For more than a century, the Stockholm School of Economics has educated leaders who have shaped business and society. Many of Sweden’s most influential people in both business and politics studied at SSE. Now, for the first time since its founding in 1909, the School is expanding its academic portfolio with a program in a new field of study: public policy.

“This is a milestone for the Stockholm School of Economics. We have always played a central role in educating leaders for the business community. With the MPP program, we are taking the same responsibility for the public sector, where the decisions that shape our society are made,” says Lars Strannegård, President of SSE.

Public policy – from problems to solutions

Public policy focuses on how societal challenges are analyzed, how political decisions are shaped, and how these decisions are implemented in practice. It spans areas such as climate, education, healthcare, digitalization, migration, and security. The Nordic region has long shown that economic development and social sustainability can go hand in hand, supported by open markets, strong institutions, and high levels of trust. This makes the region a natural starting point for studying policies that work in practice.

Stockholm plays a unique role in this context. As Sweden’s political and economic center, it brings together government ministries, public agencies, and one of Europe’s most innovative business ecosystems in close proximity. This creates unique opportunities to engage directly with policy processes and the actors driving them, both in Sweden and at the EU level.

With this new program, SSE builds on its position within this landscape. The ambition is to attract a broader range of talent to the field of public policy – students who want to work in EU institutions, national governments and NGOs. The program draws on the School’s strong research environment, its close ties to both the private and public sectors, and a long tradition of combining analytical rigor with an entrepreneurial mindset.

“We see a growing need for leaders who can combine scientific analysis with practical action. Through the MPP program, we aim to give students the tools to both understand and improve policy processes in Sweden, the EU, and globally,” says Robert Östling, Professor at SSE and Academic Director of the program.

The initiative builds on the House of Governance and Public Policy (GaPP), the research hub established by SSE in 2022. From the outset, the ambition has been not only to conduct research and offer executive education, but also to develop a globally recognized academic program in public policy.

A talent engine for the public sector

The Master in Public Policy at SSE aims to become a talent engine for EU and the  public sector more broadly. The program prepares students for roles where they can analyze, design, and implement reforms – and contribute to a more competitive and sustainable society.

The first year consists of core courses in policy analysis, evidence-based policymaking, public governance, leadership, EU law and accountability. Alongside their coursework, students will work on projects addressing real-world policy challenges in collaboration with government agencies or NGOs. The second year offers specialization, international exchange opportunities, and internships. The intention is also to activate the alliances that the Stockholm School of Economics is part of and collaborate with universities such as Sciences Po and the London School of Economics.

“The Stockholm School of Economics is evolving in response to a changing world. Our original mission is to strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness. In recent years, we have expanded our research into areas such as public administration, security, and resilience. We recently launched an MBA program for the defense sector, and the MPP program is a natural next step in that development,” says Lars Strannegård.

For more information, please contact:

Robert Östling
Professor and Academic Director, MPP
Stockholm School of Economics
Email: robert.ostling@hhs.se
Phone: +46 70 574 57 92

About the Stockholm School of Economics

The Stockholm School of Economics is rated as a top business school in the Nordic and Baltic countries and enjoys a strong international reputation. World-class research forms the foundation of our educational offering, which includes Bachelor, Master, PhD, MBA, and Executive Education programs. Our programs are developed in close cooperation with the business and research communities, providing graduates substantial potential to attain leading positions in companies and other organizations. 

The School is accredited by EQUIS, certifying that all of its principal activities – teaching as well as research – maintain the highest international standards. The Stockholm School of Economics is also the only Swedish member institution of CEMS and PIM, which are collaborations between top business schools worldwide, contributing to the level of quality for which our school is known. 

Press contact

Ylva Mossing
Content and Media Relations Manager
Email: ylva.mossing@hhs.se
Phone: +46 730 97 26 16