How can entrepreneurship drive the transition to a sustainable economy? Learn how to turn sustainability challenges into viable ventures and effective policy solutions!
Leeuwarden is a vibrant student city and the capital of Fryslân, a region driving sustainability, circular economy and green innovation. The city supports sustainable business ideas through funding, collaborative networks and innovation events, and works with partners to build circular systems. Here, you can collaborate with businesses, government and research institutes to develop real-world solutions and shape the future of sustainable entrepreneurship.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Foundations of Sustainable Entrepreneurship (5 EC) Foundations of Sustainable Entrepreneurship provides a broad introduction to entrepreneurship and its sustainable counterparts. You explore key theories, examine global entrepreneurship data, and reflect on how entrepreneurial activity contributes to societal and environmental goals. By combining academic debates with hands-on data analysis, you learn how to interpret and assess real-world entrepreneurship trends while developing your reflective and analytical skills. | ||||
| Leadership (5 EC) Leadership focuses on developing your capacity to lead meaningful change. You study leadership theories through interactive debates and apply insights about personality, strengths, and collaboration to team-based challenges. Through personal reflection and peer learning, you begin shaping your own vision and practice as a sustainable leader. | ||||
| Strategy (5 EC) Strategy develops your ability to think and act strategically in complex sustainability contexts. Through studying recent academic insights on strategic management and a practical business model development project, you learn to navigate the tensions between economic, environmental, and social objectives as a business leader and to make informed strategic choices that balance them effectively. | ||||
| Context (5 EC) Context examines how entrepreneurs and their ventures interact with their surroundings, from local ecosystems to global institutions. You learn how context shapes opportunities for change, and how entrepreneurs can act as catalysts within broader transitions. Through case study work, you develop qualitative research skills and an understanding of how sustainable entrepreneurship is embedded in complex socio-economic systems, and how it can also shape them. | ||||
| Organisation (5 EC) Organisation explores how existing organisations can transition towards sustainability. You analyse organisational behaviour, change processes, and the role of culture, governance, and leadership in enabling transformation. By applying these insights to real company cases, you learn to identify leverage points for change and design feasible pathways for sustainability transitions. | ||||
| Research Design (5 EC) Research Design deepens your understanding of how to design and evaluate academic research. You study research approaches, methodologies, and ethics, while developing your own research proposal under supervision. The course strengthens your ability to translate broad sustainability challenges into focused, researchable questions. | ||||
| New Economic Realities (5 EC) New Economic Realities challenges conventional economic thinking by introducing alternative visions of prosperity that prioritise well-being and ecological balance. You critically assess contemporary debates on post-growth, circularity, and regenerative economic design, and reflect on what these mean for entrepreneurs and policymakers. | ||||
| Performance (5 EC) Performance addresses the question of how to define and evaluate success in sustainable business. You explore the conceptual and methodological challenges of measuring social and environmental impact and learn to critically assess different approaches to evaluating organisational performance. Through case-based work, you apply these insights to assess how organisations demonstrate accountability and create multi-dimensional value. | ||||
| Policy (5 EC) Policy examines the role of public policy in enabling or constraining sustainable entrepreneurship. You study policy processes and governance dynamics, analyse real-world sustainability policies, and develop recommendations for improvement. This experience helps you understand how entrepreneurs, policymakers, and institutions can co-shape the conditions for sustainable innovation. | ||||
| Sustainable Entrepreneurship Project (15 EC) The Sustainable Entrepreneurship Project (SEP) is your master's thesis and practical capstone. You independently design and conduct empirical research on a sustainability challenge, often in collaboration with a company, NGO, or public organisation. Throughout the process, you collect and analyse data, interpret and communicate your insights effectively, and translate them into clear recommendations for practice. | ||||
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
To be considered for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's degree that included business and economics related courses and either a Bachelor's thesis and/or research methods courses. Students with a Bachelor programme in Business Administration, or International Business, or a Bachelor programme in Economics/Spatial Planning/Behavioural and Social Sciences/Humanities from a research University may be admitted. Submit your application to the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board to receive information about your admissibility. To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. |
| language test |
Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands. The following documents are valid:
An exemption can be given by the Admission Board. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 July 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 July 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
To be considered for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's degree that included business and economics related courses and either a Bachelor's thesis and/or research methods courses. Students with a Bachelor programme in Business Administration, or International Business, or a Bachelor programme in Economics/Spatial Planning/Behavioural and Social Sciences/Humanities from a research University may be admitted. Submit your application to the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board to receive information about your admissibility. To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. |
| language test |
Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands. The following documents are valid:
An exemption can be given by the Admission Board. |
| Exam | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) | C1 |
| C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) | C2 |
| IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
| IELTS listening | 6 |
| IELTS reading | 6 |
| IELTS writing | 6 |
| IELTS speaking | 6 |
| TOEFL internet based | 90 |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 July 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 July 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 2601 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 21400 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2026-2027 | € 2695 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2026-2027 | € 22200 | full-time |
Practical information for:
The Centre for Sustainable Entrepreneurship in a Circular Economy believes we can restore balance to our systems. Sustainable entrepreneurs create innovative products, services, and business models that tackle today's global challenges. They help shift our linear, fossil-fuel-based economies into circular, green, and inclusive societies, ultimately safeguarding our planet's future.
