Research Master Political Science and Public Adminstration
The Research Master's programme is designed to prepare students to conduct independent research on core themes of public administration.
A unique, two-year master’s programme designed for students willing to challenge themselves and take their studies to the next level: this is the Research Master (MSc) in Political Science and Public Administration. The programme offers you unsurpassed and thorough academic training that will provide useful no matter what your future career intentions are. A strong focus on skill development and the ability to conduct independent research are at the core of this research master, which features a selection of two specialisations:
- Political Science or
- Public Administration.
The programme
The duration of the Research Master’s programme is two years. The programme distinguishes between four types of courses: substantive courses, methodological courses, advanced research seminars and finally thesis preparation in the Master Thesis Laboratory.
While each course or seminar within the two specialisation (Political Science & Public Administration) deals with a specific topic or field of research, the programme grants you considerable freedom to pursue your own interests within them. Regardless of the choice of track, you will attend several courses on the Philosophy of Science and courses on both Qualitative and Quantitative Methods of research. In addition, there are specific courses aimed to enhance skills such as presentation and reporting. The end product of the programme is a thesis meeting the criteria for publication in a scholarly journal, as well as a proposal for further research that conforms to the standard criteria of funding agencies.
Specialisation Public Administration
During this specilisation you are equipped with a large set of analytical skills, versatility and academic experience that makes you a prime candidate for many career areas, including business organisations, government organisations and non-profit organisations. You are especially fit for research-intensive positions in the public or private sector, such as governmental organisations or research agencies requiring advanced research skills and research experience. The programme is also an excellent preparation should you be interested in a PhD position.
Research/PhD
Leiden’s Institutes of Political Science and Public Administration encompass a wide range of research interests, spanning subjects such as crisis and security management, political behaviour, international administration, political philosophy, public policy, lobbying and media, national politics and international relations. As a graduate student, you can play a key role in the institutes, engaging in collaborative projects with faculty members. Such activities have led to high numbers of publications authored by and co-authored with graduate students in recent years. The quality of both institutes’ research and teaching is continuously evaluated by means of both internal and external reports.
More information
Further information about the content of the programme and the entry requirements can be found on the University's mastersite.