Hertie School

Berlin, Germany

About Hertie School

The Hertie School is a private, state-accredited graduate school located in the heart of Berlin at Friedrichstraße 180, founded in 2004 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation. It specialises exclusively in public policy, governance, and international affairs, offering master's and doctoral programmes taught entirely in English.

With 938 enrolled students from over 70 countries and 36 full-time faculty members, the school is compact by design and practice-oriented. Six Centres of Competence anchor its research in digital governance, international security, fundamental rights, sustainability, European affairs, and data science.

The Hertie School is a member of CIVICA, the European University of Social Sciences alliance, and holds top-tier rankings in public policy by QS 2026. It has awarded degrees to more than 3,365 alumni working in government, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector worldwide.

Key facts

Founded: 2004
Students: 938
International: Students from over 70 countries; majority of the student body is international
Faculties: 36

Specialist graduate school focused entirely on public policy, governance, and international affairs

938 students from over 70 countries; all instruction in English

Tuition-based private institution — €9,625/semester for master's programmes; over 50% of students receive financial aid

Member of CIVICA (European University of Social Sciences); QS-ranked top school for public policy 2026

Six research Centres of Competence covering digital governance, security, fundamental rights, sustainability, and data science

Single campus in central Berlin near the Bundestag and federal ministries — direct access to Germany's policy ecosystem

APS certificate required for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants before applying for a German student visa

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

The Hertie School is a private institution and charges tuition for all programmes. There is no tuition-free option. Master's programmes (MPP, MIA, MDS): €9,625 per semester (€19,250 per academic year). Executive MPA (2-year track): €9,625 per semester; Executive MPA (1-year track): €19,250 per semester (€38,500 total). A non-refundable tuition deposit of €1,500 is required on accepting an offer. Mandatory semester contributions: student services fee (STW) €113 + BVG public transport semester ticket €176.40. The school offers merit-based scholarships and tuition waivers (10–100% of fees); over 50% of students receive some form of financial support.

Admission requirements

The Hertie School admits graduate students (master's and PhD) only — there is no undergraduate programme. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent). All programmes are taught in English; non-native English speakers must submit IELTS (minimum overall 7.0, Writing 7.0), TOEFL iBT (minimum 100, Writing 25), Cambridge CAE (grade B or above), or Duolingo English Test (125+). Test scores must be no more than two years old. Applicants whose undergraduate degree was delivered entirely in English may request a waiver by submitting an official medium-of-instruction letter from their university. Applicants from India, China (mainland, HK, Macau), and Vietnam are required to obtain an APS certificate before applying for a German student visa; the school explicitly advises starting this process early. Applications are submitted through the school's online portal.

Application deadlines

Graduate programmes (MPP, MIA, MDS) — Early Bird: 1 December; Priority (non-EU/EEA): 15 January; Priority (EU/EEA): 15 February; Final: 31 May. Executive MPA — Priority: 1 May; Final: 1 August. English proficiency certificates must be submitted by 1 July.

Languages of instruction

All programmes taught exclusively in English

Campuses & locations

Berlin – Friedrichstraße

Single campus at Friedrichstraße 180, 10117 Berlin, near Brandenburg Gate and German government ministries

Living in Berlin

Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city, a major hub for European politics, diplomacy, technology, and culture. The Hertie School sits steps from the Bundestag, foreign ministries, and major international think-tanks, giving students direct access to the policy ecosystem they study. The city has a large English-speaking international community, relatively affordable cost of living compared to other European capitals, and an active startup and civil-society scene.

Student life & support

Student life at the Hertie School revolves around a tight-knit, globally diverse community. Student-run clubs — including the Diplomacy Club, Security Club, and the student newspaper The Governance Post — connect incoming students early and link academic study to Berlin's policy landscape. Students have competed in international moot-court contests (German Jessup National Champions) and organised the European Public Policy Conference. The school's Student Life office provides housing guidance, mentoring programmes, and integration support for international arrivals. Berlin's public transport semester ticket is included in the semester contribution.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master

Other