Master of Science Sustainable Business Development (trinational)

School of Business

The Master of Science in Sustainable Business Development programme equips you with the skills to develop and implement sustainable business models that are economically successful and make a positive contribution to the environment and society. Working in international teams of students, you will combine knowledge from the fields of sustainability, business management and digitalisation and apply it directly in practice to drive sustainable change.

Factsheet

Degree: Triple Degree - Master of Science in Sustainable Business Development
Study mode: Full-time
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 120
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 2 years
Teaching language: German, French, English (trinational)
Place: Basel (CH), Offenburg (D), Strasbourg (F)
Application fee: CHF 200
Semester fee: CHF 750 for residents of Switzerland (for details, see Organisational matters/Fees)

At a glance

Triple degree in three countries: You will study in Switzerland, Germany and France – and receive three recognised Master's degrees.
Interdisciplinary and international: You will work in multilingual teams on real sustainability projects with partners from business, NGOs and the public sector.
Three languages of instruction: You will deepen your subject and language skills in German, French and English – a strong foundation for international careers.
Pure practice: Over half of the programme consists of concrete projects – you will learn how sustainable change can be achieved in organisations.
Shaping the future: You will develop sustainable solutions for the major challenges of our time.

Sustainability is not a trend, but a fundamental necessity that will significantly influence all processes in companies and other organisations in the future!

Why study this?

With Sustainable Business Development, you shape change – entrepreneurially, responsibly and with an international network.

As a sustainability expert, you are in demand wherever organisations need to break new ground: you develop solutions that combine ecological, economic and social goals – and implement them in international teams.

What sets you apart: you will graduate with three internationally recognised master's degrees:

Master of Science FHNW in Sustainable Business Development (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Northwestern, Switzerland)
Master of Science in Sustainable Business Development (Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany)
Master European Digital and Sustainable Business (University of Strasbourg, France)

Career prospects

Our graduates work in the following areas, among others:

Sustainability Management & ESG

Business Development & Innovation

Project Management & Change Management

Consulting & International Cooperation

NGOs, International Organisations & Public Sector

Doctorate

«For anyone who truly wants to make a difference for a livable future, I recommend a course of study that combines business expertise, in-ternational perspective, and knowledge of sustainability.»

Simon Zysset - WWF Schweiz / Verantwortlicher Nachhaltige Hochschulen

«The challenge of implementing sustainability in businesses is growing by the day. That’s why we urgently need well educated professionals who bring sustainability into the world of business with inspiration and commitment.»

Dr. Stephan Lienin - Sustainserv / Managing Partner

«In a world facing complex global challenges, transforming the economy towards regener-ative practices demands bold, visionary minds. The new trinational Master’s in Sustainable Business Development equips future leaders with the skills, insight and determination to drive meaningful change – and I am confident its graduates will make an inspiring impact in business worldwide.»

Dr. Stefan Siemer - Weleda AG / Head Group Sustainability

«The importance of cross border exchange and collaboration in the field of sustainability cannot be overstated. In a world increasingly shaped by global crises, it is essential that professionals from different countries join forces to develop holistic solutions. The trina-tional Master’s programme MSc Sustainable Business Development offers an exceptional platform to unite experts from diverse regions, fostering shared knowledge, innovation and impactful action for a sustainable future.»

Prof. Dr. Schellenhuber - Climate Researcher

Structure and programme contents

Course content

The programme is designed to last four semesters and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. Each semester consists of two parts:

Fundamentals (15 ECTS): Theoretical foundations in economics, technology and sustainability.
Impact Projects (15 ECTS): Practical projects applying the knowledge acquired.

The languages of instruction are German, French and English. In the first year of study, voluntary language courses are offered to facilitate the transition to the trinational programme. In the fourth semester, students write their Master's thesis, which focuses on a problem in the areas of sustainability and circular business models. The thesis can be carried out as part of an intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship or consulting project, or as accompanying research to an R&D project at one of the three universities.

Practical Projects, Thesis & Graduate Competencies

Master’s thesis

Competencies

Semester plan

The MSc program spans four semesters across three countries:

Semester 1 – Switzerland: FHNW Basel, instruction in German
Semester 2 – Germany: Hochschule Offenburg, instruction in German
Semesters 3 & 4 – France: EM Strasbourg Business School, instruction in French and English

Modulübersicht (PDF)

Study locations

Lecturers

Requirements and admission

Admission Requirements

Eligibility Assessment

Application Notes

Organisational matters

Fees

Application & Deadlines

Partner Universities

Downloads & Regulatoins

Co-financing partner

Advising and information events

Non-binding information call

Book an information call online with the programme director, Prof. Dr. Jörg Wombacher. During this personal conversation, you can ask all your questions and get a comprehensive picture of the programme.

Book an information call now