Hertie School of Governance

What Hertie School of Governance does

The Hertie School of Governance is a private, non-profit university located in Berlin (Friedrichstraße 180) and accredited by the German Accreditation Council and the German Council of Science and Humanities. Founded in 2004 by the Hertie Foundation (with some firmographic sources citing 2003 as the founding year), it specializes in governance and public affairs education at the graduate level. Its core product portfolio comprises master's programmes (Master of Public Policy, Master of International Affairs, Master of Data Science for Public Policy, a Double Degree MPP+MDS, and several Dual Degrees with partner institutions), an Executive Master of Public Administration, and PhD programmes, plus targeted Executive Education offerings for organizations and individuals. Research and teaching are organized through six Centres of Competence covering European affairs (Jacques Delors Centre), international security, fundamental rights, sustainability, digital governance, and a Data Science Lab.

The school generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees (master's, doctoral and executive), supported by the Hertie Foundation's ongoing philanthropic backing and supplemented by executive education, custom organizational programmes, and project-specific grants — most notably the recent Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative. Distribution is anchored on-campus in Berlin, complemented by virtual info sessions, CIVICA alliance exchanges across ten European universities, and partnerships extending into India and the United States. Governance is led by President Cornelia Woll (2022–2026 term), with Mark Hallerberg serving as Dean of Research and Faculty.

The Hertie School is a founding member of the CIVICA European University alliance (2019), giving it cross-continental reach spanning 72,000 students and 13,000 faculty, and is the German delivery partner in the Bloomberg-funded European City Leadership Initiative alongside LSE. Across multiple signals — record graduation cohorts of approximately 300 students, flagship partnerships, and consistent launch of new research and event-based products — the institution has positioned itself as a top-tier European policy school, evidenced by a top QS Ranking and an 11th-place FAZ ranking among German economists.

Name

Hertie School of Governance

Legal name

Hertie School of Governance

Website

https://hertie-school.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hertie School of Governance is a private, non-profit Berlin-based university founded in 2004 by the Hertie Foundation, delivering graduate and executive education in public policy, international affairs, data science and governance to master's, PhD, and professional audiences across Europe and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Public Policy Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Policy, Public Administration & Nonprofit Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAK), Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research (EDADADAI)

Keywords

• Public policy education
• Graduate degree programmes
• Executive education
• Governance research
• Policy studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from graduate programme tuition, executive education fees, and doctoral programme costs. The school offers master's degrees, PhD programmes, and executive MPA programmes.
2. Foundation Support: The Hertie School was founded in 2004 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation and continues to receive generous support from it.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Hertie School of Governance is a private, non-profit social science university offering graduate and executive degree programmes in public policy, international affairs, and data science. It sells master's degrees (MPP, MIA, MDS, EMPA), a PhD programme, double/dual degree programmes, and customised executive education to individuals and organisations. It also conducts interdisciplinary governance research through six Centres of Competence.

Product overview

The Hertie School of Governance is a social science university in Berlin offering a comprehensive portfolio of graduate programmes including the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS), Double Degree MPP+MDS, Dual Degrees, Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA), and PhD programmes. The school is structured around six Centres of Competence: Centre for Digital Governance, Centre for Fundamental Rights, Centre for International Security, Centre for Sustainability, Jacques Delors Centre, and Data Science Lab. Supporting educational offerings include Executive Education, Policy Lab, Certificates, and the 1st-Generation Mentoring Programme. The school also produces podcasts (Hertie Highlights, EU to go, Shape Tomorrow), hosts events (Data4Good Festival, Distinguished Equality Lecture, Behavioural Insights Series), and participates in the CIVICA European University Alliance. Founded in 2004 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation, it is accredited by the Accreditation Council and German Council of Science and Humanities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centres of Competence: Centre focusing on European affairs, international security, fundamental rights, sustainability, digital governance, and data science research and teaching

