Study overview

Overview modules

• Year 1EC

  • Module 1 | Data security15

    In this module, you will dive into computer security and cybercrime. You will understand how hacking technologies work and you will get an introduction to modern public administration. Your project assignment is to map out the high-tech challenges of cybercrime and how these are addressed over the world. 

  • Module 2 | The challenge of mass-migration15

    You will look at one of the biggest societal challenges of our time: mass immigration. The module introduces you to the politics of problem-framing and agenda-setting theory in public administration. You will learn to use descriptive data analysis and data visualisation for your project assignment: describe an aspect of the complex immigration challenge. 

  • Module 3 | Smart health policies15

    This module gives you an introduction to policy-making theory in public administration. By exploring how a wearable device may change your own behaviours, you get engaged with the world of wearable technologies in the domain of health promotion. You will learn how e-health interventions and smart policies can promote health, algorithms can covertly affect our behaviour, and you will learn to design effective policies that are based on solid evidence. Your project assignment is to design a smart health policy that will likely work in practice. 

  • Module 4 | Public management15

    Have you ever wondered why ICT projects often fail? This module introduces you to modern theories of public management and program implementation while studying the digital government. You will learn that the organisation of government rapidly changes under new technologies. Think about the digital processing of service requests (passports), or the information exchange between government departments and units to protect our safety. Your project assignment is to study the large-scale implementation of an ICT application in a network of government organisations.
• Year 2EC

  • Module 5 | Sustainable cities15

    You will explore the challenges cities face these days: climate change, energy supplies, and housing shortages are examples. You will understand how to bring together the interests of multiple scales of governments and stakeholders. Who makes the authoritative and legitimate decisions that help cities to become “smarter”? Your project assignment is to design a governance structure for a technology-driven city project.

  • Module 6 | Evaluation of tech-society15

    This module closes the circle of six core modules by focusing on evaluation. Using these evaluation outcomes and understanding trends helps you to get a well-informed perspective on the future. For example, by comparing how different countries find different ways to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), we can learn from each other and find the best ways for a better future.

  • Modules 7&8 | Specialisation30

    After the core modules you can choose between two specialisations: (1) Public Administration and (2) Global and European Studies. The specialisation takes one semester. 

    1) Public administration 
    The specialisation Public Administration offers students the opportunity to specialise in top-down and bottom-up decision-making. One module focuses on complex collective decision-making. You use rational choice models to forecast the outcomes of collective decision-making by many stakeholders. You learn how to influence these outcomes. The other module focuses on citizen involvement in public organisations. You study how the collaboration between professionals and citizens affects the quality of public services.

    2) Global and European studies
    The specialisation Global and European Studies offers students the opportunity to focus on the international and European dimensions of societal challenges. One module focuses on current European crises, such as Brexit. The other module focuses on the position of Europe in the world. You learn how the European Union operates as one international institution among the big powers in the world, such as China or the U.S.
• Year 3EC

  • Modules 9&10 | Electives30

    In the first half of your third year, you will take 30 credits’ worth of electives. You can do so by taking modules at the University of Twente or at another university, or by studying abroad.

    Additional modules
    You will have the chance to take additional modules at the University of Twente or another university. These could be modules from our European Public Administration programme or from a completely different academic discipline. Our aim is to encourage you to further develop your academic skills and learn to think ‘out of the box’. It will also give you the chance to communicate with professionals from different backgrounds, obtaining a broader view of the full range of academic endeavours by exploring a completely new field of specialisation.

    Are you eager to connect politics and technology? If you are, the High Tech Human Touch modules offered at the UT may be just up your street! Some examples: From Prototype to Society, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity, Governance of Innovation and Socio-Technical Change. Read more about the HTHT modules.

    Study abroad or internship
    You can also devote the first half of your final year to studying abroad or to an internship in the Netherlands or another country. Read some study abroad experiences of our students. 

  • Modules 11&12 | Bachelor's assignment30

    The thesis semester consists of three parts. First of all, you will receive additional training in research methods/academic skills. Secondly, you will prepare for the job market by learning how to write a proper CV and prepare for a job interview. The third part of this semester consists of writing your actual thesis and carrying out the research on which it is based.

    You will work individually on your Bachelor’s thesis but with the benefit of expert supervision. The topic of your thesis will be linked to ongoing faculty research, with a wide range of subjects to choose from. After successfully completing your Bachelor’s thesis, you will be awarded your degree and the title Bachelor of Science. You can then choose to enter the job market or pursue your studies at the next level by taking a Master’s programme.