Master's Programme in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability, 60 Credits

Start of studies

Form of education

Campus, Day-time, Full-time

Language

English

Registration starts at 2025-10-15
Welcome letter(is published 3 weeks before the program starts)
Admission requirements

Degree of Bachelor or a professional qualification of 180 credits or the equivalent, English 6, and a minimum of six months of relevant professional experience, such as work, placement, voluntary work, a commission of trust, or the equivalent, full time or part time,
demonstrating experience of sustainability work.

Do you want to contribute to a future where both people and the planet thrive? This one-year Master's programme enhances your ability to lead transformative change towards sustainable development in businesses, organisations, and society at large.

Designed for those aiming to work strategically with sustainability in complex environments, this programme empowers you to make a meaningful impact through conscious and long-term leadership.

What will you study?

You will explore how to support the transition to a sustainable society from both strategic and leadership perspectives. The programme focuses on two main areas:

Strategic sustainable development

Learn to analyse, plan, and drive sustainability initiatives within:

  • Products and services
  • Organisations and operations
  • Societal systems

Deepen your understanding of global sustainability challenges and acquire tools to work with sustainability transitions in a structured and economically viable manner.

Leadership in complexity

Explore how to lead change in complex contexts. Gain insights into:

  • The dynamics of social systems
  • Personal and collective leadership
  • Collaboration across boundaries

With the support of relevant theories and practical methodologies, you'll practice leading processes that foster trust, participation, and innovation.

The Master's Programme in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) has welcomed more than 800 students from over 90 countries, with great diversity in age, gender, personalities, educational backgrounds, and professional experience. This close-knit group forms an extremely dedicated, competent, and unstoppable global “sustainability virus,” which gives me great hope for a better world. I am very proud to have been part of creating this “force of nature,” and I warmly welcome you to become a part of our global MSLS family.

Professor Göran Broman, one of the programme’s founders

After graduation – what are your career opportunities?

This 60-credit programme leads to a Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability. https://www.educations.com

You will be prepared for roles where you:

  • Lead sustainability efforts in businesses and organisations
  • Develop strategies for societal and organisational transformation
  • Drive collaboration and change in complex environments
  • Work as an advisor, sustainability strategist, or process leader

Additionally, the programme provides a solid foundation for pursuing doctoral studies in sustainability, leadership, or systems change.


This Master's programme equips you with the tools to lead change that contributes to a sustainable society while strengthening your own organisation.

The one-year, 60-credit programme focuses on two key areas:

Strategic sustainable development

Delve into how organisations can transition towards global sustainability in an economically sustainable way.

  • Analyse and understand sustainability challenges
  • Identify opportunities for sustainable development
  • Apply scientifically grounded methods for strategic change

You'll work with examples ranging from products and systems to organisations and societal levels.

Leadership in complexity

Explore what it means to lead in a rapidly changing world where solutions are rarely straightforward. Learn to:

  • Understand complexity within social change
  • Develop your own leadership
  • Lead collaboration and change processes across organisational and cultural boundaries

Gain practical and research-based tools to build sustainable collaborations and create direction in uncertain situations.

* Elective course

Students who apply for a course or programme, and meet the general and specific entry requirements, compete with one another for available places. When there are more qualified applicants than there are places for an education, the places are distributed through a selection. Read about the selection methods and procedure here.

The study programmes at BTH are continuously monitored and developed through yearly follow-up dialogues, course evaluations after each completed course, and programme evaluations. Results from follow-ups and evaluations can lead to changes in the programmes. These changes are always communicated to the students.

Each educational programme is tied to an advisory board that discusses issues such as the quality of the programme, its development, and relevance for the labour market. In the advisory board, or a committee to the advisory board, teachers, external members, students and alumni are represented.

Frequently asked questions

Admission requirements

Degree of Bachelor or a professional qualification of 180 credits or the equivalent, English 6, and a minimum of six months of relevant professional experience, such as work, placement, voluntary work, a commission of trust, or the equivalent, full time or part time,
demonstrating experience of sustainability work.

Programme manager
Merlina Missimer
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