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Studies & Degrees in Governance

Governance is the study of how organisations and societies are directed and held to account: who takes decisions, by which rules, and who checks them. The subject has two branches. Corporate governance deals with companies, charities and other organisations: boards of directors, compliance, ethics, risk and reporting. Public governance deals with governments and public bodies at local, national and international level: policymaking, public administration and regulation.

Because it sits between law, economics, political science and management, governance is taught in business schools, law faculties and schools of government or public policy. Utrecht University, for example, describes the questions of its European Governance master's programme as requiring insight into economics, law and public administration.

What students learn

Programmes in public governance cover political institutions, public policy analysis, public finance, public management and the law that frames them. The BSc Government and Political Science at University College Cork combines political science with subjects in business, law, modern languages, social sciences and information technology. Programmes in corporate governance cover company law, board practice, compliance, risk and reporting. The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland describes the work of governance professionals as ranging from legal and regulatory changes to reporting, stakeholder engagement, organisational culture and succession planning.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. At this level governance is usually part of a degree in government, political science or public administration. The BSc (Hons) Government and Political Science at University College Cork takes four years full-time and includes a work placement in the third year. The Bachelor of Public Administration of the National College of Public Administration and Governance, at the University of the Philippines Diliman, prepares undergraduates for professional positions in government agencies, non-government and international organisations.
  • Master's degrees. Most specialised programmes are at master's level. The master's programme in European Governance at Utrecht University lasts two years, is taught full-time in English and is a double-degree programme: students spend the first year at a partner university (Masaryk University in Brno, the University of Konstanz or University College Dublin) and the second year in Utrecht. The Master in Public Policy of Harvard Kennedy School is a two-year programme. The University of the Philippines Diliman offers a Master of Public Administration for emerging leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
  • Doctorates and diplomas. The same college in Diliman offers a Doctor of Public Administration, aimed at public sector leaders, researchers and academics, and a Diploma in Public Management for professionals in government and civil society.
  • Professional qualifications. In corporate governance, professional bodies award their own qualifications. The Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme of the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland is a postgraduate-level qualification that covers seven subjects at two levels and can be completed alongside a full-time job. A Foundation Programme prepares candidates who do not yet have the academic or professional experience required.

Costs

Fees vary widely between countries and between public and private institutions. As an example, Utrecht University lists for European Governance in 2026-27 a statutory fee of €2,694 for Dutch and other EU/EEA students and an institutional fee of €21,342 for students from outside the EU/EEA.

Where to study it

This directory lists 23 schools that teach governance. Ten are in the United States, and Australia, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom have two each; the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Zambia have one each. No school in Spain is currently listed for this subject.

Examples are Harvard University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Maryland and Suffolk University in the United States; University College London and The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom; Utrecht University; University College Cork; the Universität Duisburg-Essen in Germany; Kyoto University; the University of the Philippines Diliman; Griffith University and the University of Melbourne in Australia; and Africa University and the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Most of the schools listed teach in English, including the Utrecht master's programme.

Careers

Graduates in public governance work in ministries and public agencies, local government, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, political offices and consultancy. In corporate governance, the typical roles are company secretary, governance officer or governance manager. According to the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland, public companies in the United Kingdom are required by law to have a company secretary, and company secretaries also work in charities and public and not-for-profit organisations. The institute notes that people join the profession from many backgrounds, including law and finance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between corporate governance and public governance?

Corporate governance concerns how companies and other organisations are directed and controlled by their boards. Public governance concerns how governments and public bodies make and carry out policy. Degree titles usually show which one a programme teaches.

Do I need a specific bachelor's degree to take a master's in governance?

Usually not one single degree. Governance programmes draw on law, economics, political science and public administration, and each university sets its own admission requirements.

How long does a master's degree in governance take?

One or two years, depending on the country. The European Governance master's programme at Utrecht University and the Master in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School both take two years.

Is there a professional qualification in governance?

Yes, in corporate governance. The Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme leads to chartered membership of the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland.