Joint Degree - Bachelor Public Administration University of Twente

A unique international joint Bachelor’s degree by the University of Twente and Universität Münster.

Are you ready to take on big challenges that cross countries, cultures and subjects? In this three-year programme you will learn about public policy, governance and management while gaining valuable international and interdisciplinary experience. You will start your first year at Universität Münster where most classes are taught in German. In the second and third years you will study at the University of Twente where the language changes to English. This will help you develop strong language skills for your future career.

What is a joint degree?

A joint degree means you study at two universities with different teaching styles. In this case, starting with the traditional German model in Münster and moving to a hands-on, project-based approach at Twente. You will experience new cultures and languages, grow personally by studying abroad, and prepare for a career in international public governance.

Why choose this Joint Degree?

From ideas to impact in Europe

Combine political science, public administration, law, sociology, economics, European and Global Studies, and research methods. This broad foundation prepares you excellently for a wide range of Master’s programmes and careers across Europe, from Public Administration and Political Science to European Law, Environmental Policy, and International Security.

Freedom to shape your studies

Enjoy significant elective space in your second and third years. With Student-Driven Learning at UT, you can tailor your learning path, choose electives, do an internship, or explore other fields such as Psychology or Communication Science.

Rich international experience

Study in two countries and work in international teams to strengthen your English and intercultural skills. Gain a cross-border perspective on public governance, an essential asset in today’s global job market.

Focus on practical application

Theory and practice go hand in hand. In every module, you work in teams on real-life projects that boost your creativity, problem-solving skills, and design a mindset to tackle complex public issues in a small-scale and personal learning environment at UT.

Study overview

Learn about politics, law, economics and society, and work together on real projects that make a difference.

Year 1
- Courses at Universität Münster (Germany)
  The language of instruction during this year is German. The educational approach reflects typical German academic practices, combining centralised lectures with independent self-study. The main courses offered in this year include:
  - Public Governance across Borders
  - European and Global Governance
  - Political Systems in Comparative Perspective
  - Public Law
  - Methods
Year 2
- Module 5 | Public Management
  In your second year, you will move to the University of Twente in the Netherlands. At UT, bachelor’s programmes are structured into modules.
  In this module, you shift from the macro perspective of political science to the micro perspective of public organisations. Since much of your professional life will take place within these organisations, they will be the setting where you pursue your ambitions and ideals. You will explore what makes public organisations effective and how they operate.
- Module 6 | Public Governance across countries
  In this module you shift back to the macro-perspective of public administration and political science. You will learn to compare policies in different countries as well as their effects in a systematic way, using statistical analysis.
- Module 7 & 8 | Elective space
  In the second semester at UT you get to choose one of two tracks, each with two modules:
  Track 1: Public Administration
  Module 7: Policy-making & Planning
  Module 8: Governance in Action Technologies
  You will gain expertise in executive and frontline processes in public administrations. Module 7 focuses on complex collective decision-making. You will learn to use rational choice models to forecast the outcomes of complex collective decision-making involving many stakeholders. You will also learn how to influence these outcomes. Module 8 focuses on the ’frontlines’ of public organizations. You will study how the collaboration between professionals and citizens affects the quality of public services.
  Track 2: Global & European Studies
  Module 7: Europe in crisis?
  Module 8: Europe & the world
  In this specialisation, you will focus on the international and European dimensions of today’s societal challenges. In module 7, you will delve into current European crises, such as the Brexit issue. In module 8, you will study 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 and the United States.
Year 3
- Modules 9 & 10 | Electives
  Half of the third year consists of elective space, giving you several options:
  Study abroad
  You have the opportunity to make use of the rich portfolio of Erasmus exchange partners of the University of Twente and the Universität Münsterr to do an exchange programme abroad – in a subfield of your interest. If you like, you could even engage in an exchange programme with a university beyond Europe; for example in Asia, Australia, or (Latin) America. You can study abroad for three months or even half a year.
  (Inter)national internship
  You can also use your elective space to do an internship at an external organization – in Germany, The Netherlands, in Europe or even beyond. You can do an internship for three months or half a year. If you choose the latter, you will do a brief research study for the external organization. You are supervised within the organization and by University of Twente teachers.
  Additional modules
  You can also take additional modules at the University of Twente or another university. These can be modules from a completely different academic discipline, for example, Psychology, or Communication Science. Our aim is to encourage you to further develop your academic skills and learn to think ‘out of the box’. This option will also give you the chance to communicate with professionals from different backgrounds, obtaining a broader view of the full range of academic endeavour by exploring a completely new field of specialization.
  High Tech Human Touch modules
  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.
- Module 12 | Bachelor’s thesis
  The final semester of your third year is divided into three parts. First, you will receive additional training in research methods and academic skills. Next, you’ll prepare for the job market by learning how to write a strong résumé and succeed in a job interview. Finally, you will write your thesis and conduct the research it is based on.
  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 for you to choose from.
  After successfully completing your Bachelor’s thesis, you will be awarded your degree and the title Bachelor of Science in Public Governance across Borders. You can then choose to enter the job market or pursue your studies at the next level by taking a Master’s programme.

Admission & career opportunities

Find out how to apply and what your options are if you’re not admitted to the joint degree.

Admission and enrolment

Public Governance across Borders is a joint degree programme that begins in Münster. To apply, you must go through Universität Münster, where around 65 students are admitted each year through the standard German university selection process.

If you are not admitted to Public Governance across Borders in Münster, you can choose to enrol in the Bachelor of Public Administration (Management, Society & Technology) at the University of Twente instead. Students in this bachelor start directly at Enschede and follow a single degree programme. Public Governance across Borders students join in their second and third years. Keep in mind that choosing the Bachelor of Public Administration means you won’t study at two universities or take part in the joint degree experience.

For more information or questions, contact one of the programme coordinators:

After graduation

When you finish the joint degree Public Governance across Borders, you can either continue studying or start working.

Continue studying

You can apply for various Master’s programmes taught in English including the one-year Public Administration and European Studies at UT, or the two-year Double Degree Comparative Public Governance offered in collaboration with Universität Münster again.

You can also choose to pursue a different master’s programme at UT or another university. For certain master’s programmes at UT, you may need to complete a pre-Master’s transition programme first.

All master's programmes at UT
Check the overview of master’s programmes offered at the University of Twente.

Career opportunities

With your joint Bachelor’s degree, you will have many career opportunities both nationally and internationally. Your strong foundation in public governance, combined with your cross-border experience, prepares you for roles such as public leader, policy advisor, project manager, and positions within private companies and consultancies. You can work in a variety of fields including government, business, and the non-profit sector.

Some examples of where our graduates work:

Embassy staff
Healthcare project manager
HR manager at Schiphol Airport
Head of compliance at a consultancy firm

Joint Degree Public Governance across Borders

Why choose this Joint Degree?

Study overview

Admission & career opportunities

Continue studying

Career opportunities

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