UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONS,ANALYZING PUBLIC
AL ACTION, STARTING TODAY
In a world where public services must meet growing demands for transparency, efficiency, and digital transformation, understanding how institutions function, deciphering the dynamics of governance, and analyzing public policy have become rare and essential skills. Local governments, ministries, public agencies, consulting firms, and international organizations have a growing need for professionals trained in these areas from the very beginning of their higher education.
HEIP’s Bachelor’s in Public Management & Governance is the ideal gateway to building, starting right after high school, a solid foundation in public administration, governance mechanisms, and methods for analyzing public policy. You may not yet be a decision-maker, but you will become someone who understands how institutions work, questions policies, and prepares to contribute to them with rigor and method.
This program awards an HEIP Institutional Certificate, recognized within the French private higher education system.
What degree does the Bachelor’s in Public Management & Governance lead to?
- Upon successful completion of the three-year program, this program awards an institutional certificate titled “Bachelor’s in Public Management & Governance , ” issued by HEIP, an independent institution of higher education governed by the law of 1875.
- Each successfully completedyear of study also earns 60 ECTS credits, for a total of 180 ECTS credits upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.
- The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System facilitates the recognition of academic achievements and mobility within the European Higher Education Area.
What courses are offered in the Bachelor’s program in Public Management & Governance?
In the first year (Bachelor’s Year 1), the program combines a solid core curriculum in political science, law, and economics with two specialized modules focused on public administration and the principles of governance. This dual approach enables students to acquire fundamental analytical tools before applying them to the realities of institutional management and contemporary public policy.
First Year(Bachelor’s Year 1)
UE 1 · Politics and Society
To provide the historical and political context necessary for understanding contemporary societies and how their institutions function.
- Political History of France, Semester 1.
- Overarching Project, Semesters 1 and 2.
- Lecture series, semesters 1 and 2.
- History of International Relations, Semester 1.
- Introduction to Political Science, Semester 2.
UE 2 · Law and Public Institutions
Understand the legal and institutional framework governing public action, the organization of the state, and the mechanisms of public procurement.
- Introduction to Law, Semester 1.
- Political Institutions, Semester 1.
- History of the State, Semester 1.
- Introduction to Public Administration, Public Management & Governance track, Semester 2.
UE 3 · Contemporary Issues and Global Changes
Develop an analytical perspective on the major changes that are reshaping the scope of public action and governance models.
- Analysis of International Current Events, Semester 1.
- SHIFT(s) 1: Decode to Act, Semesters 1 and 2.
- International Affairs: International Relations and Diplomacy, Semester 2.
- Lecture Series, Semester 2.
- Introduction to the Principles of Governance and Management, Public Management & Governance track, Semester 1.
UE 4 · Economy, Finance, and Society
Acquire a basic understanding of economics and budgeting to grasp the major economic equilibria that shape public policy decisions.
- Fundamentals of Macroeconomics, Semester 1.
- Major Schools of Economic Thought, Semester 2.
- TECHAWAY-TECHFORALL, Semester 2.
UE 5 · Methodology and Professional Development
Develop the intellectual and communication skills necessary to produce rigorous analyses and clearly present well-reasoned arguments.
- Academic Research Methods, Semester 1.
- Public Speaking Methodology, Semester 1.
- The Art of Learning, Semester 2.
UE 6.1 & 6.2 · Modern Languages (First Language: English + Second Language + Third Language of your choice)
Improve your language skills to navigate an international professional environment with ease.
- English (S1 & S2)
- Second and third foreign languages (LV2 and LV3) may be chosen from among the options offered on campus: German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese (S1
, and S2)
Learning Objectives: Lay the groundwork for understanding and analyzing public policy
By the end of this first year of the bachelor’s program, you will be able to:
- Gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of public law, political institutions, and administrative history in order to place the major trends in governance within their historical and contemporary contexts.
- Analyze the functioning of public administration —including the organization of the state, local governments, and public institutions—by drawing on conceptual tools from political science, law, and economics.
- Understand the principles of governance —multi-level, participatory, and digital—and the main regulatory frameworks that govern public administration in France and Europe.
- Develop methodological rigor in the production of analytical writing and the oral presentation of structured summaries.
- Use two modern languages to access resources, discussions, and publications on public management and international governance.
Teaching Methods: Learning Through Analysis and Role-Playing
Starting in your first year, you’ll develop your critical thinking skills, your analytical abilities, and your capacity to formulate recommendations in response to real-world public policy issues.
The curriculum is based on:
- Case studies based on actual public policies, such as administrative reforms, regional projects, or budgetary decisions.
