State recognition
The Hertie School is officially recognised as a private university by the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur) in accordance with sec. 123 para. 1 of the Higher Education Act of the Federal State of Berlin [Berliner Hochschulgesetz – BerlHG]. Furthermore, the Hertie School of Governance fulfils standards equivalent to universities.
Based on the institutional accreditation by the Science Council, state recognition of the Hertie School of Governance will be extended for another ten years until 31 August 2027.
Master's programmes
The Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS), the Master of International Affairs (MIA), the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the Executive Master of Public Administration (Executive MPA) programmes have been accredited by the German Accreditation Council.
Doctoral Programme in Governance
On 1 September 2012, the Hertie School was awarded the right to confer doctorates by the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science in accordance with sec. 123 para. 7 of the Higher Education Act of the Federal State of Berlin. The right to confer doctorates was extended on 1 September 2017 for another five years until 31 August 2022, on 1 August 2022 again extended until 30 September 2023 and on 15 July 2024 extended until 31 July 2033.
Recognised excellence in global and national university rankings
The Hertie School has secured top positions in three major university rankings, highlighting its academic excellence and research impact. In its first participation in the QS Rankings, the school ranked among the top universities in Germany for Politics and Social Policy & Administration, standing out especially in “Academic Reputation” and “Citations per Paper”. The CHE Ranking, Germany’s most comprehensive university comparison, placed the Hertie School at the top for its students finishing their degree in the appropriate period of study and third-party research funding per researcher. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Ranking positioned the school second nationally in Public Administration and sixth in Political Science, affirming its global standing in high-quality research and international collaboration. These results reflect the Hertie School’s commitment to innovative education and impactful scholarship in addressing today’s policy challenges.
