Business as usual is over!

This Master of Science degree in Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Innovation is designed for aspiring change makers who want to apply the tools of business to solving the world’s most urgent social and environmental problems. Whether students set out to integrate sustainability practices into a corporation, start their own purpose-driven companies, or anything in between, this MSc empowers them to drive change within teams, firms, and industries.

A two-year residential programme based in Berlin and Paris, the Master in Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Innovation builds on the latest thinking on sustainable business, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Over six terms, students will gain a practical understanding of relevant business concepts and methods, such as values-based innovation management and business modelling, as well as direct experience in the field on an internship, a consulting engagement, or a business development project.

Practical idealism

We believe students of this programme will be pragmatic idealists. Most students will have backgrounds in economics, natural sciences, or engineering. They are fluent in English and interested in pursuing an international business career that is focused on building innovative and sustainability-driven companies that aim to solve urgent issues such as poverty, degradation of natural ecosystems or climate change.

This full-time, two-year programme is taught entirely in English, but most serious sustainability problems cross borders, so students study a second language as well. Cross-cultural perspectives are further encouraged through conversations with ESCP’s international faculty and students as well as frequent speakers.

ESCP Berlin’s Vision Of Sustainability

Sustainability is a Key Academic Area at ESCP Berlin. It entails various study programmes, research projects and ESCP Berlin’s activities in the pursuit of itself becoming a sustainable organisation. This Key Academic Area is devoted to finding answers to essential questions within the field of sustainability entrepreneurship and management. Selected experts from renowned companies and NGOs support the school as a Sustainability Advisory Board.

About ESCP's MSc

The choice of a full-time MSc corresponds to a professional project and gives young graduates and young managers a combination of high-value skills sought by recruiters.
This programme provides academic expertise and presentation of the best professional practices. Our goal is to train experts who will be rapidly able to progress in a globalized world. Choosing a "Full-Time Intensive" format allows, at the end of a short and dense tuition, to have an immediate access to decision-making leadership positions.

Entry Level: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS)
ECTS: 120
Duration: 2 years (fulltime)
Language: English

A programme for your passion

Through a combination of lectures, skills instruction, and hands-on fieldwork, students learn both the theory and practice of what they need to know to become an entrepreneur who makes a difference to society and the planet.

Courses are taught by full-time ESCP faculty and successful professionals. Students also have the opportunity to meet many successful entrepreneurs and business people focused on sustainability.

Course Modules

• Sustainable entrepreneurship & innovation (e. g., Sustainable entrepreneurship, Sustainable innovation)
• Intercultural management & leadership (e. g., Management & leadership)
• Electives (e. g., NGO management, Digital marketing, Social entrepreneurship MOOC)
• Research (e. g., Managing complexity, Master Thesis)

Internship

From May to July of the second year, students must complete an in-company internship of at least 3 months. The internship is an opportunity for practical application of the theoretical concepts learned from courses, with an eye to establishing a career.

Here are some examples of companies and organisations at which students have obtained internships:

• Nike 
• Atlantic Food Labs  
• Active Giving  
• SAP 
• Brussels Beer Project 
• Siemens Mobility
• C4 Ventures 
• Emma: the Sleep Company 
• Digital Career Institute

The Corporate Relations Department

The Company Relations Department is dedicated to gather placement offers from many companies. The department also organises a series of fairs involving firms, giving MSc students many opportunities to make contact.

Know more about the Company Relations Department

Company Consultancy Projects - Experiental learning

You will accomplish a Company Consultancy Project during the MSc in International Sustainability Management programme, which allows you to put into practice the concepts acquired in the classroom. The projects provide students with collaborative and intercultural work experience on a case provided by a company.

In groups of 4-5, students are expected to perform an in-depth analysis and make recommendations for actions that can realistically be implemented by the company.
At the heart of the programme, the Company Consultancy Projects are a key element of the programme that enables students to get to know a sector or a specific function. They require significant commitment and focus from the students.

Skills improvement

Through the Company Consultancy Project, students learn how to work efficiently as a team and hone their skills in:

• Project Planning and management
• Data collection and analysis
• Development of hypotheses and recommendations
• Customer service
• Public speaking and presentations

Throughout the project, tutoring is provided by an ESCP professor.
Students learn how to approach an issue with a critical mindset, and how to react swiftly in unexpected situations with a creative and open-minded attitude.

Examples of partner companies and company consultancy projects

• BBVA, BNP Paribas, Capco, Deloitte, Indra, Porsche Design, Eaton, IBM ...
• Development of a CSR strategy, Development of an innovative B2B online portal, Study of business intelligence, Valvetrain footprint optimisation ...

Careers in Sustainability and Innovation

Demand is up for values-based change agents and entrepreneurs: more companies than ever see sustainability as an essential part of their mission.

However, the new corporate commitment should be seen as the floor of our forecast, not the ceiling. Given the world’s many pressing concerns – climate change, aging populations, income inequality, and more – it’s hard to think of any industry or sector that could benefit more from talented and socially aware entrepreneurs.

The Careers Service

• Prepare your Career Plan: The Careers Service team supports you in preparing a well-structured Curriculum Vitae and cover letter in order to increase your chances of making an impression on companies. In addition, careers support also provides you with a structured method and process to prepare a plan, in order to start and build an effective job-seeking strategy.
   
• Job Fairs and Recruitment Day: Of particular relevance are the Job Fairs and Recruitment Days organised by the ESCP Careers Service on each campus. Students are welcome to attend the job fairs on any of ESCP's campuses, no matter the current study location. Thanks to these large events you have the opportunity to directly get in touch with HR and managers of leading companies.

Post-graduation options for non-EU citizens

Start your sustainability career in Europe. Studying in Germany has many distinct advantages during and after your studies. Upon completion of a state-recognised degree, non-EU citizens are entitled to apply for an 18-month job-seeking visa, among other options. See more information here.

The Alumni Network

Once you have completed your Master, you have the opportunity to be part of the Alumni Network that updates ex-students about newest internship and job offers for the national and international business environment.

Requirements

• A Bachelor degree with a minimum of 180 ECTS from a state accredited institution of Higher Education i.e. university
• A university background preferably in management, economics, social or natural science, or engineering: interest in own business development; an entrepreneurial / intrapreneurial profile
• Fluency in English: TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS scores or English test on campus
• Work experience not required (if given, a maximum 2 years is recommended)

Admission step 1 - Application Form

To apply for the MSc in Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme, you must submit the following documents:

• Letter of motivation (half page)
• Photocopy of passport or identity card
• Your resume (curriculum vitae)
• Transcripts of records of all years of higher education (certified copies) and current weighted average mark and/or expected final grade
• Bachelor degree - if you hold it already - original or certified copy

Admission step 2 - online tests and personal interview

Candidates who have successfully passed the background evaluation will  be invited to the online Admission Day. The Day consists of:

• Online deductive and numerical logic test (you will find more information and examples here)
• Individual interview
• English test (written, oral)
• Applicants whose first language is English or who provide the result of a standardized language test not older than two years are exempt (TOEFL written 600; TOEFL IBT 100; TOEFL computer based 250; IELTS 7)

Admission step 3 - confirmation

Candidates will be admitted on a rolling basis.