Prerequisites

In order to be admitted to the Master Programme in Public Administration, an applicant must have obtained a university degree based on either

1) three years of studies or more from a recognized non-Norwegian university or

2) a Bachelor- or cand. mag.-degree or comparable education recognized by the Department of Administration and Organization Theory.

The undergraduate degree must include relevant courses in political science, public administration, and/or organization theory equalling a minimum of 1,5 years of full-time studies. These formal entrance requirements are identical to the minimum requirements that apply for admission to the Norwegian Master Programme in Administration and Organizational Theory. Priority will be given to candidates with a major in public administration or political science. The Faculty of Social Sciences selects applicants in co-operation with the Department of Administration and Organization Theory.

The Master Programme in Public Administration is aimed at foreign students under the NORAD and Quota scholarship schemes and international self financed students.

Exchange students under the Erasmus/Socrates agreement and other guest students who are qualified academically may on application be admitted to one or more courses in the programme.

Applicants must provide documentation of English language proficiency.

Courses

Content

The purpose of the Master Programme in Public Administration is to enhance students' ability to conduct independent analyses of organizations, political and administrative structures and processes, and public policy. The programme strengthens the student's analytical ability and provides a comprehensive training in methodology. Participation in various seminars and individual writing ensure that your motivation for and ability to work independently in an academic or a professional setting is enhanced.

The Master Degree in Public Administration is equivalent to four semesters of study after completion of an undergraduate degree.

Methods

The programme is characterised by pluralism of methodology. You will be introduced to critical issues in the philosophy of the social sciences and the methodological basis for selecting science research. You will receive training in different research strategies and have the possibility to choose between different methods particularly relevant to the theme and empirical foundation of your thesis.

All teaching is conducted in English.

In the first term of study, the autumn semester (August-December), you are required to complete the compulsory seminars, i.e. the seminars in AORG320 Methodology, AORG321 Organization and Politics. In the second term (January-June), you complete a compulsory seminar in AORG322 Research Design and AORG323 Research Field Seminars as a minimum.

During the second year (3.rd. and 4.th. term), you write the AORG351 Master's Thesis in close collaboration with your supervisor. Dissertation seminar may be arranged depending on the needs and progress of thesis of the students.

The Master's Thesis shall be submitted in the fourth semester and the fixed date is June 1. in the spring semester. The length of the thesis is normally stipulated to 100 typed pages, using 1,5 line spacing and fonts size 12.

This programme is designed for foreign students.

Master thesis

During the second year (3.rd. and 4.th. term), you write the thesis in close collaboration with your supervisor. Dissertation seminar may be arranged depending on the needs and progress of thesis of the students.

Addmission

In order to be admitted to the Master Programme in Public Administration, an applicant must have obtained an undergraduate degree based on three years of studies or more from a recognized university. The undergraduate degree must include relevant courses in political science, public administration, and/or organization theory equalling a minimum of 1,5 years of full-time studies. Priority will be given to candidates with a major in public administration or political science. The Faculty of Social Sciences selects applicants in co-operation with the Department of Administration and Organization Theory.

The Master Programme in Public Administration is aimed at foreign students under Quota scholarship schemes and international self financed students.

Exchange students under the Erasmus/Socrates agreement and other guest students who are qualified academically may on application be admitted to one or more courses in the programme.

Applicants must provide documentation of English language proficiency

Start semester: Autumn

Contact

Coordinators of the Master Programme in Public Administration are

• Professor Steinar Askvik and
• Associate Professor Ishtiaq Jamil

Dept. of Administration and Organization Theory
Christiesgt. 17, N-5007 Bergen
e-mail: post@aorg.uib.no
tel: + 4755582190
fax: + 4755589890

Contact person:

Olga Mjelde
olga.mjelde@sos.uib.no
Tel: +4755589449