Who this master suits – and what you need to get in

This part-time, blended Master suits professionals who already work with European policy or administration and want a formal, internationally recognised upgrade. Typical profiles include: a policy or programme officer in a city, regional or national administration who needs deeper EU law and funding know-how; a project manager in an NGO or international organisation coordinating EU-funded projects; a compliance or government-affairs specialist in a company interfacing with EU regulation. You can live outside Germany, but you must be able to attend on-site weekends in Berlin.

Admission requirements

To be eligible you need formal qualifications and relevant experience. Key points at a glance:

• First higher-education degree (e.g. Bachelor or equivalent). Your prior credits determine the track:
  • With 210 ECTS: standard 90-ECTS curriculum.
  • With 180 ECTS: extended 120-ECTS curriculum including a practice transfer report to reach 300 ECTS overall.
• At least one year of qualified professional experience after your first degree.
• Language of instruction: German and English. Foreign applicants must provide evidence of good German language skills; the university defines the accepted proofs during the application process.
• Foreign degrees are accepted if they are comparable to a German first degree. Academic comparability and document authenticity are checked in the admissions process.
• Blended format with mandatory presence: plan for 4–5 on-site seminar weekends per semester (Friday afternoon and Saturday) in Berlin.
• Intake: 1 October (winter semester). Application window each year: 1 May–15 July.

Personal requirements

Distance learning across borders works if you are realistic about workload and logistics. Expect around 20–25 hours per week of self-directed study on Moodle, on top of your job. You need solid self-organisation, steady weekly routines, and the perseverance to keep pace over 4 semesters.

Because teaching and materials are in German and English, you should be comfortable reading legal, policy and management texts and writing assignments in both languages. If German is not your first language, plan extra time for reading speed and precision. Reliable internet access and the discipline to engage in online activities are essential.

Finally, factor in travel: you must attend the Berlin seminars several times each semester. If you live outside the EU, consider visa lead times, flight costs and employer approval early. A genuine interest in EU institutions, funding and administrative practice, plus confidence with analytical and project work, will help you succeed in this programme.

What will you study in the European Public Management master at the Berlin School of Economics and Law?

This part-time Fernstudium (distance learning) develops the skills to manage, analyse and modernise public administration in a European context. You study EU institutions and law, key policy fields, public finance and funding, and leadership in international administrations. The programme comprises 90 ECTS over 4 semesters with a final master’s thesis; an extended 120-ECTS track is possible if you need to reach 300 ECTS in total.

European governance and law. You work systematically through the structure and functioning of the European Union, its legal system and how EU law impacts member states and their administrations. Typical modules include EU institutions and decision-making, EU legal fundamentals and the application of EU law in domestic administrations.

Policy analysis across EU fields. You examine core EU policy domains such as economic and cohesion policy, environmental and climate policy, social policy, and the area of freedom, security and justice, as well as external relations. Expect applied analysis, case studies and policy evaluation techniques.

EU finance and funding. You learn how the EU budget works, who allocates what, and how to acquire and manage EU funds. Content typically covers funding instruments, programming logic, calls for proposals, budgeting and compliance in EU-funded projects.

Leadership and management in administration. Building inter-cultural and leadership competence for diverse European teams is a core strand. You also deepen human resource management, project management, change management and research-related key skills tailored to public organisations.

Electives and profile building. In the profile phase you choose elective modules to specialise, for example in specific policy fields, administrative modernisation, or funding management. The programme culminates in a master’s thesis that can be research- or practice-oriented.

HWR Berlin is a public Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). Teaching combines online study with mandatory on-site weekends in Berlin; this is a structured part-time programme for professionals, not an open MOOC or self-paced certificate.