Public Governance and Civil Society

For a better tomorrow
Public governance is where leaders create public wealth and transparency, address societal challenges and bring about positive change. This programme, run in partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF), offers a double degree and the opportunity for an international internship. You will study public sector management, principles of civil society, ethics and corruption prevention. Upon completion of the Public Governance and Civil Society programme, you will be ready to work in the public sector or in non-governmental organisations that create a good living environment.

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Programme values

A lecturer leads a session in the modern “Young-Lab” classroom, combining technology and a creative atmosphere. It’s a space where inspiring discussions and new ideas come to life.

Valued by industry leaders

This programme is your chance to get two bachelor’s degrees. With the University of Central Florida (UCF), you will learn how to tackle global public management challenges. You will study in English, so get ready for exciting challenges and new international career opportunities.

ntrance to the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (SHMMF) at Kaunas University of Technology – a historical-style building located in the heart of Kaunas Old Town. It symbolizes KTU’s connection to the city's cultural heritage and its commitment to quality education in the city center.

Inspiring learning environment

The first two years will be spent studying in Lithuania under a joint programme between KTU and the University of Central Florida (UCF), and in the third year, the best-performing students will have the opportunity to study in the USA. You will enjoy a multicultural environment, flexible study formats and lecturers from the US and Lithuania.

A student team collaborates on a task – part of KTU’s advanced study programs where learning happens through cooperation and solving real-world challenges.

Real-world cases

You will learn about theories of public governance, public sector practice, principles of civil society, legal frameworks, and corruption prevention. You will gain practical knowledge about non-profit organisations in the US and Lithuania and a valuable studying abroad experience.

Students studying using computers – a flexible academic environment that supports remote learning and self-paced study. KTU accommodates diverse learning styles.

New Freedom to shape your path

The programme offers the opportunity to choose an extended professional practice pathway, gain valuable experience and adapt to different professional challenges. You can also choose attractive modules from a range of alternatives tailored to your interests and career goals.

Career opportunities

Become a leader of change – help strengthen the public sector and build a thriving civil society.
The Public Governance and Civil Society programme provides in-depth knowledge of public administration, civil society development, and contemporary social challenges. You will learn to analyse policy, design public services, and address pressing societal issues. Through practical projects and expert guidance, you will gain the skills needed to navigate the job market and make an impact at both national and international levels.

Here are some of the careers you can pursue after your studies:

Public Sector Coordinator

Responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing management processes in public organisations and institutions.

Head of Public Programmes

Coordinates public programmes, plans and implements social and public sector projects to add value to society.

Civil Society Expert

Develops and implements initiatives to promote citizenship, democratic values and active participation in society.

Admission requirements and programme structure

Cycle – first cycle

Field – public administration

Form, duration – full-time studies (4 yr.)

Study type – day-time, blended learning

Location – Kaunas, Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities

Language – english

Degree awarded – bachelor of public administration

Yearly price ⁱ : full-time studies – 3176 €, price per credit – 52,93 €

Financial support »

Semester

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Introduction to Public Governance	6	Blended learning
Introduction to Writing Studies 1	6	On-campus learning
Macroeconomics	6	On-campus learning
Mathematics	6	On-campus learning

Electives 1 (Select 6 cr.)

Basics of Local Governance	6	Blended learning
Basics of Science Communication	6	Distance learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Introduction to Writing Studies 2	6	On-campus learning
Philosophy	6	On-campus learning
Sociology	6	On-campus learning

Electives 2 (Select 12 cr.)

International Relations	6	On-campus learning
Political Theory	6	On-campus learning
Sustainable Human Development	6	On-campus learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Informatics 1	6	On-campus learning
International and National Security Law	6	Blended learning
Public Speaking	6	On-campus learning

Electives 3 (Select 12 cr.)

Comparative Politics	6	On-campus learning
Local Economic Development	6	Blended learning
Public Information Governance	6	Blended learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Cinema History	6	Blended learning
Environment and Society	6	On-campus learning
History of Civilizations and Media	6	On-campus learning

Electives 4 (Select 12 cr.)

