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

The MSLS programme founders believed that “The question of reaching sustainability is not about if we will have enough energy, enough food, or other tangible resources – those we have. The question is: will there be enough leaders in time?”​ So at MSLS we become the leaders and change agents the world needs.

Together, we learn to understand our complex world better and to collaborate more strategically and systemically across borders, sectors and disciplines. Together, we transform the ways we think, plan, make, act and lead, in order to ‘co-create’ a vibrant, sustainable future. ​Watch our MSLS Programme Overview video to dive deeper.

The MSLS programme is a 10-month transformational Master´s programme in Karlskrona, Sweden that focuses on advancing students’ knowledge, skills, and global networks, in order to build their capacity to be strategic leaders in the co-creation of thriving, sustainable societies. Since its start in 2004, more than 900 students from more than 90 countries and all continents of the world have taken the programme.

The deadline for applying within the the main MSLS application round is the 15th of January 2026. For an overview of the key dates, see this page.

We have created some simple directions for you to follow to assist you in your application. You can find them on this page.

MSLS should be ranked first because if you're accepted by your top-ranked program, you cannot attend any lower-ranked options, even if accepted.

In the case of more qualified applicants than available positions for the current programme start, a selection is made. The motivation letter along with your CV will be used as base. Read more about it there.

If you lack the formal qualifications required for the MSLS programme, you can apply for recognition of prior learning or real competence. Real competence can come from, for example, working life, studies outside the formal school system or other life experiences. For more information, see this page (in Swedish).

Tuition to study in Sweden has until 2012 been free of charge – even for non-EU/EEA citizens – and thus it is not common for universities to offer scholarships directly. The tuition fee for MSLS is free for EU/EEA citizens and non-EU/EEA citizens are required to pay 140,000 SEK for the entire programme period. You can find out more information about tuition fees and the payment process on this page.

The cost of living in Sweden is similar to many countries in Europe and North America (slightly less expensive than some and slightly more expensive than others). For example, rent for small student accommodation (10 – 30 sq. m.) ranges from 3500 – 5000 SEK/month incl electricity, water and heating. Larger apartments in Karlskrona (45 – 65 sq.m.) may cost in the order of 4500 – 6000 SEK/month. A nice lunch at the student cafeteria will cost about 75 SEK and a monthly pass for the local transit system is about 790 SEK/month. As of October 2024, 1 USD equals approximately 10,40 SEK. The Swedish Institute also provides information about the cost of living in Sweden.

BTH scholarship
There will be a number of scholarships available from BTH covering a part of the tuition fee. Find out more about how to apply, the selection process and the evalution on our BTH website.

StratLeade scholarship
Stratleade is a US based not-for-profit that offers up to three grants a year to support aspiring leaders within the Master´s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability Programme at Blekinge Institute of Technology. Grantees may receive full coverage of the programme’s tuition. Read more about the application deadline and process on the Stratleade website.

Swedish Institute Scholarships
The Swedish Institute (SI), a government agency, promotes interest and trust in Sweden around the world. SI offers a range of scholarships for students from countries outside the EU/EEA area.

In order to get more information about the Swedish Institute scholarships, funds and grants please visit the Swedish Institute´s website. These scholarships have different deadlines, so check the dates carefully.

Other scholarships
Remember to look for scholarship opportunities from your Government or from other sources in your country. You can also have a look at the scholarships below:

• Study in Sweden
• The Institute of International Education
  
• Eurodesk European Info Centre
• Open Society Institute & Soros Foundation Network
• The Rotary Foundation Programme
• Global Grant
• Find A Master’s
  

Sponsorship from an organization or employer
In past years a number of students have been successful in obtaining funds from their employer or other organizations in their home countries. Allowing an employee to study in Sweden and return with new sustainability expertise can be very valuable for an organization, so you shouldn’t be afraid of inquiring with your current employer.

An alternative approach is to find an organization that could benefit from sustainability advice or your assistance on a limited-term basis in exchange for funds to study in Sweden. For example, sometimes course work of the MSLS programme provides the possibility of working directly with an external organization on a Strategic Planning for Sustainability project. Industry Collaboration during thesis projects is also an opportunity where you can combine your studies with direct tangible benefits that an organization may be willing to pay you for.

Student loans
You may be eligible to apply for a student loan if such schemes exist within your country. Unfortunately, we have limited information about such schemes and you should investigate the options that exist in your country.

Yes, in general, it does (from August 21st to June 15th not including winter and reading breaks). Even in periods three and four, group projects, tutorials and some seminars will necessitate attendance at BTH to gain the full learning experience. Some students may gain special permission to visit their project locations and/or their homes provided the visit can be shown to be significantly beneficial to their overall learning.

The programme is a one-year Master’s degree intended specifically for career professionals and those wishing to combine their undergraduate and prior training with a specialised sustainability/leadership competence.

It is fair to say that holistic sustainability education is a relatively new field, and so far there are a limited number of programmes available around the world. We are not aware of any other programmes that offer the international, transdisciplinary, science-based approach combining strategic sustainable development and leadership studies, that the MSLS programme provides. In this sense, the MSLS programme is unique and world-leading.

In Swedish, the degree title is ‘Magisterprogram i strategiskt ledarskap för hållbarhet‘ and the english title is ‘Master of Science (one year) in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability’.

Students are typically high-calibre professionals in early to mid-career and come from a diverse range of personal, professional and academic backgrounds to represent the four corners of the world.

To date, students have represented over 90 countries (including Australia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Cameroon, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Malawi, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Turkey, Vietnam, the Phillipines, UAE and USA) and collectively speak more than 30 languages. They have brought to Karlskrona a wealth of experience in finance, architecture, management, the arts, teaching, chemistry, entrepreneurship, engineering, and many other fields.

Our MSLS alumni community is a vibrant, supportive community of changemakers from all over the world. They have very diverse jobs after they completed the MSLS programme such as (the following list is not complete):

• Sustainability Reporting Manager at KPMG
• Senior Consultant at Reos Partners
• Director Learning & Impact at CLIMATE KIC
• Head of Solutions Mapping at UNDP Accelerator Lab
• Sustainability Manager at Electrolux
• Business Co-Founder at Bureo
• Participatory Process Designer at Ashoka Globalizer Team
• Head of Sustainability at IKEA
• Project Coordinator at the German Council for Sustainable Development

For more examples, please read our MSLS Alumni Stories from the Field.

We have several MSLS events happening every year, such as the Art of Hosting Training Karlskrona, MSLS Deep Dives or MSLS Open House webinars. You can find an overview of upcoming and past MSLS events on our MSLS website.

Subscribe to our MSLS newsletter to stay updated about our latest news and upcoming events.

The MSLS 2026/2027 admission results from the main application round will be published on the 26th of March 2026.

Late applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so the sooner your application is complete, the sooner it will be reviewed. Late applications will be admitted in batches on an ongoing basis until the late applications close.

We highly recommend that you attend orientation week starting one week before the official semester commencement.

You can find the key programme dates here.

If you are an admitted MSLS student, you can find more detailed information on your arrival here.

Information about the orientation week schedule will be provided to incoming students in early August.