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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Header image Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Join a new generation of entrepreneurs and policy advisors! Discover what makes sustainable enterprises emerge, thrive, and be successful.

  • Develop leadership and management skills and gain academic and practical knowledge on sustainability.
  • Learn how entrepreneurs and businesses contribute to solving complex social problems.
  • Work on real-life challenges alongside our partners - entrepreneurs, NGOs and governmental institutions.

You will learn about sustainability challenges from different perspectives - from a startup entrepreneur, or a large organization, well-established in their branch to a policy advisor working on the regulations for different levels of government. You will be equipped with leadership and alliance-building skills in order to connect companies and institutions on their way to sustainability.

→ Explore stories featuring Sustainable Entrepreneurship students, alumni, and professors on our blog!

Pre-master February 2024
We offer a 10-week pre-master course for students who obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HBO).

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Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
67085
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Campus Fryslân
Why study this programme in Leeuwarden?

Leeuwarden is the capital and the economic and cultural centre of the greenest and most beautiful province of the Netherlands; Friesland. Leeuwarden is gaining popularity among students which makes sense since there's plenty to do in the historical centre.

Unique about our programme:

  • developing a new perspective
  • learning from real entrepreneurs
  • multidisciplinary education
  • intellectual challenge combined with personal growth
Programme

Our programme takes 12 months (one year) of full-time study. We coach your academic, leadership and entrepreneurship ambitions in four blocks of 10 weeks each. During these 12 months you will become an expert in all elements of the successful business model of sustainable entrepreneurship.

You will learn how to design (block 1), implement (block 2) and successfully manage performance (block 3). In block 4 you will develop your sustainable ambitions in your personal Leadership project.

Your research will focus on a case from regional, national or international companies. You'll find your project in collaboration with the Campus Fryslân's network. You may also adopt one of the UN's challenges of sustainability or a personal sustainability challenge. We are an international programme. Sustainable challenges are relevant for all nations, regions, cities, businesses or people. We are open to companies or challenges that will serve as your host during the entire programme.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Foundations of Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Introduction to Key Concepts and Practices (5 EC)
Sustainable Entrepreneurial Strategy and Business Models (5 EC)
Sustainable Leadership (5 EC)
Contexts and Ecosystems of Sustainable Entrepreneurship (5 EC)
Organisations (5 EC)
Sustainable Networks and Supply Chains (5 EC)
Measuring Sustainable Performance of Organisations (5 EC)
Public Policy (5 EC)
Research methods (5 EC)
Qualitative project (15 EC, optional)
Quantitative project (15 EC, optional)

Curriculum

In the leadership project you will conduct independent academic research following to your own design, focusing on solving a problem relevant to a corporate sustainability challenge. You can choose one of the two options in the Leadership project; A. The database project B. The case study project

Depending on your individual entrepreneurship ambitions and leadership profiles, you will work with regional, national or international sustainable organisations. You will develop and present your leadership project for supervisors, peers and stakeholders on the Circular Minds Conference.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is unaccommodated
Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To be considered for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's degree that included business related courses and either a Bachelor's thesis and/or research methods courses.

University of Groningen: Students with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or International Business of the University of Groningen have direct access to the Master Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

Other universities and degree programmes: Students with a Bachelor programme in Business Administration or International Business or a Bachelor programme in Economics, Spatial Planning, Behavioural and social sciences or Humanities from another University may be admitted. You have to submit your application to the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board to receive information about your admissibility.

HBO-degree (University of applied sciences): students with a degree in Business Administration or International Business or a comparable bachelor's degree may be (conditionally) admitted. Read more specific information here: https://www.rug.nl/cf/centre-for-sustainable-entrepreneurship/education/premasterse. You have to 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.

You have the possibility to upload a substantial academic paper, e.g. your Bachelor's thesis or an essay, to demonstrate your research skills.

On the basis of your application the Admissions Board will determine whether:

  • You are (provisionally) admitted. (All conditions have been fulfilled but we might still need to receive certified documents).
  • You are conditionally admitted. You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. You will find the conditions of your admission in your decision letter.
  • You are not admitted. You are not admitted, because you do not meet the programme's entry requirements. The reasons will be clearly stated in the decision letter.
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:

  • Full English Bachelor's degree*, where the only language of instruction is English.
  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 90 with a minimum of 18 on reading and listening, 20 on speaking and 21 on writing,
  • IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 on all items, or
  • Cambridge: C1 advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180
  • English taught bachelors from the following countries are valid as proof of English proficiency: The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An exemption can be given by the Admission Board.

