Master's Degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences for Public Policy

Le Master en sciences comportementales et sociales pour les politiques publiques permet aux étudiants d’acquérir une compréhension approfondie du comportement humain, des dynamiques sociales et de l’analyse des politiques. Axé sur l’intersection entre les théories des sciences sociales et les politiques publiques, le programme prépare les étudiants à concevoir et évaluer des politiques répondant aux enjeux sociétaux.

This program trains students to master a wide range of advanced methods allowing them to rigorously analyze population behavior and to reflect on the ends and means of public decision-making. It is designed to meet a need for knowledge that is considered increasingly important today, alongside purely economic knowledge: understanding populations in order to set up efficient incentives that meet public policy objectives.

Managed by an international team of multi-disciplinary professors – cognitive psychologists, economists, sociologists, computational social scientists, anthropologists, philosophers – the Master is designed to give students robust and evidence-based tools to improve public policy in fields as varied as education, environment, health, safety, employment, gender equality, sustainable development or web information circulation and regulation.

This Master – the only one of its kind in Africa – is part of the international academic dynamic that today leads the most renowned universities to develop similar programs, aiming to use cutting-edge, quantitative as qualitative, methods to understand populations. The last semester of the Master's program is devoted to a research project intended for publication in a top-ranking academic journal.

Shaping Policy through Behavioral Sciences

Graduates of the Master's in Behavioral and Social Sciences for Public Policy are versatile experts at the intersection of social sciences and public action.
They excel in analyzing individual and collective behaviors, mastering advanced tools such as R and Python for statistical analysis and natural language processing.
Their in-depth knowledge of theories in psychology, behavioral economics, and sociology allows them to address complex issues in various areas of public policy.
These professionals develop rigorous research protocols, collect and analyze relevant data, while adhering to ethical standards.
Their training in public management and understanding of administrative challenges make them adept at collaborating with decision-makers and effectively communicating their results, thus contributing to the development of informed and innovative public policies.

Career and Academic Outcomes

This Master prepares students for PhD programs in behavioral and social sciences – in particular the FGSES PhD program – as well as data analyst positions in public and private institutions dealing with development issues.

Who Can Apply?

The program is open, firstly, to undergraduate students in behavioral sciences, sociology and economics who want to study development issues and populations, acquiring skills and knowledge that combine these disciplines as closely as possible — a major prerequisite for rigorously addressing development issues.
It is also open to graduate engineers in statistics or computer science who wish to extend their expertise on human and development issues.

Admission Procedure

• Creation of an application on the dedicated platform: https://admission.fgses-um6p.ma
• Entry of all required information (grades from semesters S1 to S4, motivations, experiences, and activities)
• Validation of the application and payment of the application fee (500 MAD)
• Review of the file by the FGSES Admissions Committee
• Oral interview, either in person or via videoconference for candidates unable to travel
• Announcement of eligibility results
• Processing of S5 and S6 grades of eligible candidates, followed by the announcement of final admission results to FGSES
• Admission to the Master’s in Behavioral and Social Sciences for Public Policy is based on the following criteria:
  • Completion and validation of an application via the platform: https://admission.fgses-um6p.ma
  • Holding a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in one of the following disciplines: behavioral and social sciences, statistical engineering, experimental psychology, economics, applied statistics, sociology, or political science
  • Strong knowledge in quantitative methods and behavioral or social sciences
  • Completion of at least 120 ECTS credits at the time of application (out of 180 required)
  • A general average of at least 12/20 or a GPA of 2.4/4 over the first five semesters. If applying before S5 results, the average of the first four semesters will be considered
  • Sufficient command of both English and French to follow courses
  • Foreign candidates with different grading systems will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Application Documents

The application documents for the Master’s program must be submitted through the FGSES application platform.

You will need to prepare the following:

• ID photo
• Identity document (ID card, passport)
• Academic transcripts
• Bachelor’s degree or certificate of completion (if already obtained)
• Language certificates, if applicable

Selection Process

All eligible candidates will go through a two-step selection process:

• Evaluation of the academic record and motivations
• Interview for candidates who pass the first stage

Final admission is subject to successful completion of the Bachelor’s degree and consistent grades in the sixth semester.

Scholarships will be awarded to enrolled students based on social criteria and academic performance.