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Public Policy and Human Development

Admission requirements

On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the master's programme in Public Policy and Human Development for the academic year 2025-2026. 

Important deadlines for application

The master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development starts in September every year.
The deadlines below are applicable for starting the programme in September 2025.

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Date What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024 Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 June 2025, 23:59 CET

Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants

  • from the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland
  • from non-EU/EEA countries or Switzerland who already have a visa

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Admissions

How to apply

For instructions on how to apply for this programme, please see the Admission & registration page.
Upload the requested documents via the MyApplication portal.

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?
 

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation): 

  • Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
  • Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
  • Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Graduates from Maastricht University

Graduates from the following bachelor’s programmes from Maastricht University qualify directly for admission:

  • Bachelor's programme in Econometrics and Operations Research
  • Bachelor's programme in Economics and Business Economics
  • Bachelor's programme in International Business
  • Bachelor's programme in Global Studies

Graduates from other universities

The Board of Admissions will consider your application file and decide whether to admit you.

Documents required for the application process

During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents (all in English) for all applicants to this study programme

  • A recent passport picture
    This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait photo' in the MyApplication portal.
  • Copy of your passport or your EU/EEA identity card
    Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.
  • A recent copy of your CV
  • Two recommendation letters from current or former professors and/or employers. In addition to uploading the recommendation letters as a PDF in the MyApplication portal, they also must be emailed directly by your referees to info-governance@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 
  • Copies of your diploma(s) and grades transcript(s) (If necessary, translated into English by an official translation agency)
  • A motivation letter (400-500 words) that explains why you chose this programme and which convinces the Board of Admissions that you will complete the programme successfully
  • An essay (1000 words in Word/PDF with searchable text) on one of the topics below. (Make sure the essay really covers one of these topics and that you title the essay properly with the topic and question as stated below)
    Please note:
    • The problem presented in the essay does not reflect the policy problems studied in the MPP, nor does it determine in any way the specialisation you will study. For an understanding of the type of policy problems in which you can specialise in the MPP, please refer to the description of the specialisations.
    • Your essay will be submitted to a plagiarism check. Note that plagiarism leads to an automatic rejection of your application. If you are uncertain about how to properly use references, please refer to the online tutorial.
    • Your essay needs to comply with the requirements mentioned above. Note that essays submitted without references and/or written on a different topic than the one requested, lead to an automatic rejection of your application

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

  • Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
    Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.

MPP Admission Essay for the academic year 2025-2026

Problem
Globalisation, digitalisation, decarbonisation and demographic change are global challenges that are changing labour markets in most countries of the world. Individuals, firms, and societies have to find ways to adapt to these challenges in order to maintain their livelihoods. Policymakers are called to come up with a policy response to ensure that societies can cope with the changes without negatively affecting people’s well-being and development.  

Instructions to applicants:
Choose one of the global challenges that affect the labour markets (i.e., globalisation, digitalisation, decarbonisation and demographic change) and:
1. Provide a brief analysis of the problem (maximum 300 words), and
2. Provide and argue a policy solution that governments should consider (maximum 700 words). 

You are encouraged to use different sources, and you need to use at least one of the sources listed below.

  • On globalisation:

OECD (2007). Globalisation, jobs and wages, Policy Brief. 
Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2018). What is the impact of globalisation on wages, jobs and the cost of living? 

  • On digitalisation:

ILO (2021). Rapid growth of digital economy calls for coherent policy response. 
McKinsey Global Institute. (2017). Jobs Lost, Jobs Gained: Workforce Transitions in a Time of Automation. Executive Summary. 
Degryse, C. (2017). Shaping the world of work in the digital economy. Foresight brief #01-2017. 
Vermeulen, B., Kesselhut, J., Pyka, A., & Saviotti, P. P. (2018). The Impact of Automation on Employment: Just the Usual Structural Change? Sustainability, 10(5), 1661. 

  • On demographic change:

OECD (2013). Demographic change in the Netherlands: Strategies for labour markets in transition report. Chapter 1. 
Kühn, S., Milasi, S., Yoon, S. (2018). Population ageing and future labour market challenges.  World Employment Outlook. ILO. Chapter 4.  

  • On decarbonisation:

Jones, B., Karpman, J., Chlebnikow, M., Goggans, A. (2019). California Building Decarbonization. Workforce Needs And Recommendations. Executive Summary. 
Saget, C., Vogt-Schilb, A., Luu, T. (2020). Jobs in a Net-Zero Emissions Future in Latin America and the Caribbean. Inter-American Development Bank and International Labour Organization, Washington D.C. and Geneva. Executive Summary. 

3. The essay should display a sufficient level of English and an appropriate academic writing style, including the use of references. Please submit the essay in MS Word or a searchable PDF.

Additional requirements

This master's programme is taught in English. You must therefore have a thorough verbal and written command of English. If you meet one of the following criteria, you do not have to submit additional proof of your English proficiency:

  • you are a native English speaker
  • you are an EU citizen
  • you completed a bachelor's programme that was taught in English

If you do not meet any of these criteria, you will need to submit your scores from an IELTS or a TOEFL exam as proof of your English proficiency. You have to prepare and register for these exams yourself.

 Plan to take your exam well before the application deadline. It can take a while before you get the results.

English proficiency exams

 IELTS  
 TOEFL  

Required scores

  • IELTS exam: minimum overall score of 6.5
  • TOEFL exam, paper-based: minimum overall score of 575
  • TOEFL exam, computer-based: minimum overall score of 233
  • TOEFL exam, internet-based: minimum overall score of 90

English language training

All of our programmes are taught in English, and we realise that some participants might feel insecure about their level of English. Fortunately, Maastricht University offers plenty of possibilities for you to enhance or develop your English language skills.

Maastricht University Language Centre

You can further develop your skills in English or other languages at the UM Language Centre for reduced student rates. Developing a true international profile includes learning foreign languages, and this can also open doors for interesting career moves. 

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee.

More information on the (payment of the) handling fee.

How do we assess your application?

Based on the documents you have submitted, the Board of Admission decides whether to admit you. They need about four weeks to review your application. After that, our Student Affairs Office will inform you about their decision via email. The sooner you submit your documents, the quicker we can inform you.

Note: Only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for application on this page.

Frequently asked questions

We have compiled an overview of answers (as far as possible) to the most frequently asked questions regarding our admissions process. The list will be updated continuously. For any additional questions, please contact our Admissions Office.