EMPA
Step into the world of European public administration with the EMPA programme!
EMPA is an academic cooperation between the Master’s programmes of European universities offering education in Public Administration and Public Policy.
As a student of the Public Policy and Management Master’s Programme, you have the opportunity to spend one semester abroad within the framework of EMPA.
Upon successful completion of the courses prescribed by the partner university and approved by the Corvinus PUMA Programme, you will receive an official EMPA Certificate, signed by both your home and host university.
For more information visit the EMPA website
The European Master of Public Administration (EMPA) is a prestigious academic collaboration among leading European universities offering programmes in Public Administration and Public Policy.
As a student of the Public Policy and Management (PUMA) Master’s Programme at Corvinus University, you have the opportunity to spend one semester abroad at a partner institution within the EMPA network.
This international experience allows you to broaden your academic and cultural horizons, gain comparative insights into public governance across Europe, and build valuable professional connections.
After successfully completing the approved coursework at your host university, you’ll receive an official EMPA Certificate, jointly issued and signed by both your home and host universities—recognising your achievement within this distinguished European framework.
Contact:
- Professor György Hajnal, Head of the Department of Public Policy, gyorgy.hajnal@uni-corvinus.hu
- Edit Waffenschmidt, Head of the Secretariat, Institute of Social and Political Sciences, edit.waffenschmidt@uni-corvinus.hu
Important Information
Next application period:
- November 17 – December 1: choose your destination
- December 8 – January 8: finalize your application
Application: via Neptun, in a two-step process
Application requirements: Students of Public Policy and Management MSc are eligible to apply for EMPA
Required documents :
- Motivational letter
- CV
Among the partners of the EMPA network, the following institutions offer opportunities to travel abroad with a Pannonia scholarship this academic year:
- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Deutsche Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer
- Tallinn University of Technology
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Social Sciences
This list may still change.
Studies Abroad:
Based on an agreement with your chosen partner university, you are generally required to complete 3-6 courses on public administration and public policy topics.
Scholarship: 350,000–400,000 HUF/month, depending on the host country
Frank Delmartino Best Thesis Prize
The European Masters of Public Administration Consortium (EMPA) is pleased to annually award the Frank Delmartino Thesis Prize to the best and most original thesis of a Master’s student in the field of public administration.
The thesis prize has been established in order to conserve the heritage of the academic contribution of professor dr. Frank Delmartino, who was one of the founding fathers of European integration studies at KU Leuven as well as of the European Public Administration Network.
Eligibility
All graduates/alumni who went on an EMPA exchange in the two years preceding the year of the award and who met all course and thesis requirements during the aforementioned period are eligible. Graduates can only apply once for the thesis prize.
The prize is awarded for scientific quality and originality, as demonstrated by the candidate’s thesis. No restrictions are imposed on the thesis’ language.
Prize amount
The winner of the Frank Delmartino Thesis Prize will be awarded a €500 cash prize. The winner will be invited to present his/her research at the annual EMPA consortium meeting in January.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the EMPA programme is funded within the framework of the Pannonia Scholarship, and the administrative rules of that programme apply.
No, in that case you will have to delay your graduation by one semester, and you will be able to take your final exam at the end of the fall semester.
EMPA is a network of the most prestigious European institutions in the field of public policy and public management. It enables you to deepen your knowledge in this area through academic workshops led by leading researchers, in line with the professional focus of each programme.
The EMPA Certificate, awarded upon successful completion of the programme, can be an advantage when seeking employment or pursuing further studies, as it signals to employers and universities the specialised expertise you have gained.
Unfortunately, no. Since Stipendium Hungaricum students are not eligible to participate in the Pannonia Scholarship Programme, and EMPA is usually financed through this programme, they cannot take part.
Student Testimonial :
PUMA Student spending a Semester in EMPA program at Tallin University of Technology:
“As a public administration student, I wanted to learn more about e-government. Where else could one study this better than in Estonia, the world’s forerunner in digital governance? The professors were highly motivated and offered perspectives that went beyond mainstream concepts. My ideas were challenged, and my thinking was broadened. During my stay, I connected with inspiring professors and found the environment open, inclusive, and supportive. I especially enjoyed the Oxford Training Sessions on Modern Information Society, a collaboration between Oxford University and Tallinn University of Technology.”