Study options

Creative Sustainability, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)

The Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability (CS) provides a multidisciplinary learning platform in the fields of business, design, and materials and chemical engineering. For students in business, the CS programme builds the skills and knowledge to promote sustainable development through business. The linkages between business and sustainability are highly important in contemporary organizations, whether one wishes to be a sustainability specialist in business, or a management professional operating in some other field.
Aalto Business students browsing course books around a table

Degree:

Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)

Application period:

30 Nov 2023 – 2 Jan 2024

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Business and Economics

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Business

Tuition fees:

For non-EU/EEA citizens, €17000/y (Master’s studies) Read more

Applying to master’s programmes

Description

The Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability (CS) provides a multidisciplinary learning platform in the fields of business, design, and materials and chemical engineering. For students in business, the CS programme builds the skills and knowledge to promote sustainable development through business. The linkages between business and sustainability are highly important in contemporary organizations, whether one wishes to be a sustainability specialist in business, or a management professional operating in some other field.

Complex sustainability challenges, such as climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity, and poverty and inequality, call for new mindsets and skills. These mindsets should incorporate a systems-based view of the planet and the ability to work with professionals from different fields and cultures. Sustainability challenges require critical insight and multi-level collaboration that involve a wide range of stakeholders with often competing interests and values. The CS programme prepares students to respond to these challenges through engagement in its international, inclusive, and diverse learning environment. 

The CS programme brings together students who are devoted to developing systemic solutions, working in multidisciplinary teams, and challenging themselves with practical learning tasks. Creativity in the programme denotes a focus on fresh, holistic, and emerging innovations and far-reaching alternative, regenerative futures. The studies include state-of-the-art knowledge about the interlinked environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of sustainability coupled with learning in practical projects conducted together with partner organizations. 

Intended learning outcomes 

  • Systems thinking: Students are able to use systems thinking to create new holistic and critical understandings of complex sustainability challenges and socio-ecological relations.
  •  Multidisciplinary competences: Students are able to work in diverse teams with experts and stakeholders; to combine knowledge, skills and values from different disciplines and domains in society; and to co-create innovative solutions for real-life challenges.
  •  Change-making: Students develop a change-maker mindset, and are able to generate action-oriented strategies, make interventions and promote transformations towards ecologically, economically and socially sustainable futures.
  •  Sustainability in materials use: Students understand the constraints on the use of natural resources, the principles and limits of resource-efficiency, circular economy and innovation for new sustainable materials, and are able to use analytical tools for sustainable materials use and sustainable consumption. 
  •  Design thinking: Students recognise tools and methods to support creativity and imagination, and are able to facilitate dialogue, empathy and collaboration in creative processes. 
  •  Sustainability management: Students are able to develop, speak for and manage sustainability initiatives in businesses and other organizations, are able to work proactively to promote sustainable development through responsible business, and recognise the capacities of public policy in promoting sustainability. 

Business can be harnessed for sustainability - students learn to build profitable businesses that drive environmental and social improvement

Minna Halme, Professor

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 17 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The two-year CS programme comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits, divided between compulsory joint Creative Sustainability studies, compulsory Management studies, elective studies which may include a freely chosen minor subject, and a Master’s Thesis. The pedagogical approach is based on integrating teaching and research, challenge-based learning, and strong connection to practical outcomes. Teaching methods range from interactive classroom lessons to group assignments and practical projects carried out for partner organisations.

Learn more about the study structure

Master's Programme in Creative Sustainability
The picture shows a world cloud
Nykyisten opiskelijoiden syitä valita Creative Sustainability -maisteriohjelma

Specialisations

Creative Sustainability contains three tracks that are organised through the separate intake processes in the School of Business, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and School of Chemical Engineering.

Within their track, students can tailor the degree in directions that are most interesting to them. They have the freedom to choose courses from elsewhere at Aalto University or at other universities in Finland or abroad. More information about the course offerings is available on the programme website.