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 July 202401 September 2024
01 July 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Be aware that the table about the selection procedures refers to the country where you obtained your diploma, not your nationality. 'Dutch students' for example means students with a Dutch diploma.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To be considered for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's degree that included business 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 or Humanities from a research University may be admitted. You have to submit your application to the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Admissions Board to receive information about your admissibility. Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/cf/centre-for-sustainable-entrepreneurship/education/step-by-step-guide

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.

You have the possibility to upload a substantial academic paper, e.g. your Bachelor's thesis or an essay, to demonstrate your research skills.

On the basis of your application the Admissions Board will determine whether:

  • You are (provisionally) admitted. (All conditions have been fulfilled but we might still need to receive certified documents).
  • You are conditionally admitted. You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. You will find the conditions of your admission in your decision letter.
  • You are not admitted. You are not admitted, because you do not meet the programme's entry requirements. The reasons will be clearly stated in the decision letter.
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:

  • Full English Bachelor's degree*, where the only language of instruction is English.
  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 90 with a minimum of 18 on reading and listening, 20 on speaking and 21 on writing,
  • IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 on all items, or
  • Cambridge: C1 advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180
  • English taught bachelors from the following countries are valid as proof of English proficiency: The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An exemption can be given by the Admission Board.

Language requirements

ExamMinimum score
C1 Advanced (formerly CAE)C1
C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE)C2
IELTS overall band6.5
IELTS listening6
IELTS reading6
IELTS writing6
IELTS speaking6
TOEFL internet based90

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 July 202401 September 2024
01 July 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Be aware that the table about the selection procedures refers to the country where you obtained your diploma, not your nationality. 'Dutch students' for example means students with a Dutch diploma.

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 17800full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 20800full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

MSc. Sustainable Entrepreneurship prepares you for a meaningful career with the perspective of tackling world challenges. Sustainability is relevant for careers in multinationals such as Royal Haskoning, Rabobank and Tauw but also in fast-growing niches in biobased and high-tech sectors and startups. Policymaking institutes nationwide also increasingly require new employees to define their personal career ambitions in line with sustainable development. International organizations such as Deloitte consider in-depth knowledge and skills as a prerequisite for trainee programmes.

Job examples

  • Policymaker
  • Project manager
  • Internal consultant
  • SME consultant
  • Sustainability officer
  • Sustainable entrepreneur
Research

Centre for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (CSE)

The CSE believes we can balance and preserve our valuable systems. Sustainable entrepreneurs generate new business models which substantially reduce social and environmental impacts whilst simultaneously improving the quality of societies. The CSE wants to create a circular society. This translates in new programmes for university students, business leaders, and academic scholars, whom we provide with all knowledge and competencies they need to make sustainable entrepreneurship successful.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Marijke Huisman-Wolters (General inquiries Sustainable Entrepreneurship programme & application)
    Email: cf-se rug.nl
    Telephone: +31 (0)6 31 98 24 13

My knowledge about sustainability has increased a lot!

With this master, my knowledge about sustainability has increased a lot. I am now able to advise companies and friends about sustainable actions. As we are a small group, the classes are very dynamic and that allows us to learn faster and also collaborate with every classmate. On the other hand, I found the master program very academic. It teaches you how a sustainable entrepreneur is but, in my case, a classmate and I had to become an entrepreneur outside the university.

Germán Ramos Garcia

Read more

You'll learn alternative ways of doing business

What I really like about this master is that the complexity of sustainability and entrepreneurship challenges our critical thinking in the face of controversial circumstances. The programme tests our judgement to evaluate a situation, a company and our own leadership. This programme won't teach you the tips and tricks to run a business daily, but it will show and encourage you to think of alternative ways of doing business other than the conventional solely money-driven fashion.

Roxanne Cacpal

Read more

Study associations

Nobis Cura Futuri

Nobis Cura Futuri is the Study Association and the official embodiment of the international student community at Campus Fryslân.
Founded in 2020, we aim to provide plenty of fun, social and academic events (think of Pub crawls, talent shows, travels, guest-speaker evenings). All in the spirit of Nobis Cura Futuri: “The Care of the Future is Ours”, meaning we strive to provide activities that are aimed at making the most of your student life by adhering to our values of responsibility, diversity, sustainability and development.
https://www.rug.nl/cf/studeren-bij-cf/nobis-cura-futuri
Read more
Student profile

The SE programme attracts highly motivated students who have a wide range of interests and don't want to limit themselves to a single academic discipline. They share a desire to help save our planet for future generations by contributing knowledge and skills to a shift towards sustainable business models. The programme appeals to those looking for an intellectual challenge combined with personal growth.