- Simulations and role-playing exercises that replicate the trade-offs between elected officials, government agencies, public actors, and stakeholders.
- Group work and practical projects combining literature review, analysis, and well-reasoned presentation.
- Seminars and lecture series led by professionals from the civil service, public consulting firms, local governments, and European institutions.
Each semester, students receive guidance in developing their career plans and in building their understanding of institutions and governance.
Assessment Criteria: Reasoning, Structuring, and Presentation
Course assessment is based on comprehensive ongoing evaluation, which assesses your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world issues in management and public governance.
- Case Studies: Analysis of a real-world situation from the fields of public administration, regional policy, or institutional governance.
- Practical exercises: drafting summary reports, institutional assessments, or position papers modeled after the deliverables expected in public organizations.
- Written reports with oral presentations: present and defend your analyses before a panel to develop your ability to structure your reasoning and persuade others.
Languages: An International Perspective Integrated from the Start
Starting in your first year, you’ll study business English—an essential language for international organizations, European institutions, and global governance networks—as well as a second modern language chosen from the options offered on your campus:
German · Spanish · Italian · Portuguese · Mandarin · Japanese · Arabic · Russian · Advanced English
Proficiency in English is a real asset for advancing your career in international organizations, European institutions, and consulting firms specializing in public management.
Degree and Further Education
Upon successful completion of the three-year program, this program awards an institutional certificate titled “Bachelor’s in Public Management & Governance” issued by HEIP, an independent institution of higher education (under the 1875 law). Each successfully completed year of study earns 60 ECTS credits, recognized throughout the European Higher Education Area to facilitate academic mobility and provide clarity regarding your academic path.
This Bachelor’s degree is the natural gateway to HEIP’s MSc programs (equivalent to a Bac+5), including:
Career Prospects: What Careers Can You Pursue After Earning a Bachelor’s Degree?
This bachelor’s degree program lays a solid foundation for pursuing a master’s degree and provides opportunities for initial professional experience in public, quasi-public, and institutional settings:
- Project Assistant at a local government agency or public agency
- Staff member in an elected official’s office or a government agency
- Junior Institutional Communications Specialist in a government agency
- Assistant in a Public Affairs or European Affairs Department
- Legal and Regulatory Affairs Officer at a public agency
- Staff Member at a Public Management Consulting Firm
- Project Assistant at an international organization (UN, EU, World Bank)
- Project Manager at an organization in the social and solidarity economy
Professional Development: A Gradual Immersion in the Field
Internships may be completed each year after the end of the academic term at local governments, ministries, public consulting firms,international organizations, orEuropean institutions.
The third-year internship is required to earn the degree. It provides a formative experience that directly prepares students for admission to an MSc program or for entry into the workforce in the field of public management and governance.
What are the training costs?
Tuition
For the 2026–2027 academic year, tuition for the bachelor’s degree program is €8,990 per academic year. The CVEC fee must be paid separately before the start of the academic year, after enrollment.
Application Fee
A €70 application fee is required when submitting the application.
Non-European Student
A mandatory fee of 700€ must be added to the total cost of the training program. This fee gives you access to
personalized support upon your arrival in France (administrative procedures, settling in, integration).
These rates apply to the 2026–2027 school year and are subject to annual review.
Practical Information
Who are our teachers?
All of our instructors are associate professors, senior civil servants, or recognized experts in their fields. They all hold a master’s degree and have significant professional experience in public administration, local governance, public policy consulting, European institutions, or political science research.
Learn more about our faculty.
Where are our campuses located?
The Public Policy, CSR & Transitions program is offered at three campuses: Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux.
The Bachelor’s in Public Management & Governance is offered at three campuses: Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux.
Paris: Home to major central government agencies, ministerial offices, and sovereign institutions, Paris places you at the heart of national public decision-making and governance networks. It offers a unique environment for gaining an insider’s understanding of how the government works and building your network within institutional circles from the very beginning of your studies.
Lyon: As France’s second-largest administrative and economic hub, Lyon stands out for its concentration of regional institutions, public agencies, and active nonprofit sector. It offers an ideal environment for students interested in regional governance, local policy management, and public-private partnerships in the region.
Bordeaux: A metropolis undergoing urban and institutional transformation, Bordeaux connects you with local public officials involved in land-use planning, the digital transformation of public services, and intermunicipal cooperation—a practical learning environment for future public management professionals.
Are the facilities accessible to people with disabilities?
The admissions process is entirely online, making it accessible to applicants with physical disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations can be provided for invisible or cognitive disabilities upon request to the admissions teams.
All HEIP campuses are accessible to people with limited mobility.
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