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Who this Master fits – and what you need to get in
This online Master suits you if you want to lead sustainability transformation while keeping your job. Typical profiles include: professionals in marketing, product or operations moving into sustainability roles; consultants or NGO project managers seeking a formal management degree; STEM or business graduates aiming to specialise in sustainable strategy and leadership without relocating.
Admission requirements
Teaching language: German. You study fully online with rolling monthly start. Admission is possible via several routes:
- Standard entry: a completed first degree (Bachelor, Diplom, Magister) with at least 180 ECTS or an equivalent international undergraduate degree. Programme-specific prior credits may be required (e.g. ECTS in business, psychology or technology).
- With degree plus experience: for continuing-education routes, at least 1 year of relevant professional experience in a related field in addition to a 180 ECTS first degree.
- Without a first degree: possible via vocational qualification plus experience and an aptitude assessment. Typically required: a recognised higher education entrance qualification, a completed vocational training, at least 2 years of relevant work experience, a passed aptitude test (e.g. written assignment), and supporting documents (training certificate, employment proofs, motivation letter).
- International qualifications: applications with foreign degrees are accepted if the credential is comparable to a German Bachelor (180 ECTS). Expect to submit official transcripts; certified translations may be required.
- Language certificates (German): proof of sufficient German for academic study is required. Commonly accepted at German universities are certificates such as DSH, TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat; the exact level and proofs are defined by the university.
- Possible additional proof: for this programme, an English certificate at B2 level may be requested.
The degree is accredited (Master of Science, 120 ECTS; accreditation valid to 31 August 2029). No numerus clausus; start on the 1st of any month.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad needs structure and stamina. You should bring high self-organisation, reliable weekly routines, and the ability to work through academic texts in German. Expect an average workload of 15–18 hours per week in the 8-semester track, about 20–25 hours in 6 semesters, and 30+ hours in 4 semesters. Plan for peak phases around assessments and the empirical project/master’s thesis.
- Time management: block fixed study slots, align deadlines with work cycles, and leave buffers before exams.
- Digital readiness: confident use of an online campus, video lectures and collaborative tools; stable internet and a quiet workspace.
- Research mindset: comfort with empirical methods, reading academic literature, and applying sustainability frameworks to real cases.
- Communication: clear writing and presentation skills in German; for sources and cases, reading English texts is often helpful.
If you prefer minimal on-site obligations, this format fits: assessments are largely online, with classic sit-in exams kept to a minimum. Perseverance and realistic planning will be the key factors in finishing on time.
What will you study in the Sustainability Management & Leadership (M.Sc.) at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences?
The programme is taught in German. To follow lectures and complete assessments, you need advanced academic German. Official details on accepted language proofs are provided during admission; plan for studying and writing at a high level in German. “Fernstudium” means distance learning in Germany. Fresenius is a private, state-recognised Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) with a strong applied focus.
You build a broad management toolkit for sustainable transformation across four clusters: strategy and markets, leadership and culture, digital sustainability, and methods and law. Across 120 ECTS you combine core modules with electives, complete an empirical research project and finish with a Master’s thesis and colloquium.
Sustainable strategy and markets. You examine sustainable markets and strategy, global markets and competition, and business model innovation. Concrete modules include Sustainable Markets & Strategy, Business Development, and Applied Innovation Management.
Leadership, change and culture. You work on Positive Leadership, sustainable corporate culture and organisational transformation. Typical modules here are Leadership & Management, Change Management, and Stakeholder Management.
Digital sustainability and data. You learn how to embed sustainability in digital transformation. Expect content on Digital Sustainability Management, Digital Applications & Data Management, and Sustainability Communication.
Methods, governance and law. You develop empirical research skills and understand regulatory contexts. This includes Empirical Methods in Applied Research, Corporate Governance & Compliance, and Consumer Protection & Law. A supervised empirical research project prepares you directly for your Master’s thesis.
Electives. You customise your profile with two elective modules, choosing from options such as Neuromarketing & Nudging, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Behavioural Decision Making, Conflict Management & Mediation, Civil Society Engagement, or European Integration.
The programme is offered as a Fernstudium (distance learning). In Germany, the ZFU is the state authority approving private distance-learning courses; university degree programmes may not carry a separate ZFU number. Your studies conclude with a Master’s thesis and a final colloquium, both fully aligned with the applied profile of a Fachhochschule.
How does the Sustainability Management & Leadership distance programme work?
