Sustainable Business Development

Do you want to do more than just maximize profits? In the trinational Master’s program in Sustainable Business Development, you’ll study in Germany, France, and Switzerland to learn how to develop sustainable business models that are environmentally sound and economically successful. Through real-world projects with partner companies, you’ll put your knowledge directly into practice and become a driving force for a world worth living in.

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Profile

Degree
3 internationally recognized master's degrees (M. Sc.)

Study Language
German, French, English

Standard period of study
4 Semester

Starts of study
Winter semester

Application deadline
March 31 (resident outside the EU) / July 15 (resident within the EU)

Admission requirements
completed bachelor's degree in a related field

Language requirements
Language level of B1 in German, French and English

ECTS
120 Credits

Place of study
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (Switzerland), EM Strasbourg Business School, Université de Strasbourg (France), Hochschule Offenburg

Selection process
Yes (NC)

Everything You Need to Know

Course Content

During your studies, you’ll combine economic, environmental, and social topics to develop business models that truly work. You’ll bring together knowledge and practical skills from a wide range of fields:

Circular economy systems
Resource efficiency
Sustainable business strategies
Corporate governance and ethics
Renewable energy
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Globalization and Sustainability
Corporate Culture

In the first part of your program, the “Fundamentals,” we’ll bring you and your fellow students up to speed on sustainability, technology, and economics.

Each semester, your journey takes you to a different campus of our partner universities. You’ll gain exposure to diverse perspectives and build an international network:

1st Semester: FHNW School of Business (Basel, Switzerland)
2nd semester: Hochschule Offenburg (Offenburg, Germany)
3rd & 4th Semesters: EM Strasbourg Business School, University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France). Here, you will also write your master’s thesis in the 4th semester.

Your courses will be held in German and French; in selected subjects, you will communicate in English. To help you get off to a smooth start in your trinational program, we offer language courses during your first year of study.

Dual study phase in the second year of study

In your second year, you’ll shift into high gear and build a direct connection between the university and the company. Here’s what your course of study will look like:

3rd semester: You alternate weekly between the university and your partner company. This allows you to apply your newly acquired knowledge directly to real-world projects and further develop your skills in a professional setting.
4th semester: You’ll be working full-time at the company and focusing entirely on your master’s thesis.

Your 2 Paths to a Dual Degree Program

You can choose the country where you want to build your professional network. We offer two options for companies and students:

Companies in France: In the standard model, students work at a French company. Hiring is straightforward via an apprenticeship contract (contrat d’apprentissage).
Companies in Germany: Alternatively, you can opt for the cross-border model (post-baccalaureate cross-border apprenticeship). In this case, you are employed by a company in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, or Saarland.

Perspectives

With your triple master’s degree, many doors are open to you, for example in these fields:

Sustainability Management
Sustainability Management in NGOs and the Public Sector
Product and Life Cycle Management
Supply Chain Management
Sustainable Transformation Management
Sustainability Consulting
Starting Your Own Sustainable Business
Ph.D.: During your two-year master’s program (120 ECTS credits leading to a degree from the University of Strasbourg), you will fulfill the formal requirements for a Ph.D. and gain valuable research and methodological skills.

Application

Admission Requirements

a) A bachelor’s degree comprising at least 180 credits (according to ECTS), or an equivalent first degree from a suitable and accredited program at a recognized institution of higher education.

Equivalent first-cycle degree from a suitable and accredited program at a recognized institution of higher education.

b) For all students, the required language proficiency level corresponds to Level B1 in German, French, and English according to the Common European Framework of Reference.

c) Suitable bachelor's programs include business, engineering, natural sciences, or computer science. Bachelor’s degrees in other fields are accepted upon demonstration of appropriate aptitude and interest.

Selection Process

Online application with documents in digital form; preliminary selection based on the documents submitted in the online application
Trilingual interview (in German, French, and English) before a selection committee

Financing your study

Erasmus+

If Hochschule Offenburg is your home institution, you can receive Erasmus+ funding for your time in France. As soon as you meet the program requirements and the funds are available, we’ll provide you with financial support.

You can find details on the current funding amount directly under Erasmus+.

Recognition and Support from the DFH

Our degree program is recognized by the Franco-German University (DFH).

Students who enroll at the DFH receive a monthly mobility grant of €300–350 per person for a maximum of 10 months per academic year (in accordance with the DFH’s eligibility criteria). For more information on enrollment and financial aid, visit the DFH website.

Driving Sustainability Across Borders

You’ll spend more than half of your studies working on concrete sustainability projects. In the “Impact Projects” with our partner companies, NGOs, and public organizations, you’ll tackle real-world challenges. You’ll work and make an impact together in trinational teams, guided by learning coaches. You’ll see results and feel that your actions are making a meaningful difference.

In the process, you’ll take on various roles:

Entrepreneur: You develop and implement your own sustainable business idea.
Consultant: You help companies make their business models more sustainable.
Intrapreneur: You work individually within a company and become a driver of real transformation there.

3 countries, 3 areas of focus, 3 degrees

In this master’s program—the only one of its kind in Europe—you’ll gain international expertise and earn three internationally recognized degrees: from the FHNW School of Business (Switzerland), Hochschule Offenburg (Germany), and the EM Strasbourg Business School, Université de Strasbourg (France). With this triple degree in hand, you hold the key to a career that combines environmental sustainability and economic success across borders.