UNITAR

A distinctive student-centered, multidisciplinary approach, in which the workplace is used as the main learning environment.

UNITAR has developed an extensive expertise in the delivery of online programmes. Using Internet as a medium, students, practitioners and scholars are brought together in a unique virtual learning environment designed to valorize experiential and collaborative learning.

Distinctive features of the Master include:

• Full online delivery, allowing for a flexible schedule designed to fit the specific needs of full-time working professionals;
• Student-centered approach, in which the learner and the learning experience at the core of the programme;
• Leading-edge insights into prevailing theories and practices;
• Lifelong learning approach, in which the workplace is used as the main learning environment;
• Multi-cultural pedagogy, particularly attentive at the diversity of paradigms, perceptions and intellectual traditions;
• Multi-disciplinary approach.

Students benefit from an experienced faculty of scholars and practitioners, peer-to-peer collaboration, and a curriculum that reflects current theory and practice.

MEPA001 Elections and Voting as Instruments of Governance
MEPA002 Electoral Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
MEPA003 Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)
MEPA004 Electoral Systems and Managing Representation
MEPA005 Understanding and Managing Boundary Delimitation
MEPA006 Political Parties, Campaigns, and Political Finance
MEPA007 Electoral Planning and Budgeting
MEPA008 Voter Registration and Identification Systems
MEPA009 Electoral Operations
MEPA010 Marginalized Electorates and Special Voting Programs
MEPA011 Elections and Technology
MEPA012 Civic and Voter Education
MEPA013 Media and Elections
MEPA014 Electoral Integrity and Malpractice
MEPA015 Electoral Security and Conflict Prevention
MEPA016 Electoral Justice Systems
MEPA017 Electoral Observation, Evaluation, and Validation
MEPA018 Policy Advice and Electoral Reform
MEPA019 Direct Democracy (optional)
MEPA020 Final Project

The Master in Electoral Policy and Administration is awarded upon completion of 62 ETCS. Students may alternatively opt to register for individual modules which will grant between 2 and 5 ETCS.

At the end of the Master Programme, those students, who have regularly settled the tuition costs and have passed all the required examinations and successfully presented the Master Thesis, will receive from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna a First Level Master’s Diploma, in accordance with art. 3 of the Italian DM no. 270/2004. The degree is awarded according to the rules and regulations set by the Italian and the EU education system. Giving its specificity, it does not give general access to Doctoral studies (Phd and similar). Validation of credits for access to such programmes can be requested from competent institutions.

The average duration of the Master in Electoral Policy and Administration is 12 months. The average duration of the individual modules is between 20 to 40 hours (depending on the specific module chosen).

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Three-year (at least) university degree in a relevant field, combined with some (ideally at least six months) working experience in the field of electoral policy and administration or related areas. Students expecting to graduate within a period of three months from the application are also eligible.
• Fluency in English – at least at the level B2 (please refer to: CEFR for Languages, CoE, www.coe.int/lang-CEFR ).

Application Instructions

The Project Managers are available to help students during the application process. Students are encouraged to email the Project Managers at mepa@santannapisa.it with any questions.

Applicants are selected on the basis of the information provided in their CVs and in the online application form which is available at www.mastermepa.santannapisa.it.

Required supporting documentation

• CV
• passport/ ID
• grade transcript of the Bachelor's degree (not only the diploma)

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, to be considered for a specific semester, please submit your application not later than:

• 1st of March - to start in April
• 1st of September - to start in October

Admitted participants will be informed about the results within 8 weeks from their application. In case of problems with the online procedure please contact mepa@santannapisa.it.

Once admitted, applicants will receive an Admission Letter and they will have up to one year to secure enough funding and start attending the courses.

The tuition fee for the full programme is EUR 10,000, payable in three installments.

Individual modules are also available. The fee for each MEPA module is EUR 850. Starting from the second module, a 10% discount on the fee of the second and the third modules is applied and a 15% discount is applied for the fourth and the fifth modules. It is possible to select up to 5 modules. The fee for an individual module shall be paid in one tranche.

For more information, please contact us at mepa@unitar.org.

To apply, click here and follow the instructions.

Should you need any guidance or additional information, please contact us at:

United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Peacekeeping Training Programme
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
E-mail: mepa@unitar.org

Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Via Cardinale Maffi, 27
56126 Pisa, Italy
E-mail: mepa@santannapisa.it
Website: www.mepa.dirpolis.sssup.it