Sustainability Track
The Sustainability Track is open to all SSE MSc students and combines sustainability-focused coursework with a sustainability-related MSc thesis. Upon successful completion of the requirements, a note confirming completion of the Sustainability Track will be added to the degree certificate.
Please note that it is not possible to complete both the Sustainability Track and the Data Analytics Track. Students may only receive one of the two track certificates.
Requirements for the Sustainability Track
Part 1: Complete 15 ECTS of eligible elective courses
Students must complete at least 15 ECTS from the approved list of Sustainability Track electives. The following courses are currently eligible (subject to change):
- Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility
- Sustainable Finance
- Gender and the Labor Market
- Development Economics
- The Economics of Pollution and Climate Change
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Natural Resource and Energy Economics
- Accounting for Grand Challenges
- Business & Sustainability Development Fundamentals
- Climate, Financial Markets and the Economy
- The Road to Green Transition
- The Future of Europe
- AI Challenges to Business and Society
A maximum of 7.5 ECTS may be completed during an exchange semester, provided that the course has been approved by Associate Professor Lin Lerpold, who is academically responsible for the track.
Part 2: Write a sustainability-related MSc thesis
Before completing the thesis course (or the MIB Research Project), students must submit a one-page summary explaining how their chosen topic relates to sustainable development. This ensures that the thesis aligns with the objectives of the Sustainability Track.
Please note that no topic, industry, or company is considered sustainable by definition.
For final approval of the thesis requirement, the completed thesis must be submitted to Associate Professor Lin Lerpold.
Sustainable development is a broad concept, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a useful framework for connecting research topics to global sustainability challenges.
The thesis should include a brief discussion of how the chosen topic relates to or affects one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development more broadly. For example, a thesis on gender equality should explain how and why Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) contributes to sustainable development.
Once the thesis has been approved by the faculty responsible for the Sustainability Track and all elective course requirements have been completed, students may apply for a certificate. Following approval, a note confirming completion of the Sustainability Track will also be added to the degree certificate.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Sustainability Track, please contact the MSc Admissions team.