Products and services

• Master of Public Policy (MPP) A cutting-edge master's programme preparing future leaders in public policy, governance, and public affairs, aimed at prospective graduate students seeking careers in government, business, and civil society.
• Master of International Affairs (MIA) Master's programme tackling global challenges in a rapidly transforming international context, designed for students pursuing careers in international affairs and global governance.
• Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) Master's programme turning data into governance solutions that transform challenges for the common good, for students seeking to apply data science to public policy problems.
• Double Degree MPP + MDS Combined degree programme offering both Master of Public Policy and Master of Data Science for Public Policy credentials in a single integrated course of study.
• Dual Degrees Partner university dual degree programmes allowing students to earn credentials from the Hertie School and partner institutions.
• Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) Executive programme expanding public management skills through interdisciplinary, practice-oriented studies for mid-career professionals in government, business, and the non-profit sector, with part-time or full-time study options.
• PhD Programme Doctoral programmes providing interdisciplinary research opportunities for candidates taking the next step in an academic or research career in governance and public affairs.
• Executive Education (Customised Programmes) Tailored solutions for leadership development including customised programmes for organisations and executive seminars and certificates for individuals seeking cutting-edge knowledge in public administration reform and innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 students graduated in 2024 in biggest graduation ceremony in school history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CIVICA - The European University of Social SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Hertie School is a member of CIVICA, an alliance of ten leading European higher education institutions in social sciences, humanities, business management and public policy. CIVICA brings together 72,000 students and 13,000 faculty. The alliance aims to establish a truly European inter-university campus with activities in education, research, and civic engagement.
• London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSE co-developed the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative alongside Hertie School, working with Bloomberg Philanthropies' $50 million investment to train European mayors and senior city officials.
• Bocconi UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, contributing to the European inter-university campus initiative in social sciences.
• Sciences PocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School. Sciences Po is based in France and contributes to the alliance's social sciences expertise.
• Central European UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, based in Austria.
• European University InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergovernmental member of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School.
• IE UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, based in Spain.
• National University of Political Studies and Public AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, based in Romania.
• SGH Warsaw School of EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, based in Poland.
• Stockholm School of EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIVICA alliance along with Hertie School, based in Sweden.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough CIVICA and Google partnership, nine students from CIVICA universities participated in the Policy Summer Institute, a joint programme providing paid digital policy internships for first-generation students in European capital cities.
• O.P. Jindal Global UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHertie School and O.P. Jindal Global University established a new partnership to promote student and staff exchange and strengthen research collaboration.
• Hertie SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHertie School is listed as a supporter/donor of the Pune Public Policy Festival, supporting discussions on AI governance, financial innovation, and India's state capacity.
• Gere FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Fundamental Rights collaboration with the Gere Foundation on the Joint Initiative on Migration, examining deep causes of migration between Africa and Europe.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Blavatnik School of Government (University of Oxford): Oxford's dedicated public policy school offering MPP and doctoral programmes. A broader incumbent in European policy education with much larger brand scale, Oxford affiliation, and executive education reach.
• Harvard Kennedy School: Global leader in public policy education. As a broader incumbent, it offers MPP, MPA, and executive education that compete with Hertie's programmes for international students and policy professionals seeking prestige-brand credentials.

Direct peers

• IE University: Spanish private university and CIVICA partner with growing master's offerings in public policy and international relations. Competes for European and Latin American graduate students in policy and governance programmes.
• European University Institute (EUI): Intergovernmental postgraduate research institute and CIVICA partner based in Florence. Competes directly in advanced policy research and doctoral-level governance training with strong EU policy orientation.
• Sciences Po: France's leading political science and public affairs university, a CIVICA partner with Hertie. Sciences Po's MPP-equivalent programmes, multi-campus model, and policy-school reputation make it one of the closest direct competitors in European governance education.
• Bocconi University: Top-ranked Italian business and social science university and CIVICA partner. Competes with Hertie in master's-level public management and policy education and offers complementary economics and management programmes.
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE): LSE is a direct competitor and partner in the Bloomberg European City Leadership Initiative. It offers closely comparable master's programmes in public policy, international affairs, and data-related social science, with significantly larger scale and global brand recognition.
• Stockholm School of Economics: Swedish business and policy school and CIVICA partner. Overlaps with Hertie's public management and executive education audiences, particularly in Nordic and northern European markets.
• Central European University (CEU): Austria-based social sciences university and CIVICA partner. Competes in master's-level political science, public policy, and international affairs programmes with a comparable mission-driven, foundation-supported profile.

Regional players

• SGH Warsaw School of Economics: Polish economics and public management school and CIVICA partner. Comparable in public administration and economics programmes but primarily serves Central and Eastern European markets, offering regional competition rather than direct overlap in western Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hertieschoolberlin
• Facebookfacebook.com/hertieschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hertie-school-of-governance
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehertieschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@thehertieschool
• Xx.com/thehertieschool

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hertie School of Governance