Sustainable Business Management
You engage honestly with key questions:
How can organisations be managed responsibly?
How can a socially and ecologically sustainable economy be shaped?
With sound knowledge and proven practical methods, you drive the transformation of business and society forward, linking sustainability with hands-on fields of action.
Shaping change together: Sustainable and responsible
In the degree programme, you engage in an interdisciplinary examination of the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainability. You will learn how to shape organisations in a future-oriented and responsible manner. In agile learning environments, you develop innovative solutions to current challenges. Our learning spaces are characterised by practice-oriented learning, self-directed action and teaching on an equal footing. We foster a cooperative atmosphere, an open and constructive culture of discussion, and a shared passion for sustainability.
You will qualify for future-proof and meaningful career opportunities.
Get an insight into our work on our LinkedIn channel.
Sustainable Business Management
Sustainable Business Management
Sustainable Business Management
Sustainable Business Management
Sustainable Business Management
Dates and Events
Career prospects
As a graduate of the Master’s programme, a wide range of career opportunities is open to you. You can work as a change agent, for example by implementing sustainability in companies and organisations, advising businesses in this field, or becoming active as an entrepreneur yourself.
Specialisation options
The Master’s programme is broadly aligned with the key qualifications expected by companies and organisations. It provides you with both professional and personal expertise, encourages critical thinking, fosters enjoyment in collaborative work, and has a strong practical orientation. As a result, you are well equipped to engage with the diverse and relevant discourses of our time and are ideally prepared for middle and senior management positions in a wide range of businesses and organisation
Prospects / job profiles
Our graduates are change agents who support companies and organisations in transitioning to sustainability-oriented business models and implementing sustainable business practices. Potential areas of employment include corporate departments responsible for implementing or managing sustainability aspects; consulting firms specialising in sustainability and strategy; business associations; NGOs; certification bodies; or even founding your own start-up.
What I particularly liked about the Master's programme was that there was room for (critical) discussions. It's not about mainstream business studies. We talked a lot about alternative ways of doing business.
Nele Nopper
Workshop leader in agile working with a focus on design thinking, sustainability topics and climate(feelings). Project officer at the environmental youth organisation Naturfreundejugend Deutschlands.
Paul Wolf
Founder of visionYOU GmbH, creative agency for digital education.
Graduate, Sustainable Business Management
"The Master's significantly deepened my understanding of sustainable business practices and gave me the tools to make a real difference in my career. It prepared me to face challenges in business with a holistic approach. The atmosphere in the degree programme was very collaborative and supportive. There was a strong sense of community and the interaction between students was very valuable, not least because of the different professional and academic backgrounds that everyone brought to the degree programme."
Felix Schicht
Head of Mobility Management at Berliner Wasserbetriebe
Graduate, Sustainable Business Management
"I recommend the Master's programme to people who are convinced and want to work in business to build sustainable management structures and business models. What I liked best about the Master's programme was learning in a small group of intrinsically motivated students and developing professionally and personally in the various modules."
I want to apply...
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1 December to 15 January
Winter semester:
for the first semester: 1 March to 15 July
for higher semesters: 1 March to 15 July
Please create an applicant account via the HNEE application portal. You will receive a confirmation email from us containing your username and password. You may then log in to enter the required information and upload your documents.
After submitting the online application, you can access a summary of your details by clicking the “Print” button. We recommend printing and reviewing this summary for accuracy.
If you discover any errors after submission, please contact us by studieren(at)hnee.de before the application deadline.
Proof of a first university degree qualifying for a profession with at least 180 ECTS credits. This must be obtained in the field of economics or in a degree programme with a substantial economic component (e.g. business informatics, industrial engineering). At least 30 ECTS credits must have been earned in core business and economics modules during the first degree. Relevant modules include, among others: general business administration, economics, accounting, taxation, mathematics, statistics, business and corporate law, human resource management, controlling, marketing, market research, and management.
If the required 30 ECTS credits in core economics modules were not acquired as part of the first university degree, they can be compensated as follows:
- by providing evidence of relevant extra-curricular qualifications, or
- by providing evidence of relevant professional experience
- Degree certificate and transcript of records (alternatively, a transcript showing at least 150 ECTS credits and a provisional overall grade)
- Educational and professional background (CV in tabular format)
- If available: certificates, references, or proof of relevant professional experience
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1 November to 1 December from a non-EU country or 1 December to 15 January from an EU/EEA country
Winter semester:
for the first semester: 1 March to 1 June from a non-EU country or 1 March to 15 July from an EU/EEA country
for higher semesters: 1 March to 1 June from a non-EU country or 1 March to 15 July from an EU/EEA country
Please apply early if you need to apply for a visa for your studies. The processing times are sometimes very long.
If you obtained your degree outside Germany, you must not apply directly to our university, regardless of your citizenship. Instead, please apply via the uni-assist e.V. application portal. Uni-assist is a central service provider that conducts a preliminary review of international applications on behalf of many German universities. Detailed information about the application process can be found on the uni-assist website, including country-specific guidance.
If your application is complete and meets the formal admission requirements, uni-assist will forward it to our university. Once your application has been imported into the HNEE application system, you will receive an email with login details for the HNEE application portal, allowing you to track the status of your application.
Proof of a first university degree qualifying for a profession with at least 180 ECTS credits. This must be obtained in the field of economics or in a degree programme with a substantial economic component (e.g. business informatics, industrial engineering). At least 30 ECTS credits must have been earned in core business and economics modules during the first degree. Relevant modules include, among others: general business administration, economics, accounting, taxation, mathematics, statistics, business and corporate law, human resource management, controlling, marketing, market research, and management.
