MSc Innovation, Business and Sustainability (MIBAS)

Overview

This two‑year Master of Science is an international programme taught in English in Hamburg that prepares graduates to take leadership roles in sustainable and responsible management. The curriculum examines the ethical, environmental, social and political dimensions of contemporary business and society, equipping you to work at the intersection of innovation and sustainability or to continue into academic research.

You will deepen your theoretical understanding across management, sustainability, innovation, finance and accounting while building practical capabilities in ethical problem‑solving and critical thinking. The programme brings together motivated students from around the world, helping you develop intercultural skills and an international professional network. The university is recognised by QS as Germany’s top university for sustainability.

Key facts and requirements

• Degree: Master of Science (MSc)
• Duration: 2 years
• Language of instruction: English
• Academic focus: management, sustainability, innovation, finance, accounting; ethical, environmental, social and political aspects of business
• Skills developed: ethical problem solving, critical thinking, intercultural competence, network building
• Typical career paths: leadership roles in sustainable business, innovation management, or further academic study
• Location: Hamburg, Germany
• Ranking note: university ranked number one in Germany for sustainability by QS
• Application/admission details: specific entry requirements, deadlines and documentation are provided on the programme’s official admissions page — consult that source for up‑to‑date information.

Structure and focus The programme runs across four semesters. The first semester establishes core theoretical foundations in business management and introduces research methodology so you can understand and evaluate academic and applied studies. Semesters two and three deepen that foundation with advanced, specialist courses concentrating on innovation and sustainability in management, mechanisms for knowledge exchange within organisations, and the financial and accounting aspects of sustainable business. The final semester is reserved for an independent Master's thesis, allowing you to synthesise your study into a research project.

What you will learn and why it matters Through this sequence of modules you will build both conceptual knowledge and research skills: from fundamental management theory and rigorous methods for inquiry, to applied expertise in innovation processes, sustainability strategies and sustainable finance/accounting practices. The combination of core courses, electives and the thesis is designed to enable you to connect theory with practice and to produce original work that addresses sustainability and innovation challenges in business contexts.

Next steps For a detailed list of courses, elective options, credit requirements and assessment formats, consult the programme website.

Key modules (highlights)

• Core business management modules (first semester)
• Research methodology (first semester)
• Innovation in management (advanced)
• Knowledge exchange in management (advanced)
• Sustainability in management (advanced)
• Sustainable finance and accounting (advanced)
• Electives across innovation, business and sustainability
• Master's thesis (final semester)

Learning outcomes (concise)

• Understand and apply core theories in business management
• Use research methods to design and conduct independent empirical or theoretical studies
• Analyse and propose innovation strategies within organisational contexts
• Evaluate and develop sustainability approaches for management practice
• Apply principles of sustainable finance and accounting to business decisions
• Integrate knowledge across modules into a substantive Master's thesis

For full module descriptions, elective choices and programme regulations, please visit the programme website.

The MSc Innovation, Business and Sustainability prepares graduates for leadership roles in sustainable and responsible management across sectors. Typical career paths include corporate sustainability and ESG roles, sustainable finance, innovation and product management, management consulting with a sustainability focus, roles in NGOs and international organisations, and policy or sustainability strategy positions in public sector entities.

The programme's interdisciplinary training in management, sustainability and innovation, combined with a strong international cohort and study-abroad opportunities, also provides a solid foundation for academic research or a PhD track in related fields. Graduates are positioned to translate sustainability principles into business value and to lead organisational change toward more sustainable practices.