It is a fully online master’s designed for working professionals. You start on the first of any month, choose 24, 36 or 48 months for the same 120 ECTS workload, and study largely asynchronously on the university’s learning platform. A purely remote path does not require a visa; short exam trips, if chosen or required, are handled independently.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. Course materials, tutorials and assessments are in German. The university communicates language proof during admission; plan for advanced academic German across reading, writing and presentations. If you need a reference point, German master’s programmes commonly expect upper-intermediate to advanced proficiency.
Learning format and study materials
The programme is delivered as distance learning (Fernstudium): digital study guides (Studymags), video lectures, interactive exercises and extensive online library access are included. You can set the sequence of modules, learn at your pace, and make use of personal study coaches and teaching staff for academic support.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Assessments are designed for remote study: coursework, online presentations, open-book exams and empirical project work. Classic sit-down exams are reduced to a minimum and, when scheduled, may require an in-person attempt in Germany. Most students complete the majority of assessments fully online from abroad.
On-site sessions in Germany
There are no mandatory on-campus teaching weeks. Optional in-person workshops may be offered. If an in-person exam is scheduled, you would need to travel to the designated German exam location. Travel and accommodation are not included in tuition.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
You can choose 24, 36 or 48 months for the same 120 ECTS: roughly 20–25 hours/week in the 24-month track, 12–18 hours/week in the 36-month track, or 8–12 hours/week in the 48-month track, depending on prior knowledge and pace. The programme emphasises asynchronous study; when live sessions are offered, they follow German time (CET/CEST).
What does the Sustainability Management & Leadership (M.Sc.) cost?
Expect a transparent, pay-as-you-go model in euros. In the 48-month option you pay €329 per month, totalling €13,176 over the standard duration. Shorter tracks compress the same 120 ECTS into fewer months and therefore have higher monthly rates: 36 months at €410 per month, and 24 months at €549 per month.
The fees cover access to all digital learning materials, the online campus and library, academic support and regular assessment fees. Extra costs can occur only for optional print materials and for travel to any in-person exams. Fees are billed in monthly instalments. You can enrol and study entirely from abroad; you simply pay in euros over the duration you select.
The university allows you to switch pace between models in defined windows, so you can lower your monthly outlay by extending the duration or finish earlier by increasing your workload. There are no hidden charges, and you can plan your total commitment from the start.
What careers and recognition does the Sustainability Management & Leadership (M.Sc.) offer?
You earn a Master of Science with 120 ECTS under the Bologna framework. Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is state-recognised, and the programme is accredited through the German Accreditation Council with validity to August 2029. For employers and universities abroad, this signals a formally quality-assured degree at master’s level within the European Higher Education Area.
With 120 ECTS at master’s level, graduates may be considered for doctoral admission, subject to the specific policies of the destination university and country. The applied profile of a Fachhochschule supports progression into practice-oriented leadership roles and consulting.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Sustainability Manager or CSR Manager in corporate functions or business units
- ESG/impact consultant in advisory firms, NGOs or public organisations
- Change Manager or Business Development Lead for sustainable transformation
- Governance, compliance and sustainability reporting specialist
- Brand and communications roles focused on sustainable marketing and stakeholder engagement
Salaries vary widely by sector and region. In Europe and North America, mid-level sustainability and ESG roles typically command higher ranges in regulated industries (finance, energy, FMCG) and in consulting. Your location, prior experience and the breadth of your sustainability remit influence the outcome more than the title alone.
Who is the Sustainability Management & Leadership (M.Sc.) right for - and who not?
This programme suits professionals who want an applied, management-oriented master’s centred on sustainability, taken fully online from anywhere, with the option to study part-time alongside a job. It also appeals if you are looking for a 120-ECTS degree from a state-recognised German university of applied sciences.
- You are comfortable studying and writing academically in German and want a remote master’s from Germany.
- You need flexible pacing (24/36/48 months), rolling start dates and largely asynchronous learning.
- You aim to move into roles such as Sustainability/CSR Manager, ESG consultant, change lead or sustainable brand strategist.
- You value an accredited, ECTS-based degree that is part of the European Higher Education Area.
- You prefer assessments that are mostly online (coursework, open-book, presentations) rather than frequent sit-down exams.
There are also clear cases where this programme will not fit. Read these carefully if you are applying from outside Germany.
- You need an English-taught programme; this master is delivered in German.
- You require a cast-iron guarantee that all exams are 100% online; a small number of in-person exams in Germany may be scheduled.
- You seek a licence-to-practise path into a regulated profession (e.g. law, medicine); this is a management master, not a regulated qualification.
- You want extensive on-campus lab work or fieldwork in Germany; the programme is designed as distance learning without mandatory on-site teaching weeks.
Lade… 
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