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Master of Arts (MA) in Public Management | PM

Focus areas
"Municipal Economy" or "Digitalization"

"The block weeks offer very good learning in exchange, great networking and also the opportunity to develop as a person in dialog. The mix of students from local government and administration is particularly valuable and highlights topics from different perspectives."

Vinzenz Schneider, PM-Master-Student

Innovative, personal development and a special spirit - public management for the current transformation. From September 2025, the Master's degree course in Public Management will be offered with the two new specializations, in a block week format and with scholarships from the Association of Municipal Enterprises tailored to the course.

Public administration and public companies are of central importance for the sustainable provision of public services, the democratic community and an important competitive factor for Germany as a business location and in the region. Transformation does not fail because of technologies, but because of governance and leadership skills. The aim of the course is to develop the"managers of tomorrow" with a special spirit for public values and sustainable services of general interest. The two-year Master's degree program enables students as "leaders of tomorrow" to ask the decisive questions of the future and to shape the upcoming transformation in a sustainable way. The Master's degree programme offers a unique profile for dynamic public management, municipal economics, digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), public entrepreneurship and transformation.

What you can expect from the Master's in Public Management

In the Master's degree, you can choose between the two specializations "Municipal Economics" and " Digitalization".
The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) is a cooperation partner of the degree program.
In addition to ZU professors, courses are offered in a special network of top-class executives. For example, Dr. Jens Meier, CEO of Stadtwerke Lübeck and, among other things, Head of the Digitalization Committee at VKU, is represented with courses on the programme.
The course consists of 13 courses, which take place in blocks of around 5 days, so that the course is also very compatible with a professional activity. In addition, there is the Elinor-Ostrom project (possibly in cooperation with a practice partner) and a Master's thesis.
Study on site at the Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen as well as in Berlin and Brussels with our cooperation partners from the field, for example the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU).

The Master in Public Management is right for you if you...

are looking for an innovative public management course with a special spirit and network that can be realized in a block week format at various attractive locations with a lot of flexibility for further activities and you are free to choose whether you live in Friedrichshafen.
have a Bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS, in the context of political, administrative and political sciences, economics and social sciences, business and administrative informatics or a Bachelor of Laws with a suitable specialization

Course facts and information

Qualification: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Standard period of study: 4 semesters (2 years)
ECTS points: 120
Non-consecutive
Format: Full-time
Course language: German
Language skills: Good knowledge of German is necessary
Course begins: Fall semester (September)
Faculty: Faculty of Political & Social Sciences
Fees per semester: € 6,150

ZU requires very good proficiency in German language on C1 level for all degree-seeking applicants. Applicants who have not learned German as a native language must provide proof of German language proficiency (level C1).

The Master in Public Management | PM is specifically designed for a career in public administration and the public sector in Germany.

Apply now

Students in front of the SMH building | Photo: ZU, Ilja Mess

"The Master's in Public Management offers a unique innovative profile, a strong group of university professors and top managers from the field, special networks for later careers and shaping the future, exceptional personal development and a special municipal spirit or spirit for public values."

Prof. Dr. Ulf Papenfuß | Chair of Public Management & Public Policy

Prof. Dr. Ulf Papenfuß | Photo: ZU, Jim Papke

Alumni careers in the field of public management

Our alumni from the field of public management are working successfully in government offices and municipal companies.

Sophia Weß

Sophia Weß completed her Master's degree at ZU in 2023 and has since worked as a project manager for digitization projects at the Office for Digitization of the State Capital Stuttgart.

Felix Wälder

Felix Wälder studied BA PAIR and MA PM at Zeppelin University and works as an authorized signatory and management officer of the Zentralen Beteiligungsgesellschaft der Stadt Mainz mbH.He is also the coordinator of the BioTechHub project in Mainz.

Marius Pawlak

Marius Pawlak came to ZU for the PMG Master's after his BA studies in Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Konstanz. Today, he works as the head of the central office of the city of Ulm.

What are the main research areas of our professors?

The chairs conduct research on a wide range of topics. Here is an overview of some of the chairs in the field of public management.