If the required 30 ECTS credits in core economics modules were not acquired as part of the first university degree, they can be compensated as follows:
- by providing evidence of relevant extra-curricular qualifications, or
- by providing evidence of relevant professional experience
Applicants with an international educational background must additionally provide proof of German language proficiency at level C1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR).
You can check whether you meet the formal admission requirements on the uni-assist website.
The following application documents must be uploaded exclusively via the uni-assist application portal. Please note that this list may not be exhaustive and additional documents may be requested.
- Copy of your university degree certificate including final grade and transcript of records (see country-specific guidance on the uni-assist website)
- Copy of your university entrance qualification
- Other certificates relevant for admission to the Master’s programme (e.g. certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre [APS] for applicants from China, India, Mongolia, or Vietnam; proof of passed university entrance examination)
- For applicants with an international educational background: German language certificate at level C1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR)
Certificates obtained abroad must be translated into German or English by a sworn translator.
Application period
Summer semester: 1.12. to 15.1.
Winter semester: 1.6. to 15.7.
As a secondary auditor (Nebenhörer*in), you may only apply for modules offered in the respective semester. An overview of the available modules can be found here. Please note that the modules offered, including their schedules and content, are subject to change.
Students who are already enrolled at another university as main (degree-seeking) students may be admitted to Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNEE) as secondary auditors (Nebenhörer*innen), subject to available capacity. Admission requires that simultaneous enrolment at both institutions (parallel studies) is feasible and that the selected module constitutes a meaningful supplement to the student’s primary programme of study.
Secondary auditors are not members of HNEE. They may participate in examinations with the approval of the respective examiners and in accordance with the applicable examination regulations. The scope of examinations taken may not lead to the award of a degree. There is no legal entitlement to participate in examinations. Further provisions are set out in the current matriculation regulations of HNEE.
Formal applications must be submitted during the application period by post or e-mail to the Student Service Centre.
There is a fee for secondary auditoring. The amount of the fee is determined by the current fee schedules of HNEE, the AStA, and the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg.
Application period
Summer semester: 1.12. to 15.1.
Winter semester: 1.6. to 15.7.
As a guest student, you may only apply for modules offered in the respective semester. An overview of the available modules can be found here. Please note that the modules offered, including their schedules and content, are subject to change.
As a rule, applications for guest auditor status must be submitted to the Student Service Centre prior to the start of the courses (Guest auditor application).
Persons who are not enrolled as guest auditors may be admitted to courses of up to 8 semester weeks within the scope of available training capacity, even without proof of a university entrance qualification.
Guest auditor status is generally subject to a fee. No fees are charged to enrolled students. Guest auditor status is free of charge for interested persons with a refugee background.
Participation in courses within the relevant teaching areas will be confirmed in writing. Participation in examinations is excluded.
Formal applications are to be submitted during the application period by post or e-mail to the Student Service Centre during the application period.
We are happy to welcome you to an → exchange programme at HNEE.
FAQ on application and admission
If the number of applications is expected to exceed the number of available study places, the degree programme will be subject to admission restrictions (Numerus Clausus). Study places are allocated to applicants through a selection process, which involves creating several ranking lists. The average grade or waiting time of the last admitted applicant determines the admission threshold for that year.
You can find the admission thresholds for restricted degree programmes from the previous year here:
Admission thresholds for restricted degree programmes from previous years
No, you may only apply for one degree programme at our university. We encourage you to consult with us early on to determine which programme is the best fit for you. Please contact us via E-mail to arrange an appointment. Consultations are available by phone, online, or in person.
If your Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) consists of a school-based and a practical part, you can only apply once both parts have been completed. For example, if the practical part ends after the application deadline, you will have to apply in the following year.
For applications to a master’s degree programme, we require a transcript from your university showing at least 150 ECTS credits, your current grade point average, and the expected date of graduation.
Admission, rejection, or exclusion notices are made available in the online application portal. At the same time, a notification is sent to the email address registered in your applicant account.
For restricted-admission degree programmes, the notices are usually sent out two to four weeks after the application deadline for the respective programme.
Before your studies
FAQ before starting your studies
Are there preparatory courses before the regular start of studies?
You will find this information on this page in good time.
When and how do I start my studies?
You will find the semester dates and the programme for the introductory events for first-year students on this page in good time.
There, you will learn how to access your study plan in the campus management system → Mein EMMA, register for modules and exams, and use the Moodle platform, where all learning materials are provided. You will also meet your academic contacts, student representatives and initiatives, and fellow students, while gaining your first insights into the degree programmes. It's well worth attending!
Please bring a valid ID for the identity check, as well as something to take notes with.
For meals, feel free to take advantage of the great offerings at our sustainability canteen.
You can access your study plan online through our campus management system → Mein EMMA. You will receive your login details by email after enrolment.
No, attendance is not compulsory—neither for courses nor for the introductory week (with the exception of the identity check at the beginning of your studies, most exams, and any registered excursions).
However, regular attendance is strongly recommended. It not only supports your learning progress but also helps foster the positive dynamic within our small learning groups.
Where can I get support at the beginning of my studies if I don't know my way around or have specific questions?
Most of your questions will likely be answered during the introductory events at the start of the semester. If you still have questions or specific needs, feel free to make use of → our advisory services.
Contacts
Content-related questions
General student counselling
Stadtcampus House 5 ground floor, right
Schicklerstraße 5
16225 Eberswalde
+ 49 3334 657-149
studieren(at)hnee.de
Consultation appointment
Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail
Student counselling
Studiengangskoordination M.A. Nachhaltige Unternehmensführung
Organisational issues
Head of study programme
Professorship for General Business Administration, in particular Sustainability Management