Our PhD programme is a multidisciplinary course offered by the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG – Maastricht University) and United Nations University-MERIT (UNU-MERIT).

The programme focuses on research skills and methods, training students to become both scholars and practitioners in the fields of governance and the economics of technology. It has three specializations, all accredited and awarded by Maastricht University:

• PhD with specialization in Public Policy and Policy Analysis (MGSoG)
  
  
• PhD with specialization in the Economics & Policy Studies of Technical Change (UNU-MERIT)
  
  
• PhD with specialization in Structural Change and Industrialization (in cooperation with UNIDO)

During their first year, students complete a basic, compulsory training programme conducted by leading scholars of the host and partner universities. These courses are taught in Maastricht and spread across two semesters.

Taught entirely in English, this is an annual Maastricht-based programme which starts on 1 September. At the end of the programme, the doctoral degree is awarded by Maastricht University upon successful defence of the thesis.

The Host Institute
UNU-MERIT/MGSOG is a research and training centre of United Nations University (UNU). UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in research, postgraduate training and the dissemination of knowledge aimed at resolving the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare. The centre is based in Maastricht in southeast Netherlands, and works in close collaboration with the University of Maastricht.

The institute’s research mission is to provide new insights into the economic, social and political aspects of growth and development in local and international contexts. Its research and training programmes address a broad range of questions including the economics of technology and innovation, national and international governance, intellectual property protection, social protection policy, knowledge creation and diffusion, and migration.  

We actively participate in research projects for international organizations, governments, businesses, and foundations throughout the world. UNU-MERIT plays a particular role in the United Nations as a research unit concerned with the analysis of technological change. The institute has a long history of conducting applied research for organizations such as the European Commission, the International Development Research Centre and various national governments.

Researchers at UNU-MERIT are internationally recognized for their contributions to the understanding of the economic, political, social and philosophical foundations of the processes of technical change. MGSoG has a history of project implementation for various international institutions including the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO and national governments, focusing in particular on social policy and migration developments.