Master in International Business and Sustainability

AIMS

The Master in International Business and Sustainability offers comprehensive, high-level training in business development and corporate strategy, with a continual focus on the issue of sustainability. The programme is rooted in the recognition that sustainable development is a crucial issue for businesses everywhere.

The Master’s programme gives students the knowledge and tools they need to act in a world in transition facing multiple crises: the climate crisis, the rise of social inequality, geopolitical imbalances and current issues surrounding "responsible capitalism", "energy sobriety" and "deglobalisation" (repatriation of value chains). In this new context, the role of business must be reconceptualised and business models redesigned.

The Master in International Business and Sustainability combines Sciences Po’s academic excellence in economics and the social sciences with professionally-driven courses in the fields of business strategy, management and sustainability. Students conduct case studies and group projects within businesses (Capstone Project).

Key points

• An international environment, with students from varied backgrounds and from all over the world. 
• A two-year programme taught entirely in English 
• An academically rigorous and multidisciplinary approach, extensive training in economics and management, expertise in sustainable development, CSR and social innovation. • A wide range of elective courses allow students to tailor the programme to their own personal and professional goals: impact investing, sustainable business models, circular economy, inclusive economy, functional economy, logistics, supply chain, energy and sustainable transport etc.
• Innovative teaching combining theory and practice, with emphasis placed on group work, oral and written communication and case studies. 
• Compulsory participation in a Capstone Project throughout the first year of the Master’s (with mentoring from partner organisations financing the project). 
• An excellent recruitment rate thanks to networking events with employers working on issues surrounding ecological and digital transition within multinational corporations and start-ups (in 2020, 53.3% of students found their first job prior to graduating).
• Option of enrolling in a dual degree with one of our partner universities: Bocconi University (Italy); Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden); University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (USA); Fondação Getulio Varga - Escola de Administração de Empresas (Brazil). 
• Privileged access to the Sciences Po Alumni network and the Centre for the Entrepreneurship (Fr) (incubator).

Curriculum

The first two semesters combine:

•  A course in social sciences exploring major contemporary issues, particularly ecological and digital transition.
• A base of core courses and specialist courses in management (Managerial Economics, Macroeconomics, Marketing, Corporate Strategy, Business Law, Statistics, Financial Accounting) coupled with courses exploring different theories and schools of thought, professional fields and roles within sustainability.

During the third semester, students are given the opportunity to focus on topics directly connected to their professional plans: whether they are interested in impact investing, circular economy, supply chain management, sustainable food or fashion, or international business development.

The final semester is spent completing a compulsory internship (for a period of at least 14 consecutive weeks in France or abroad) and sitting the Grand Oral exam, Sciences Po’s mandatory individual oral examination. While it is not compulsory, students are encouraged to take a gap year to gain professional experience between the first and second year of the Master’s programme. Over the course of two six-month internships completed at two different types of organisation, students have the chance to form and refine their career plans and to boost their employability.

While it is not compulsory, students are strongly encouraged to take a gap year to gain professional experience between the first and the second year of the Master’s. Over the course of two six-month internships, generally completed in two different types of organisation, students have the chance to form and refine their career plans and boost their employability.

Course list

• First year, semester 1
• First year, semester 2
• Second year, semester 3
• Second year, semester 4

Courses are taught by researchers in Sciences Po’s permanent faculty and by professionals, all of whom are experts in their fields.

Students of the Master in International Business and Sustainability can also apply for supplementary professional certificates (CFA, Bloomberg), increasing their chances of success in the job market.

Careers 

At the end of the programme, graduates of the Master’s are employed in various positions (sustainable development analyst, junior climate and environment associate, impact officer, regional business analyst, junior research analyst) in an equally wide variety of sectors (finance, energy, food, business, transport, consulting etc.) both in France and internationally. They work in multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, financial institutions, consultancy firms and start-ups.

The programme is particularly suited to students hoping to work in consultancy, strategy, finance, business development, CSR, sustainability and philanthropy.

To facilitate the recruitment of its graduates, Sciences Po hosts numerous career events (networking breakfasts and after-works, careers fairs, interview preparation etc.) allowing students to meet with employers and current entrepreneurs. This guarantees an excellent recruitment rate for the programme: 53.3% of 2020 graduates found a job prior to finishing their Master’s.

The average starting salary for graduates of the programme is €47,548/year.

For more information about careers, read our graduate portraits.

Testimonials

   Chitraksh Sharma

"My master's allows me to bring insightful thinking to the issues I face in my work." Read the interview

   Geetanjali Sharma

Something that attracted me the most to this master's because I could have a career in whichever field interested me. Read the interview

   Etienne Duriez

I enjoyed broadening my technical skills [...] while having in-depth intellectual reflection. Read the interview

   Thomas Gonda

I now sit at the intersection between technology, business and sustainability is right where I want to be. Read the interview

Contacts

• Scientific Director: Nicolas Coeurdacier
• Academic advisor: Félicité Gasparetto - Ph. +33 (0)1 45 49 54 07
• Academic assistant: Carol Huron - Ph. +33 (0)1 45 49 52 77
• Admissions service