Education

The Master of Science in European Politics and Policies (MEPP) is a one-year, postgraduate programme that includes both the study of policy and decision-making and the analysis of public sector problems and solutions in the European Union.

You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

To embark on the MEPP programme, you should have a solid background in and knowledge of the institutional developments and political processes in your home country, as well as those at the international and/or European level. In addition, you should show a genuine interest in comparative analysis and in the European integration process. We expect you to be open to diversity in the European context and to have excellent communicative skills in view of group work and academic writing of publications and reports.

The programme is primarily directed towards graduate students of the humanities and social sciences, and those with professional experience in (European) public management and public administration, or in the European arena in general.

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

The programme aims to familiarise the students with the tools of comparative public policy analysis, focusing on the comparative analysis of political processes and policy formulation and implementation in the European context. It primarily examines the policy process on the national level and on the level of the European Union, taking into account all relevant institutions and policies at state and sub-state levels.

At the end of the programme the participants should be able to :
- take on responsibilities on the national as well as on the European level for policy setting and policy analysis;
- design and carry out research programmes in the area of policy analysis, as well as participate in the conception, execution, and supervision of team research;
- put their national/monodisciplinary approach into a broader perspective by including other disciplines and abandoning a merely national point of view;
- take part in and position themselves on a good multidisciplinary and comparative basis in any debate concerning policy issues;
- deliver research results and opinions that contribute to the advancement of policy analysis in Europe;
- translate research results for the broader public;
- make research results relevant for policy making; be able to translate questions from policy-makers into research questions, deal with them and explain the results to policy-makers.

After graduation

This intensive, one-year MEPP experience is an ideal beginning to a career in European policy. Graduates go on to positions in European or national administrations, lobby groups, the private sector and elsewhere. Jobs vary from advisory positions to specialised positions and coordinating roles.v

Information sessions

KU Leuven organises a Verderstudeerbeurs each spring. In addition, faculties also organise information sessions for many of their bridging and graduate programmes.

All information sessions for (future) Master's students

(Inter)national

The MEPP programme is part of the wider European Master of Public Administration Network (EMPA). The following institutions are full partners of the MEPP programme:
- Université de Genève (Switzerland);
- Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary);
- Deutsche Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer (Germany);
- Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (France);
- University of Vaasa (Finland);
- University of Liverpool (United Kingdom);
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (The Netherlands);
- Rijksuniversiteit Leiden (The Netherlands);
- Bocconi University (Italy);
- Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia);
- Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium).

MEPP students are offered the possibility to continue the second semester of their study programme at one of the EMPA institutions listed above. They receive a travel reimbursement and are exempted from paying any additional registration fees. Successful students will be awarded an EMPA certificate, signed by both the home university and the partner institution. More information on the procedure for participation in the EMPA exchange programme can be found on our website.

Spotlight

Given that the MEPP programme is a postgraduate programme, the student group is relatively small (approximately 30 students). This allows for more active teaching methods, group discussions, group work and presentations, which facilitate a rich learning experience. Moreover, the international student body enables you to broaden your horizon and engage in the programme from different perspectives.

In addition to attending the courses, MEPP students are invited to visit a number of European and international institutions. Each year we organise study trips to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, and to some representation offices of the European regions in Brussels. These study trips enable you to observe the proceedings of the main European institutions from the inside and to meet various European officials during symposia, workshops, conferences and guest lectures organised at KU Leuven.

Finally, KU Leuven's location at the heart of Europe, 25 minutes outside of Brussels, makes it an ideal place to base graduate studies in European politics and policy.

Contact

Faculty of Social Sciences
Coordinator MEPP programme
Parkstraat 45 bus 3609
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
tel. + 32 16 32 31 01
fax + 32 16 32 30 88
mepp@soc.kuleuven.be

General
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 bus 5415
3000 Leuven
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website.

Download this brochure

Download this Master's brochure.

Order this Master's brochure.