Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development (MA)
Shaping social change and international development through social innovation
Economic, environmental and social sustainability in business management and international economic development is one of the most important challenges and fields of action of our time.
In this degree programme, students learn how social entrepreneurship can be used to develop innovative solutions for more holistic sustainability in corporate business models as well as in international development cooperations. This will prepare you for entrepreneurial and responsible leadership positions in sustainability management, innovation management, and international management in business, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. In addition, this fully English-language degree program adequately prepares you for internationally oriented professional fields.
The programme is unique in Germany in that it combines the three main topics of social entrepreneurship, sustainability management and international development cooperation, bringing you into contact with international practitioners in these fields through project work and guest lectures. In addition, you will develop your own innovation ideas and business models for problems that interest you.
Admission and application
Admission requirements
- Completed university studies with at least 210 ECTS (University degree does not reach 210 ECTS)
- 5 ECTS Basic knowledge from VWL
Alternatively, an oral exam can be taken. The exam takes place online. - Grade 2,5 or better
- English language skills min. B2
- For international applicants: German A1
(The language certificate must be submitted at the latest at the time of enrolment. Upon request, the certificate can be submitted later during the first semester). - Optional: voluntary admission test to improve the degree grade (TM-WISO)
- Applicants with completed university studies with 180 ECTS can compensate for the existing qualification gap through the options already known in the other master degree programmes
- The programme is approval-free
Application period
Winter semester: 02.05. – 31.08.
For non-EU applicants:
Winter semester: 02.05. – 15.07.
The programme is only offered in the winter semester.
Application portal
Please use the application portal by the above deadlines to apply to this programme.
Questions about admission and application
How do I apply for the programme?
To apply for this master programme you have to register at the online portal on our website. Unfortunately it is not possible to check the content without an application. Detailed application deadlines can be found on this page in the "Admission and application" section.
The following documents must be submitted by the application deadline at the latest:
- Application form
- Curriculum vitae
- A copy of your high school certificate
- A copy of your bachelor degree with at least 210 ECTS Points and a final mark 2.5 or better. It is necessary that you finish your bachelor before the application deadline.
- Proof of English knowledge level B2
- Proof of German knowledge level A1. This certificate we will need at latest by our enrollment process. Upon application, proof of level A1 can be submitted later during the first semester.
- All applicants who have not obtained their Bachelor's degree in Germany must upload their certificates via the uni-assist online portal for further checks. Detailed information about the necessary documents you find at the website www.uni-assist.de
Further information on application and admission for International degree seeking students can be found on the following page: Application for international students
What qualification is required?
In order to be admitted, you must have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences with a minimum of 210 ECTS credits (or an equivalent degree).
If you completed your degree outside of the German school system, please take note of the additional rules for applying with an international degree.
I did not earn the required 210 ECTS credits with my degree. What can I do?
The following text provides an overview of the key points from the Enrollment Statutes. In case of deviations, the text of the enrollment statutes (opens in a new window) is binding.
In the case of a Bachelor's degree with only 180 ECTS credits, the existing qualification gap of 30 ECTS credits must be filled by proving or successfully completing one of the following prior achievements:
- Co-authorship of a research publication in English (research paper).
- At least 6 months of verifiable full-time professional experience after obtaining the bachelor's degree in an occupation relevant to the study content of the degree program (evidence by employment contract and/or employment references)
- Successful completion of an admission examination in the form of a written scientific paper in English.
Deadline for submission of the paper:
Winter semester: 31.8.
Summer semester: 4.3.
You apply for participation at the latest 1 month before the deadline in English and solely by e-mail to the head of the respective degree programme.
Please contact the head of the degree programme for the provision of such proof:
- Proof of additional subjects taken amounting to 30 ECTS from a previous degree programme
What average mark is required?
The average mark on your transcript from a university or university of applied sciences must be 2.5 or better.
If you completed your degree outside of the German school system, please take note of the additional rules for applying with an international degree.
How can I improve my bachelor grade? (Admission test: TM-WISO)
It is optionally possible to take a voluntary entrance test (TM-WISO) to improve the bachelor's degree grade.
In principle, the test can be taken as long as you wish before you start your studies or complete your bachelor's degree. It is valid for all future applications. At HNU, you will achieve the following with the test: If you belong to the best 60%, your Bachelor final grade will be improved by 0.3, if you belong to the best 50% by 0.5 and if you belong to the best 40% even by 0.7.
For more information about the test, visit the Institute's site:
Institute for Test and Talent Research (opens in a new window)
The registration for the test "TM-WISO" is possible on the following page of the institute:
Registration for TM-WISO (opens in a new window)
About the programme
Contents of the degree programme
The course content is divided into the following three thematic areas:
- International Development Management
- International Sustainability Management
- Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
You will learn to:
- to think in a networked way
- to recognize potentials for social innovations
- understand the complexity of international development relations
- to build sustainable business models
- apply current methods and tools of sustainability management
- develop your own innovations
- be inspired by an environment of international participants and experts
Structure of the degree programme
1th Semester:
- Development Economics
- Circular Economy and Resource Management
- State of the planet - Tools and Cases
- Sustainable Finance Management
- Research Lab: Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
- Design Thinking for Social Entrepreneurship
2nd Semester:
- Project Management in Development Cooperations
- Entrepreneurship and Development Management
- Economic and Business Ethics
- Global and Regional Development Geography
- Social Entrepreneurship and Impact
- Business Model Generation for Social Businesses
3rd Semester:
- Post-Development and Alternatives to Development
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Innovation Project Lab
- Master Thesis
Special features
- Interdisciplinary and international orientation
- Lecturers with practical experience
- Cooperation with international partners (companies, organizations)
- Cooperation with HNU Africa Institute
- Cooperation with HNU Institute for Entrepreneurship
- Use of HNU Innovation Space
Career perspectives
The Masters degree programme aims to train internationally oriented, entrepreneurial, sustainability and socially conscious professionals, managers and entrepreneurs / intrapreneurs for companies and other organizations (NGOs, foundations, initiatives, governmental organizations).
Target job profiles are in particular:
- Sustainability Management
- Innovation management
- Business model management
- Partner management
- Management of international development cooperation and projects
- Impact management
- Social intrapreneurs
- Academic research in social innovation, sustainability and development management
Language of instruction
The language of instruction in this degree programme is English.
Contributions and fees
There are no tuition fees. A semester fee (administrative fees and solidarity fee) is charged per semester. Information on this can be found on the page "HNU - Fees and Re-registration (opens in a new window)".
Information events on the degree programme
Contact
All study documents
Curriculums
Study and examination regulations
General examination regulations
Also of interest:
Voices about the degree programme
Marie Forleo is an American entrepreneur. She is a New York Times bestselling author of the advice books Everything is Figureoutable and Make Every Man Want You. In 2010, she founded Marie Forleo International. She also launched the online business program called B-School.
