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The world needs administrators, politicians, analysts and entrepreneurs who can think and act beyond the nation state. This is the reason why we started to draft the new academic programme last year. Governance and politics studies have traditionally been nation state focused – for decades, it was nearly impossible to have a breakthrough in French politics and top public service if you had not attended Sciences Po. Many countries like India hold rigorous tests for people who want to pledge allegiance to civil service. But these trends are undergoing a transformation. New alternative careers are emerging in the transnational spheres of politics and governance, and there you need more than just a local college diploma or a good test result. There has been an increase in jobs in international organisations, both governmental and in the non-governmental sector. While intergovernmental organisations such as the UN and various European bodies are well known, there are more and more associations, enterprises, networks and other transnational areas of engagement and career. Nowadays a successful career takes both civil society activists, analysts, entrepreneurs and administrators from one country to another, from one continent to another, and from the local level to the global and vice versa. And such a new transnational career model also poses new demands to the education market. Key innovations What skills and competences would be useful for this? Our answer is twofold. The new occupations usually require some competence in international relations, politics and governance as well as basic skills of management and economics, and this is also the thematic locus of the programme. However, we also see the benefits of a geographically and culturally heterogeneous international student body – after all, the learning process is not limited to a distinguished professor giving a lecture – we see that all of our students also contribute through their background, experiences and interest in various regions of the world. Not only is it a BA curriculum in politics and governance, but also a master class in intercultural social and communicative skills, which you graduate with a portfolio of transnational networks and contacts. Our politics and governance programme combines a strong politics and governance core with a variety of choices including international relations, economics and management. The electives and course assignments leave ample space for students to develop a personal competence profile via selecting the subjects and thematic modules. In addition, students can also choose the field of practical training, the interdisciplinary project and their bachelor thesis. Open environment Of course, there is more on offer in Tallinn as a study location. Internationalisation is a priority of Tallinn University and the community of international staff and students numbering in hundreds is complemented by the capital city’s start-up scene and other international enterprises and organisations. The university also offers various services and facilities for international students as well as possibilities to study various languages and cultures (Estonian, English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese etc.). In addition, as the university is internationally well connected, the students can embark on a student exchange for a semester or a whole academic year in one of our multiple partner universities across Europe and beyond. Further studies We see this package as a good basis for further academic and practical activities. A bachelor degree is only the first step in developing academic competence. In the European Bologna system, a graduate of a bachelor programme is primarily expected to continue studies to obtain the master degree. On the master level you can develop a full specialisation in one of the fields chosen in the BA programme. More than 20 years of experience with the various programmes in politics and governance indicates that our graduates are well prepared to enter further studies in European universities and beyond. Students are also welcomed to the 2 English and 3 Estonian MA programmes and 1 PhD programme of the field in Tallinn University. Transnational futures The programme also develops practical work competences, especially for national and international non governmental organisations but also for public administration, enterprises and international organisations. This can be supported by the selection of elective modules and the area of practical training and interdisciplinary project. However, usually MA is expected in case of more professional jobs. The main competitive advantage from the BA level can be developed from the transnational competences and contacts developed during studies. The key success of the programme rests on the new transnational opportunities, innovative activities and occupations developed by our graduates in the years to come. Text by Leif Kalev (, the Head of the ).

Read more about the Politics and Governance programme and admission requirements from our .