Practical Training

Public policy is the intervention in and the design of political reality. Therefore, having our students work with practical examples and professional partners and solve real-life problems is an important part of our teaching philosophy and prepares them for their future careers.

Internship (between 2nd and 3rd semesters)

An internship, usually completed between the second and third semester, is a requirement for the completion of the degree. Designed to be an integral part of our student's education, the internship's primary purposes are:

• to offer students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned from the classroom in a work setting

• to give students a practical perspective on and experience in policy analysis and public management

• to help them compare their abilities and interests with requirements in particular fields of public policy

The Brandt School provides assistance in securing an internship position in government agencies, international organizations, NGOs or other non-profit or for-profit organizations.

Project group (3rd semester)

In the third semester all students participate in a project group. Under the supervision of an academic staff member, a group of ca. ten students completes an assignment by an external partner ("client") on a real public policy problem or question. The objective of project groups is that students can put the acquired knowledge into practice and work on a specific project task, thus gaining experience in project management. At the same time students learn how to successfully work in teams.