Who this MSc fits and what you need to apply
This online MSc suits internationally minded professionals who want to combine sustainability with technology and innovation. For example: product or marketing specialists in tech who want to pivot into impact roles without pausing their career; engineers or data/IT analysts aiming to apply AI and analytics to climate and ESG challenges; NGO or public-sector project managers seeking rigorous, tech-enabled methods to scale social and environmental outcomes. If you plan to study fully online while working, the flexible format and global cohort can be a strong fit for you.
Admission requirements
The programme is offered in two credit tracks and in English or German. Admission is selective and based on academic fit and motivation.
- Undergraduate degree: for the 120 ECTS MSc you need a bachelor’s with at least 180 ECTS (or equivalent, normally six semesters). For the 90 ECTS track you need at least 210 ECTS.
- Subject relevance: prior studies in business/economics, environmental or climate sciences, computer science/AI/data science, technology/engineering, or humanities/social sciences with a sustainability focus.
- Total-credit rule: to graduate with a master’s in Germany you must reach 300 ECTS overall (e.g., 180 + 120, or 210 + 90).
- Language of study: English or German. For the English track you must evidence B2 English (CEFR). For the German track, sufficient German (generally B2 CEFR or higher) is required. Accepted proofs are confirmed during admissions.
- International degrees: applications with foreign qualifications are welcome; equivalence to the ECTS/semester standard is checked individually.
- Selection process: written motivation as part of your application and a mandatory admissions interview to assess fit and goals.
- Admission without a university degree: not possible for this MSc.
Personal requirements
Success in a remote master’s hinges on consistent routines and realistic planning. Expect about 24 hours per week for readings, projects and collaboration in the standard pace. There is typically one compulsory live session per week (around 90 minutes); you should be able to join reliably across your time zone with stable internet.
You will work in international teams and tackle open-ended, data-informed challenges. Bring strong self-organisation, perseverance, and the ability to break larger projects into weekly deliverables. Solid written and spoken English or German (depending on track) is essential for readings, stakeholder communication and group work. Confidence with digital tools is important; openness to learn basic data analytics or coding will help, even if you are not a developer. If you can manage deadlines alongside your job and stay engaged in peer collaboration, you will be well prepared for this challenge-based programme.
What will you study in the Sustainability, Innovation & Technology M.Sc. at Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences?
You combine sustainability strategy with cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial practice. Core blocks include: sustainability foundations and leadership (e.g. Sustainability, Innovation & Leadership; Foundations of Climate Sciences), technology and data (e.g. AI for Sustainable Innovation; Data Science for Sustainable Development), and innovation & venture building (e.g. Innovation & Prototyping; Sustainable Innovation & Growth Management). You complete a research-based Master’s thesis at the end.
This is a Fernstudium – German for distance learning – delivered by a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). The programme is approved by the German state authority for distance learning, the ZFU (admission no. 1173724). You will work on real briefs from industry partners rather than sit traditional exams, documenting your outcomes in a digital portfolio.
Learning is organised in modular “Impact Certificates” and challenge sprints. Typical modules in the tech-and-impact track include Data Analytics for Sustainability, Emerging Technologies for Sustainability and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Impact. Leadership and change modules help you manage teams and drive transformation inside organisations.
Electives let you tailor your path. Frequent options include Clean Energy & Green Tech, Data Analytics for Circular Economy or Renewable Energy, Ecosystem-Based Solutions, Data-Driven Social Innovation and a General Track combining sustainability, innovation and technology. An optional Founder Institute add-on lets you build a venture alongside your studies (additional fees apply).
How does the Sustainability, Innovation & Technology distance programme work?
The MSc runs fully online with no mandatory campus time in Germany. You learn through short digital lessons, weekly live sessions and collaborative, real-world projects. Assessment is portfolio- and project-based rather than sit-down exams. The ZFU admission number is 1173724. As a purely remote programme, no visa is required to study from abroad.
Teaching language and certificates
You choose the programme in English or German. For the English track, proof of English at least at B2 level (CEFR) is required. If you opt for the German track, you must demonstrate sufficient German proficiency; the university confirms accepted evidence during admissions.
