1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Continuing Education
  4. Public Management
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Public Management

Are you a master at navigating the connections between administration, politics and the public? Our Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA) will take you to the top of public management.

Do you work in public administration or a non-profit organisation and want to qualify for demanding management positions? Then our Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in Public Management & Politics is perfect for you:

  • You combine four CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) to form an EMBA. Please note the possible combinations and requirements.
  • You determine the order of the CAS.  
  • You deepen your understanding of specific tasks and mechanisms in the public sector.
  • You refine your leadership skills and acquire basic knowledge of business administration and sustainability.
  • You can customise the time horizon of your studies (2.5 to 8 years including the Master's thesis).

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
  • Duration max. 8 years
  • Schedule Depending on the chosen CAS
  • Application deadline Depending on the chosen CAS
  • ECTS credits 60 ECTS-Credits
  • Costs CHF 34,000
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session According to chosen CAS

Contact

Downloads (in German) and link

Content + Structure

Portrait

In this EMBA programme, you will acquire in-depth knowledge of the public sector. You will develop administrative concepts from a private-sector perspective. You will learn about the mechanisms of administration and how to deal with contradictions productively. You will implement business management approaches with the necessary sensitivity in an administrative context. You will work on your leadership skills and continuously develop your networked, sustainable thinking and actions. Thanks to your basic understanding of the public sector, you will recognise difficulties in advance, proceed systematically and achieve direct results. 

You will get to know highly experienced managers and benefit from lively exchanges with them.

Learning Objectives

This continuing education programme in leadership and management provides you with the necessary tools to drive forward the ongoing modernisation process in public administration.

  • Depending on the CAS, you will acquire basic business management knowledge or deal with sustainability issues.
  • You will master the art of leadership and develop an in-depth understanding of the specific tasks and mechanisms of the public sector.
  • You will approach complex issues methodically.
  • Your studies will always be highly practice-oriented, with a focus on the public sector.

This EMBA in Public Management offers many options: you determine the order of the CAS. We would be happy to advise you so that you can get the most out of the programme. Please contact the Head of the Degree Programme at an early stage.

Grafik EMBA Public Management

Compulsory CAS

You will attend one CAS in Business Administration and one in Leadership. Depending on your prior knowledge and professional experience, you will complete either the CAS in Business Administration or the CAS in Sustainable Corporate Development. Furthermore, the CAS in Leadership or the CAS in Advanced Leadership. The respective Head of the CAS programme will inform you about the specific admission requirements.

Compulsory-elective CAS

You will complete two CAS of the list below: 

You must select at least one CAS on the subject of public management or procurement. The CAS Digital Organisation and CAS Business Law cannot be combined.

Recognition of previous course work

Have you already completed a CAS which maches this programme? We will be happy to check which credits can be recognised towards the EMBA/MAS.

Master's thesis

You complete the EMBA or MAS programme with a Master's thesis.

Adults learn differently. That is why the continuing education at the BFH Business school is committed to modern adult education. Our mission with «brain, heart and hand» is an important principle in the design of our offers. Questions in the lessons are based on the participants' professional and practical life experiences. 

It is the mix of contact study and phases for self-study, analogue learning environment as well as digital tools that makes all the difference.

We work with Microsoft Teams in the CAS and in some courses and SAS-programmes. You have access to documents, messages and information and use the chat function within your class.

Continuing Education at the Business School (PDF, 154 KB)
  • You can find information on the proof of competence for each CAS on the respective website.
  • During or towards the end of the last CAS, you register for the Master thesis module with the EMBA study organisation. 
  • Information and conditions regarding the Master's thesis and the Master's thesis module.

We offer short, free learning events for all students of our CAS programmes. With the courses Methodology Transfer Report, Effective Learning in Continuing Education at Universities of Applied Sciences and the Transfer Report workshop, we would like to support you in successfully and sustainably completing your CAS. Short overview.
For more details and dates for the online events, please go to the German website.

Eligibility & Admission

Are you a specialist or manager? Do you work in the public sector, such as public administration, a non-profit organisation or an administrative institution? Do you want to take the lead in complex and challenging situations?

This EMBA qualifies you for demanding management positions in the public sector.

In particular, it is suitable for line management positions such as section head, office manager, social services manager, managing director or project manager, as well as for people in staff functions.

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our «Introduction to Academic Writing course» before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

The Head of the Degree Programme or of the CAS will decide on admission based on a portfolio analysis and assessment of your current situation. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you must attend the course ‘Introduction to Academic Writing’ before the first CAS.

Good to know

Specific admission requirements apply to the individual CAS. The language of instruction and compulsory literature is generally German. Individual texts may be provided in English.

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Bern University of Applied Sciences  in «Public Management» (60 ECTS-Credits).

Graduates of municipal cadre training in the canton of Bern and managers in public administration with equivalent accredited training can complete the EMBA Public Management with «the Passerelle BEGEM» in a shorter period of time.

Organisation + Application

You register for one or more CAS (depending on dates etc.) via our portal. Good planning is important: For the Master's thesis, you should register directly with the study organisation by e-mail during or towards the end of your last CAS. Expect your EMBA to take an average of 2.5 years. The maximum duration of the programme is 8 years. If you require support regarding planning, finding a topic or selecting supervisors for your Master’s thesis, the programme management will be happy to provide you with the necessary support.

Please register directly via the specific CAS.

Registration via our portal

You will need a Switch edu-ID to register. Please upload the following documents, even if you have already submitted them with another application:

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format)

Organisational Information

Your EMBA oder MAS programme starts with the first CAS. Registration deadlines, dates, teaching days, etc. can be found on the programme pages. We combine face-to-face and guided distance learning an appropriate and relevant form. 

Certain CAS programmes are only held once a year. The number of participants in the individual CAS programmes is limited. We recommend that you arrange a consultation interview and register early.

For the Master's thesis module, please register directly with the study organisation during or towards the end of the final CAS. Please note the teaching dates for the Master's thesis module. The module starts at the beginning of May and the beginning of November.

CHF 34,000  

The total cost of the EMBA is CHF 34,000 and includes tuition fees for the individual CAS programmes (4 x CHF 8,500). All compulsory literature, course materials and proofs of competence are included in the total cost.

The additional costs for the Master's thesis module (CHF 2,500) are waived if you earn all ECTS credits at BFH or through our cooperative study programmes.

The continuing education regulations of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the implementation regulations for the continuing education regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences (WBR) (PDF, 133 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations WBR in the Business School (PDF, 81 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations (PDF, 77 KB)
Framework Study Regulations at Bern University of Applied Sciences (PDF, 127 KB)
Regulations on Scientific Integrity at Bern University of Applied Sciences (WissIR) (PDF, 140 KB)
Legal foundations

Consultation + Information Events

In our FAQ you will find answers to many questions about the administration and organisation of our continuing education programme (available in German). 

Study Consultation

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Head of Degree Programme

Organisation of Studies

Information events in German

In addition to the online information events of BFH Business school, we naturally offer you our personal counsellingconsultation service. By telephone or online via MS Teams. Contact us via e-mail weiterbildung.wirtschaft@bfh.ch or telephone 031 848 34 02

Location + Facilities

Classes take place at Schwarztorstrasse 48 in Bern.

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48