Master, Policy Stream: Public administration

Description and objectives of the Public Administration Policy Stream

The Public Administration stream of the Masters programme at Sciences Po's School of Public Affairs will enable you to acquire fundamental concepts and develop multidisciplinary knowledge in public law, public finance, economic policy and social issues, as well as the practical skills needed to understand the challenges of public action from a legal, economic, social, managerial, environmental and digital perspective.

Sciences Po's oldest programme is now one of its most modern. It continues to attract a large number of students keen to take on a wide range of responsibilities in both the public and private sectors. It also enables students to learn to think about their actions in a highly operational context, in line with public policy issues, thanks to a solid administrative culture.

Programme structure of the Public Administration Policy Stream

The Public Administration policy stream is an option available to students of two Master’s programmes: the Master in Public Policy and the Master in European Affairs.

Courses within the Master in Public Policy give students in-depth comparative and interdisciplinary knowledge of the field of public affairs, blending economic, legal, ethical, historical, political, managerial and digital approaches.

The Master in European Affairs offers world-class training for students wishing to enter careers in Europe, whether in the European public sector, private sector or international organisations.

The Public Administration policy stream at the School of Public Affairs is structured around five core courses combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills. These consider public policies in all their diversity: social, legal, political, budgetary, economic, management and communication, and so on.

Core courses and electives open to all Master’s students provide a deeper insight into contemporary challenges facing actors in public administration and public affairs more broadly: deontology, digital transition, inclusive and sustainable policy-making, democratic issues. Students gain the skills and knowledge to bring their own responses to these.
The school’s Policy Lab allows students to put their knowledge into practice through case studies and simulations. As part of the Public Policy Innovator, they are invited to design and implement public policy projects. In doing so, they gain the practical skills they need to launch their careers: teamwork, negotiation, change management and leadership.

Courses specific to the Public Administration Policy Stream

The courses taught within the Public Administration policy stream specifically are:

• Public law (Y1);
• Public finance (Y1);
• Political economy (Y1);
• Advanced public law (Y2);
• Social issues (Y2).

Programme of the Public Administration Policy Stream

Professional Opportunities after the Public Administration Policy Stream

This stream at the School of Public Affairs is aimed at students who aspire to join the French and European senior civil service through competitive examinations or by contract, and more generally, at students interested in the public sphere.

The Public Administration stream is also ideal for students wishing to work in public companies, public affairs departments, government departments and agencies, consultancies and political careers (parliamentary assistant, adviser in a minister's office or in a local authority).

> Find out more about career opportunities.

Scientific advisor

Isabelle de Silva, a senior civil servant and member of the Council of State, has held various positions in the public administration and within the Council of State. She was a member and then president of the French Competition Authority until the end of 2021, and her term of office was devoted to digital issues. At the Council of State, she was government commissioner and deputy president of the Social Section, and in May 2022 she was appointed president of the sixth chamber of the Council of State. A specialist in environmental and urban planning issues, she has also held the position of Director of Legal Affairs at the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. She has also held the positions of deputy rapporteur at the Constitutional Council and government commissioner at the Tribunal des conflits. She is a former student of HEC and ENA, holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Paris I Sorbonne and a diploma from the Community of European Management Schools. She is an associate professor at the School of Public Affairs (EAP) since November 2022 and Scientific Advisor of the Public Administration policy stream. She succeeds Bernard Stirn.

Contacts

• Academic advisor: Salymata Kanté (M1), Solène Grandjean (M2)
• Academic assistants: Marie Nunes (M1), apsecondeannee.eap@sciencespo.fr (M2)