduates from a wide range of degree programmes to study with a first or second cycle of higher education 

Required skills include analytical and critical thinking, reading comprehension and an active knowledge of the English language.  

Graduate's profile

The Public Policy study programme is generally devoted to the study of how the different levels of government design, adopt, implement and evaluate interventions in the form of regulations or non-regulatory measures and programmes to address societal problems (evidence-based policy making), as well as whether and in what form other relevant actors are involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies (the so-called participatory aspect). Our Master's programme in Public Policy is an interdisciplinary programme that draws on the disciplines of political science, economics, law, sociology, management and other social science disciplines.  The aim of the programme is to prepare professionals with conceptual and analytical skills in the field of public policy for both the public and non-governmental sectors, able to analyse and develop sectoral policies and address cross-cutting issues of public policy, to present and promote new knowledge and views, and to contribute to the improvement of public administration and public policy in Slovakia and in the European context.  

The Master's programme is based on the trends of programmes in public administration (see e.g. EAPAA criteria). The programme was established in 2002. Its founders cooperated with top foreign institutions in the field, namely Erasmus University, the Netherlands; University of Pittsburgh, USA; Carleton University, Canada). Since then, it has been innovated, also in collaboration with institutions from practice. An example is the introduction of a course focusing on behavioural public policies, which is one of the outputs of the APVV project led by the IPP. That behavioural project allows us to carry out behavioural experiments in specific public administration organisations, in which our students are also involved, e.g. in the form of final theses.  

The Master's degree in Public Policy offers students a quality education comparable to studies in European Union countries and the USA , as well as a unique opportunity to build important contacts and gain experience that can be important for their practical application in the Slovak public administration, the non-governmental sector, the academic world, the private sector and in politics.  

 

graduates' employability:

Legislators, executives
Senior civil servants
Secretary General of the Civil Service
Management officer of a public administration body (departmental level)
Adviser to the President, Prime Minister, Minister, Chief Executive of a central government body
Senior civil servant not elsewhere specified
Mayor, deputy mayor
Municipal and regional government official not elsewhere specified
Leader of an association
Director of a non-profit organisation, foundation and non-investment fund
Finance executives (managers)
Teaching and professional staff in education and training
University teachers
University teaching assistant
Manager in a religious organisation
Journalists, editors and other specialists in journalism
Journalist, journalist
Analyst in government administration (analytical departments of ministries, statistical office)