Our Master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development (known as the MPP) is organised in such a way that external participants – who do not need to be registered students – can also enroll in the separate courses. Most courses run for 4 weeks (some longer) and are concluded with a written exam and/or assignment. Participants receive a certificate and credits for every course completed successfully.
“If you are short on time but have a desire to update your knowledge and skills, then joining a short course at UNU-MERIT can be a perfect way of furthering your personal and professional ambitions in just 4-8 weeks. Led by seasoned experts, our courses offer a perfect blend of theory and real-world applications. Embrace problem-based learning, collaborate closely with fellow students, and delve into subjects vital for public policy and human development. Browse our curriculum and find the ideal course(s) that resonate with your aspirations. We hope to welcome you to Maastricht soon.”
Elaine Lebon-McGregor, upcoming Academic Programme Director of the MPP
Short courses available from our MSc programme for this academic year (2023-24):
Short courses from our MSc programme for academic year 2024-25, exact dates TBC:
Autumn semester: Public policy courses | Start date | Application deadline |
Public Policy MPP4301 | early Sept 2024 | mid June 2024 |
Public Economics MPP4302 | early Oct 2024 | mid July 2024 |
Public Policy Analysis MPP4504 | late Oct 2024 | mid August 2024 |
⚠️ For participants wishing to complete an entire specialisation, for 4 of our specialisations (Global Governance for Development, Governance of Innovation, Risk and Vulnerability and Social Protection Policy), you need to have completed some or all of the courses in the autumn semester, depending on the specialisation. (There is no such prerequisite for the Migration Studies specialisation.) For specific details of the courses you need to follow for your chosen specialisation, please send an email to: shortcourses@merit.unu.edu
🎓 Student testimonial
To learn about the recent experience of one of our participants who completed the short course Behavioral Insights for Policy Design in Risky and Vulnerable Situations (part of our Risk and Vulnerability specialisation), you can read this blog.
📝 The application process
If you meet the prerequisites of the short course you want to register for, you can apply for the course here.
During the application process, you will need to upload the following documents:
✅ A copy of your passport (PDF or JPEG).
✅ Passport-size picture (JPEG).
After completing the application, you will receive a confirmation email along with the payment information. Once we receive the payment, we will register you as a participant for the course, and the Short Courses Administration Team will contact you.
Please note that the deadline for applying is at the latest 10 weeks before the start of the selected course(s).
If you have any questions regarding the application documents or the application process, or if there are any clarifications you need before applying, please feel free to reach out to us at the email address: shortcourses@merit.unu.edu.
💶 Tuition fees
The tuition fee for all short courses is 1,500 euros per course and 1,000 euros for subsequent courses (only valid for 2 years after finishing a short course). A refund of the tuition fee is not possible after the course has started.