Examples of the wide course selection:

  • Materials for a World in Transition (5 ECTS)
  • How to Change the World: Innovating toward Sustainability (6 ECTS)
  • Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Markets, and Systems Change (6 ECTS)
  • Business Ethics (6 ECTS)
  • Sustainable Supply Chains (6 ECTS)

Learn more about the study structure

Internationalisation

The Creative Sustainability (CS) programme is genuinely international with the CS learning experience taking place in a diverse group of like-minded, supportive and highly motivated students and faculty.

As part of their studies, CS students have the chance to complete an exchange semester at one of Aalto University’s many top-tier partner universities worldwide. Course-specific real-life cases often involve field project opportunities, e.g. in Africa and Asia for students interested in sustainability solutions in developing countries.

Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad each year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through studies, but also through multiple free time events, celebrations, and extracurricular activities around the campus. Programme administrators, active student tutors and student support services work rigorously to help international students integrate into the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.

This course confirmed that I can put my business knowledge at the service of a better world.

Capstone in Creative Sustainability course student

Further study opportunities

The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.

Career opportunities

Creative Sustainability studies prepare the students to work as sustainability experts in a wide range of organizations, including those with a strategic view on transformation towards sustainability. The student can develop expertise in different professional profiles which vary from research skills to the practical skills of management, leadership, design, and engineering in different environments. 

Sustainability considerations arise in every organization and thus there are several possible career options for someone with expertise on sustainability in business. You get to work in a fast-growing job sector, while making a difference in social and environmental issues. Depending on your personal interests, you may orient yourself towards different professional profiles. Sustainability specialists can work in multinational companies and other large organizations, as consultants, in start-ups and as entrepreneurs, or they may deal with sustainability issues in business from positions in NGOs or the public sector. They are also prepared for academic careers.

Aalto University has well-established career services to support students’ and graduates’ employment in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students work already during their studies and guarantee themselves entry positions before graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, working as a springboard for founding a company.

Creative sustainability - possible work positions
CS-opiskelijoiden mahdollisia ammatti-identiteettejä ja niitä vastaavia työtehtäviä

Research focus

Creative Sustainability studies draw from research in the fields of design for sustainability, sustainable consumption, sustainability innovation and management, as well as on research on new materials and circular economy.

Read more on the latest research.

Co-operation with other parties

The Creative Sustainability programme is organised jointly by the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, the School of Business, and the School of Chemical Engineering.

Active CS students from different backgrounds form a tight-knit community and network, and relations with the faculty are friendly and informal.

Rankings & listings

    Kauppakorkeakoulun opiskelijoita koulun edustalla

    Financial Times has given international recognition to the sustainability education of the Aalto University School of Business. The School of Business was one of five universities to receive the Responsible Business Education Award 2024.

    Read more

    PRME Champion logo

    Aalto University School of Business has been accepted into the Champion group of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) network. The membership demonstrates that the school is a leader in promoting responsibility internationally, and is committed to working harder to promote sustainable development and responsibility.

    Read more

    Financial times_ranking

    Creative Sustainability is on the Financial Times' list of best practices in responsible business education. Creative Sustainability made to the list of best practices in teaching, and the Capstone was highlighted in the "Student Projects" section. 

    Eduniversal ranking_CS

    Creative Sustainability is ranked 4th in TOP 100 Best Masters in Sustainable Development and Environmental Management.

    Study-option-specific Admission Procedure and Evaluation Criteria

    Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option.

    The applications to Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability are evaluated based on the following criteria.

    Admission group 1

    Bachelor’s degree from a university in Finland

    Phase 1

    PHASE 2

    Admission group 2

    Bachelor’s degree from a university of applied science in Finland or from a higher education institution abroad

    Phase 1

    Phase 2

    Get to know us better!

    From The Test Site. Copyright Creative Sustainability.

    Creative Sustainability

    Creative Sustainability (CS) is a joint Master's degree programme at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Business and School of Chemical Engineering. Established in 2010, the CS programme brings students from a variety of fields together, to study and work in multidisciplinary teams and create novel sustainable solutions for human, urban, industrial and business environments. The pedagogical approach is based on integrating teaching and research, problem-based learning, design thinking, blended learning and strong connections to practical outcomes. The graduates of the programme have the endeavour to understand and address systemic phenomena and wicked problems.

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