Certificate in European Governance

Shape your European Policy profile

The Jacques Delors Centre offers a Certificate in European Governance for students enrolled in the MPP and MDS programmes at the Hertie School, that is awarded to students who devote a meaningful portion of their studies to EU-related coursework. Its purpose is to allow students to demonstrate how their Hertie studies have contributed to their proficiency in understanding the governance of the European Union.

Requirements

To receive the Certificate, students must demonstrate that they have completed two EU governance related courses and written their master's thesis on a EU governance related topic.

The master's thesis does not have to be supervised by Jacques Delors Centre-affiliated faculty but must pertain to European affairs as defined above. Students are furthermore encouraged to regularly attend the events of the JDC.

If you are a dual degree student writing your thesis and/or graduating at a university with a different graduation timeline, you may apply for the Certificate when your final results are available.

Eligibility

The Certificate is open to all students currently enrolled in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) programmes at the Hertie School.

Students enrolled in the Master of International Affairs (MIA) programme, which already includes a concentration in European Governance, are not eligible.

The Certificate will be available to students graduating in spring 2027 and beyond.

Application

To apply for the Certificate, please submit the following documents to Doroteja Enceva, Centre Manager of the Jacques Delors Centre, via mail at [email protected]:

  • A list of relevant courses, including the course number, title, and instructor. Please keep the course syllabi on file in case of any inquiries. For courses taken during exchange or dual degree semesters at partner institutions, please include the syllabi.
  • Final (or most recent) transcripts showing your final grades for the relevant courses and thesis. Your transcripts must confirm that you have completed and passed all relevant courses and your master’s thesis.
  • The title and abstract or executive summary of your master’s thesis.

  • Yes, dual degree and exchange students can also apply for the Certificate:

    • Hertie School students who spend an exchange semester elsewhere but complete the rest of their coursework and master's thesis at the Hertie School: Courses taken during the exchange semester may count toward the Certificate.
    • Dual degree students who complete either their first or second year at the Hertie School: Courses and master's thesis completed at the partner institution may count toward the Certificate.

    Eligible students must specify the title, description, and content of the relevant courses they have taken at partner universities in their application. They must also submit proof of their achievements.

    Students who spent only one exchange semester at the Hertie School are not eligible. Coursework completed during previous degrees does not count toward the Certificate.

  • This depends on when you submit your application. Typically, certificates are awarded within 4 weeks of a completed and approved application.

  • No, certificates issued by the Jacques Delors Centre are not formal, accredited documents and therefore do not appear on official graduation records.

  • No, students pursuing the Certificate do not receive priority in course registration or thesis supervisor allocation. The Jacques Delors Centre also cannot guarantee that courses relevant to the Certificate offered in previous years will be available in subsequent years. The Certificate is designed to recognise students who focus on European governance topics in their studies, but it is not a formal degree track.

  • To be relevant for the Certificate in European Governance, coursework should primarily focus on the Jacques Delors Centre’s key topics, including EU politics, EU law and institutions, EU economic, foreign and security policy, and other subjects related to European integration. Courses do not need to be taught by Jacques Delors Centre faculty. A list of relevant courses is provided at the beginning of each academic year. If you believe any Hertie courses should be included on the list, please reach out to us.

    • The European Union, Globalisation & the State (Christine Reh)
    • EU Law & Governance (Ana Bobic)
    • Council of the EU (Derk Oldenburg & Joost Korte)
    • Operational Analysis for European Defense Policy (Mauro Gilli)
    • European Foreign Relations & Transatlantic Security (Markus Kaim)
    • European Security Challenges: A Practitioner's View (Alexandros Papaioannou)
    • Future of Europe (Christine Reh)
    • Future of Europe - Lab 1 (Lea Schubert)
    • Nationalism & European Governance (Erica Benner)
    • Green Finance in Europe & the World (Morgan Despres)
    • Future of Europe (Christine Reh)
    • The European Union: Institutions & Politics (Christine Reh & Mark Hallerberg)
    • European Foreign Relations & Transatlantic Security (Markus Kaim)
    • Green Finance in Europe & the World (Morgan Després)
    • Nationalism & European Governance (Erica Benner)
    • Political Economy of European Integration (Ana Bobić)
    • EU Law & Governance (Mark Dawson & Ana Bobić)
    • The European Union, Globalisation & the State (Christine Reh)
    • Law & Governance (Mark Dawson, Pierre Thielbörger & Sué González Hauck)
    • Economic & Financial Governance of the European Union (Johannes Lindner)
    • The EU in a Geopolitical World (Markus Jachtenfuchs)
    • Council of the EU (Derk Oldenburg & Joost Korte)
    • Influencing Brussels (Christine Reh & Jesse Scott)
    • The Future of EU Funding & the Ukraine Facility (Vincent Winterhager)
    • TBC: EU Candidate Countries: trajectories in and out of 'grey zone' of influence by non-EU actors (Marija Golubeva)
    • The future of Europe (Johannes Lindner)
    • The EU in the World (Markus Jachtenfuchs)
    • EU Law and Governance (Mark Dawson)
    • The European Union, Globalisation and the State (Christine Reh)
    • EU Institutions and Politics (Christine Reh and Mark Hallerberg)
    • Project course: Influencing Brussels (Christine Reh and Jesse Scott)
    • Economic and Financial Governance of the European Union (Johannes Lindner)
    • Council of the EU (Derk Oldenburg)
    • A Practical Approach to EU International Security Crisis Response (Alejandro Ribo)
    • European Foreign Relations & Transatlantic Security (Markus Kaim)
    • Green Finance in Europe & the World (Morgan Despres)
    • Nationalism & European Governance (Erica Benner)
    • Dynamics of the Welfare State (Aart Jan de Geus and Miroslav Beblavy)
    • International Political Economy (Mark Hallerberg)
    • The EU as a Security and Defence Actor (Monika Sus)

Get in touch

Doroteja Enceva
Centre Manager, Jacques Delors Centre