Part-time distance learning program Public Law and Management (MPA) – HSM

👉 Study public administration topics such as public contract and procurement law, financial management and controlling, e-government and personnel & organisational management in a part-time, blended-distance format with 90 ECTS over 5 semesters (14 short on-campus phases across two years). Teaching language: German. The programme is accredited and awards a Master of Public Administration from a state University of Applied Sciences.

Public Law and Management (MPA) at a Glance

📜 Degree Master of Public Administration (MPA)
⏳ Duration 5 Semesters
💶 Fees
from 2360 € Semester fee
from 11800 € total
🏫 Provider University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, UAS based in Schmalkalden (Germany)
The University of Schmalkalden is a state university with its headquarters in the green heart of Germany in the middle of Thuringia. In addition to 12 bachelor's and master's degree programs in the fields of business, computer science, and engineering, the university offers numerous certificate programs. Distance learning with the University of Schmalkalden is a particularly personal form of distance learning with small study groups, regular block seminars, and personal exchanges between teachers and students.
📋 Study Format Part-time distance learning program
🎓 Field of Study Law
🎯 ECTS 90 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Economic Framework Conditions, Legal Framework Conditions, Business Management Framework Conditions, Academic Research Methods and Soft Skills, Public Contract Law, Procurement Law and Public-Private Partnerships, Security and Liability, Personnel and Organizational Management, Financial Management and Controlling, Marketing Management, E-Government, Project Management, Infrastructure and Energy (elective), Real Estate Management (elective), Compliance and Risk Management (elective), Quality Management in Public Administration (elective), Social Law (elective)
📚 Electives Infrastructure and Energy, Real Estate Management, Compliance and Risk Management, Quality Management in Public Administration, Social Law
👥 In-person sessions 14 on-site phases over 2 years, each lasting 3–4 days including weekends.
📍 Location Schmalkalden, Gera
📅 Enrollment Winter or summer semester
🔗 More Info https://www.hsm-fernstudium.de

Who this German-taught MPA suits – and what you need to get in

This part-time MPA is designed for experienced professionals who want to step into higher-responsibility roles in the public sector. Typical profiles include: managers in municipal, state or federal administrations; specialists in public enterprises (utilities, transport, housing); and practitioners from non-profit organisations who need a solid mix of public law and management to lead projects or teams alongside their job.

Admission requirements

You can qualify for admission in several ways. Teaching and examinations are in German.

  • Completed higher-education degree: a recognised bachelor’s or equivalent, or a degree from a University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration or a Cooperative State University, plus at least 1 year of relevant professional experience.
  • Aptitude route (without a first degree): professionally qualified candidates may be admitted by passing an aptitude assessment under § 70 (3) ThürHG.
  • Workload/credit model: the Master comprises 90 ECTS over 5 semesters. If your first degree has 180 ECTS, you can acquire the additional 30 ECTS through a study-related internship in your organisation.
  • International qualifications: equivalent foreign degrees are considered. Submit officially certified copies; translations into German may be required. Admission is subject to equivalence checks.
  • Language of instruction: German. You must have advanced German for academic study (CEFR C1) to follow course materials, seminars and exams; proof of proficiency is required for international applicants.
  • On-site attendance: plan for 14 face-to-face sessions in 2 years (each 3–4 days incl. weekends) in Schmalkalden and Gera; travel and accommodation are at your own cost.

Personal requirements

This is a part-time, practice-oriented programme with extended self-study between compact seminars. You will need strong self-organisation, consistent study habits and perseverance to balance coursework with your job. Because content and assessments are in German, you should be comfortable reading legal and management texts, writing academically, and discussing cases in German. Expect a steady weekly effort and peak phases before module exams; plan your calendar around the scheduled attendance blocks in Germany and factor in travel time and costs. Reliable internet access, disciplined time planning, and the ability to coordinate with your employer for seminar days are key to succeeding from abroad.

What will you study in the Public Law and Management (MPA) at the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden?

The programme is taught in German. You will need advanced German (typically around C1 level) to participate fully in seminars, materials and exams. This is a part-time Fernstudium (distance learning) offered by a state Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), combining self-study with structured on-site blocks and a practice-oriented Master’s thesis.

You start with cross-disciplinary foundations for public sector leadership. Core blocks cover:

  • Legal frameworks of public action: Public Contract Law, Procurement Law and Public–Private Partnerships, plus Security and Liability. You learn to design and review public contracts, run compliant tenders and manage risk in regulatory contexts.
  • Management in public and nonprofit settings: Personnel and Organisational Management, Financial Management and Controlling, Marketing Management. The focus is on HR and change, budget planning and oversight, and public/nonprofit marketing.
  • Digital administration and projects: E-Government as well as Project and Innovation Management. Topics include IT governance and data protection in public bodies, information security, and end-to-end project steering.
  • Methodological and economic foundations: Economic Basic Structures, Legal Basic Structures, Business Management Basic Structures, plus Scientific Research Methods and Soft Skills to prepare you for evidence-based decision-making and the Master’s thesis.