Chair of Public Administration & Public Policy

Prof Dr Steffen Eckhard

to the page of the chair

Chair of Public Management & Public Policy

Prof Dr Ulf Papenfuß

to the page of the chair

The Open Government Institute | TOGI

Prof Dr Jörn von Lucke

to the page of the chair

Chair of Public Law, Tax & European Law and Regulatory Law

Prof Dr Georg Jochum

to the page of the chair

Detailed information on research and teaching can be found on the respective chair pages of the Department of Political and Social Sciences. Further study options are offered by the Department of Economics and the Department of Cultural and Communication Studies. Teaching and discussion events with practice partners, offer excellent networking opportunities.

Teaching between theory & practice

Zeppelin University has a strong group of professors in the field of the degree program, both nationally and internationally, who bring their strengths and networks to the courses for the students. In addition to ZU professors, courses are offered in a special network of top-class executives from various areas of public management. For example, Dr. Jens Meier, CEO of Stadtwerke Lübeck and, among other things, Head of the Digitalization Committee at VKU, is involved in teaching courses on the programme.

This creates a special interplay of science and practice in and around the degree program for skills development, personal development and the expansion of your own professional networks. The strong ZU alumni network with alumni in interesting management positions in the field of public management and digitalization is also integrated.

The program has a top-class program advisory board, which provides impulses for the content design and offers students further special networking and career opportunities for shaping their future.

Benefit from the advantages of on-campus study

The organizational structure of the courses, practice-based research projects and examinations offers special opportunities to combine university skills development with practice-oriented everyday work.

The courses are held in presence. A key competitive advantage lies in the high quality and individuality of the teaching formats, tailored to small groups and joint development of the learning content. A digital teaching and learning environment complements the face-to-face events.

The on-site seminars allow you to interact directly with lecturers and fellow students. Discussions and feedback can be conducted more intensively, making it easier for you to expand your professional network and establish contacts that will last far beyond your studies. Attendance creates the basis for an interactive learning format that is based on exchange and discussion rather than frontal teaching. In this way, the block week formats provide an opportunity to break away from everyday working life in short sequences and return to the workplace with new knowledge and new ideas.

City cooperation and network

The process of digitalization in a difficult labour market is also increasing the demands on municipal employers to offer qualified young professionals long-term prospects in their own organization and region.

A scholarship or support for a Master's degree in Public Management can open up long-term career and promotion prospects for these young professionals. The Digital Agenda of the City of Ulm is a good example of what a successful cooperation for the Master's degree course can look like.

Would you like more information on cooperation opportunities for your organization, your company or your municipal utility? Please get in touch with our contact person from the department.

City cooperation City of Friedrichshafen

As part of our city cooperation with the City of Friedrichshafen, we offer our Master's in Public Management students the opportunity to work in the administrative sector during their studies in a practical and course-related position with a workload of between 20% and 50%.

The City of Friedrichshafen looks forward to receiving your unsolicited application at:

Nicole Dunkenberger | ndnknbrgrfrdrchshfnd | https://www.friedrichshafen.de/

Cooperation with the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU)

The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) is a cooperation partner of the Public Management course.

Do you have any questions about cooperation with VKU?

Dr. Heiko Schäffer
Managing Director Central Department VKU
schaeffer@vku.de
https://www.vku.de/

Why study Public Management at Zeppelin University?

Optimal mix of science and practice thanks to academic professors and teaching staff from the field
Take advantage of our special network and get to know exciting fellow students
As a private educational institution with a municipal sponsor, Zeppelin University is particularly close to the municipal economy and therefore ideally suited for the course.
The city of Friedrichshafen has particularly large corporate structures. The Lord Mayor and the mayors sit on several supervisory boards of local companies.

Study Fees & Financing

The fees per semester of the two-year master's program PMD come to

€ 6,150. Thus, the cost of an four-semester program, if paid per semester, is

€ 24,600. Monthly payment of tuition fees is also possible, please contact the Admissions Team.

The fees per semester of the one-year master's program PMD come to

€ 8,400. Thus, the cost of an two-semester program, if paid per semester, is

€ 16.800. Monthly payment of tuition fees is also possible, please contact the Admissions Team.

No financial obstacles should stand in the way of an excellent education, which is why we offer you individual financing options for your studies at ZU.

Scholarships are not only available for young people who have achieved exceptional results - we also offer scholarships to applicants with experience beyond success or with a strong commitment to cultural, political or social issues.