Public Finance Management	6	Blended learning
Risk and Crisis Communication	6	On-campus learning
Strategic Planning in Public Sector Organisations	6	Blended learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Civil Society and Volunteering	6	Distance learning
Public Programmes and Projects	6	Blended learning
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Social Research	6	On-campus learning

KTU and UCF Electives of Modules 1

KTU Subjects

Theories of Public Governance Organisations	6	Blended learning
Urban and Regional Development	6	Blended learning

UCF Subjects

Administrative Theory	6	Distance learning
Planning and Improvement for Public Organizations	6	Blended learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Ethics and Corruption Prevention in Public Sector	6	Blended learning
Professional Internship	18	On-campus learning
Public Services Administration	6	Blended learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

KTU and UCF Electives of Modules 2

KTU Subjects

Civil Service	6	Blended learning
Leadership Fundamentals	6	On-campus learning
Non-Governmental Organisations in Public Governance System	6	Blended learning
Social Education in Community	6	Blended learning
Text Analytics	6	On-campus learning

UCF Subjects

Cooperative Education	6	Distance learning
Nonprofit Leadership Seminar	6	Distance learning
Nonprofit Organizations	6	Distance learning
Professional Administrative Writing in the Public Sector	6	Distance learning
Resource Development in the Nonprofit Sector	6	Distance learning

Module name	Credits	Method of organisation

Blended learning

Optional Subjects 2025

Good to know

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.
Distance – almost all learning online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.
Distance – almost all learning online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
On-campus – learning on the university premises.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.
Distance – almost all learning online.

Module – a part of a study programme consisting of several related topics.
Credit – a unit of the volume of a study module in hours.
Blended – learning on the university premises and online.

What will you learn

To apply mathematical methods
To understand macroeconomic processes
To analyse public governance

To analyse philosophical questions
To improve your writing skills
To analyse international relations

To apply IT, analyse data
To understand security, politics, public information
To gain knowledge about economic development

To analyse ecological change, crisis communication
To analyse climate change
To understand civilisational processes, the history of cinema, public finance
To be able to prepare strategic plans

To plan social research
To be able to analyse civil society and public governance
To understand regional development

To apply theoretical knowledge of public governance
To understand ethical principles and corruption prevention
To understand public service reforms

To apply leadership theories
To analyse non-governmental organisations
To understand the civil service

To identify, analyse and propose solutions to public management problems based on research findings

Admissions requirements

Proficiency in English	IELTS ≥ 5.5, TOEFL ≥ 75, CEFR ≥ B2, or equivalent.
Eligibility criteria:	High school certificate.Maximum 3 years after high school graduation. Minimum average grade (CGPA) >60% in each entry subject.
Transcript requirements:	Obtain a suitable transcript from your school. If unavailable, provide official translations and verified copies of the original documents.
Accepted languages:	English / Russian.
Document legislation:	The documents must be legalised (Apostille) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the documents were issued. This requirement does not apply to the EU and Belarus, Ukraine documents.

Score structure

◼	0,4	final exam	history
◼	0,4	final exam	geography or foreign language, or mathematics or information technologies
◼	0,2	final exam	motivation orally

admission procedure preparatory courses

Testimonials

Portrait photo of a young man with light hair styled back, wearing a light blue shirt and a dark sweater. He is smiling and looking directly at the camera. The background is neutral grey.

The programme offers the opportunity to choose an extended professional practice pathway, gain valuable experience and adapt to different professional challenges. You can also choose attractive modules from a range of alternatives tailored to your interests and career goals.

Luka Užgirytė

4th year student

Portrait photo of a young woman with long dark wavy hair, wearing a black top and a dark green blazer. She is standing with arms crossed and looking at the camera with a confident expression. The background is neutral light grey.

This programme offers a deeper understanding of the interdisciplinary links between politics, public management, and societal processes, and provides the opportunity to obtain a double degree. With a strong focus on public sector innovation, strategic planning, and management, it has enhanced my understanding of organisational processes within companies. Upon graduation, career opportunities are available in government, non-governmental organisations, and international institutions.

Skaistė Valickaitė

KTU alumna, Vendor Management Assistant, Biomapas

At the United Nations, public governance, sustainable social development, democracy and civil society are the purpose and basis of our work. There is a global shortage of well-prepared public management professionals with a strong foundation in democratic ethics. This KTU study programme not only provides such a foundation, but also, through partnerships with US and European educational institutions, gives an opportunity to learn about public sector practices in other countries.

Ieva Lazarevičiūtė

Decentralized Cooperation and SDG Advisor at UNDP Brazil

International mobility partners

Join an exchange programme with our international partners:

more about exchange studies

FAQ

Is there an opportunity to go abroad through exchange program?

Yes, KTU’s Public Governance and Civil Society programme offers opportunities to study abroad through exchange programs and a dual degree option with UCF, allowing students to earn degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. Eligibility depends on academic performance and programme requirements.

Is there an extra cost to study at the University of Central Florida (UCF)?

No, students who choose to study at UCF as part of the double degree programme do not have to pay any additional tuition fees for this. However, they may incur extra expenses related to living costs or other fees.

Why should I choose public administration studies at KTU?

You should choose to study the Public Governance and Civil Society programme at KTU for international exchange opportunities and practical knowledge in public governance, legal regulations, and social research. The programme opens career paths in government, non-profits, and international organizations, providing valuable global insights and skills.