Electives allow targeted specialisation. Options include Compliance and Risk Management, Real Estate Management, Infrastructure and Energy, Quality Management in Public Administration, and Social Law. You conclude with a Master’s thesis grounded in your professional context; recent topics span AI in administration, municipal finance, and urban development law.

Note: The ZFU is Germany’s authority approving distance-learning courses for the general public. University degree programmes do not always require a separate ZFU approval; this MPA is delivered by a state institution under the Higher Education framework.

How does the Public Law and Management distance programme work?

This is a work-compatible blended format: guided self-study via study packs and an online campus, plus 14 mandatory on-site sessions over two years (each 3–4 days including weekends) in Schmalkalden and Gera. Exams are typically scheduled during these on-site blocks, not online.

Teaching language and language certificates

The teaching language is German. All written materials, seminars and assessments are in German. You should expect to provide proof of advanced proficiency (around C1 on the CEFR) as part of your application to succeed in coursework and examinations.

Learning format and study materials

The MPA follows a blended Fernstudium model: comprehensive study booklets and digital resources for self-paced learning, supplemented by seminars for discussion, case work and exam preparation. Small cohorts and an online campus support interaction with lecturers and peers.

Exams and whether they can be taken from outside Germany

Module assessments are organised in person during the on-site phases. Remote or online-proctored examinations are not standard. You should plan travel for each block if you live outside Germany.

Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany

There are 14 presence phases in 2 years, each lasting 3–4 days and including weekends, held in Schmalkalden or Gera. Attendance is part of the study concept and the basis for most assessments. As this is a distance programme, no student visa is required; however, you must be able to enter Germany for short stays (depending on your citizenship, a Schengen short-stay visa may be necessary).

Workload, timing and time zones

The standard duration is 5 semesters (90 ECTS) alongside full-time employment. Self-study dominates between presence blocks. Any synchronous online activities follow Central European Time (CET/CEST). The structure aims to distribute assessment load across modules during the on-site periods.

What does the Public Law and Management (MPA) cost?

Tuition is €2,360 per semester. Over the standard 5 semesters, that totals €11,800. Study materials and the on-site seminars are included. There are no separate enrolment or examination fees. You will also pay a semester contribution (amount set by the university each term) and should budget for your own travel and accommodation during the on-site phases in Schmalkalden or Gera.

Fees and the semester contribution are due before each semester begins (January for summer, June for winter). Payment is per semester rather than monthly instalments, which is helpful for planning, especially if your employer contributes. International students can typically pay via standard bank transfer; confirm transfer options and any bank fees from abroad when you enrol.

What careers and recognition does the Public Law and Management (MPA) offer?

The MPA awards 90 ECTS under the Bologna system. ECTS credits and the master’s level (EQF level 7) are recognised across Europe and widely understood internationally, supporting mobility and further study. The programme is accredited in Germany, and the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden is a state institution (Fachhochschule). The degree can qualify you for doctoral studies where a professional master’s is accepted.

In the German public sector context, the MPA provides the formal eligibility for the career path of the höherer Dienst (higher civil service) where applicable. Graduates typically move into roles such as:

  • Policy officer or department head in municipalities, state or federal administration (e.g. procurement, legal affairs, finance, social services)
  • Project and programme manager for e-government, digital transformation or infrastructure initiatives
  • Compliance, risk or quality manager in public bodies, public enterprises and NGOs
  • Asset, facility or real estate manager in the public sector or municipally owned companies

Salaries vary by country and employer type. In Germany’s public service they are determined by pay scales; in public enterprises and NGOs they follow organisation-specific frameworks. The practice-focused curriculum is designed to translate into immediate workplace impact, which is valuable in performance-based environments internationally.

Who is the Public Law and Management (MPA) right for – and who not?

This programme targets experienced professionals in the public and nonprofit sectors who want to step into leadership, deepen legal and management expertise, and gain a recognised master’s without pausing their career.

  • You work in public administration, a public enterprise or an NGO and want a management and public-law toolkit.
  • You aim for roles aligned with the higher civil service career path in Germany or comparable leadership posts abroad.
  • You prefer a structured part-time format with self-study, small cohorts and concentrated seminar blocks.
  • Your employer supports professional development, or you can align projects and the Master’s thesis with your job.
  • You have strong German skills and want an accredited degree from a state Fachhochschule.

There are also clear cases where this distance programme will not fit. Read these carefully before you apply from abroad.

  • You need an English-taught programme; all teaching, materials and exams here are in German.
  • You cannot travel to Germany for 14 mandatory on-site phases (3–4 days each, incl. weekends) in Schmalkalden or Gera.
  • You require a fully online degree with remote exams; assessments are tied to the in-person seminar blocks.
  • Your career goal is a regulated profession outside public management (e.g. clinical, engineering licensure); this MPA is not a licence-to-practice programme.

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