Learning format and study materials
Study is challenge-based: you solve industry briefs, prototype solutions and reflect in a skills portfolio. Materials are delivered via an award-winning learning app with bite-sized content (7–30 minutes). You meet your cohort in one mandatory live session of about 90 minutes per week, plus optional community events and peer reviews.
Exams and taking assessments from abroad
There are no traditional closed-book exams. You are assessed through projects, presentations and your digital portfolio, all submitted online from anywhere. Where invigilated checks are needed, proctored formats are used remotely; you do not need to travel to Germany.
On-site sessions in Germany
The degree is 100% online. In-person activities such as Action Hubs or Immersion Weeks are community events and optional; they are not required for graduation.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
Plan around 24 hours per week on average. Standard durations are 24 months (120 ECTS) or 18 months (90 ECTS), with while-working and full-time options. Live sessions are scheduled in Central European Time (CET/CEST), with alternative slots and recordings to support other time zones.
What does the Sustainability, Innovation & Technology M.Sc. cost?
For the 120-ECTS track, expect between €18,500 and €20,000 in total depending on your payment plan: €18,500 upfront, €19,500 with semester instalments (€4,875 each), or €20,000 with monthly instalments (typically €833 per month). The 90-ECTS option ranges from €15,500 (upfront) to €17,000 (monthly plan at €944 per instalment).
These totals cover the full curriculum over 18 or 24 months. Payments can be made from abroad; amounts are stated and settled in euros. If you need more time, you can extend beyond the nominal duration; the university confirms any extension fees individually. Country-based Regional Price Grants can reduce tuition by up to €8,000 depending on your residence, and merit-type scholarships of up to €1,500 may further lower the price. An optional Founder Institute add-on carries extra fees (€500 for phase 1; €1,500 or a 2.5% equity share for phase 2).
What careers and recognition does the Sustainability, Innovation & Technology M.Sc. offer?
You earn a 120 ECTS Master of Science within the Bologna system. The programme is accredited by ACQUIN (an EQAR-listed agency) and recognised by the German Accreditation Council from 01/10/2024 to 30/09/2032. ECTS credits and programme accreditation make the degree widely readable internationally for employment and further study, subject to local regulations.
Tomorrow University is a German university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) based in Frankfurt am Main. Applied universities emphasise practice-oriented teaching and industry projects, which many employers value for job-readiness. Internationally, Bologna-conform degrees with 300 ECTS in total (Bachelor + Master) typically qualify for doctoral admissions and public-sector recognition on a case-by-case basis.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Sustainability manager or ESG/impact lead in corporates, SMEs or NGOs
- Innovation, product or strategy manager focusing on green growth and circularity
- Data analyst/data scientist for sustainability, renewable energy or the circular economy
- Digital transformation/AI specialist applying technology for environmental and social impact
- Founder or intrapreneur building climate-tech or impact-driven ventures
Salaries vary by country and sector. In Europe and North America, experienced sustainability managers and product/innovation leads commonly command mid- to high-five-figure USD/EUR salaries, with data-centric and tech-enabled roles trending higher due to demand.
Who is the Sustainability, Innovation & Technology M.Sc. right for – and who not?
This programme suits professionals who want an accredited European Master’s that blends sustainability, technology and innovation without pausing their careers. It is designed for remote learners seeking project-based study, international cohorts and flexible pacing.
- You want a fully online, internationally recognised MSc you can complete from anywhere, alongside full-time work.
- You aim to combine sustainability strategy with data, AI and digital transformation to deliver measurable impact.
- You prefer project and portfolio assessment over traditional exams and want to work on real partner briefs.
- You value electives to specialise (e.g. Clean Energy, Circular Economy, Data Analytics) and possibly build a venture.
- You need rolling intakes and transparent monthly pricing with options to pause or extend.
It is not ideal in some situations. Read these carefully before you decide:
- You need an on-campus experience in Germany or a student visa route; a 100% online degree does not qualify for a German study visa.
- You require a programme with no live commitments; there is a mandatory weekly live session (about 90 minutes, CET/CEST).
- You want a pathway into a regulated profession (e.g. state-licensed engineer, teacher, clinical psychologist); this MSc does not grant such licensure.
- You prefer theory-heavy lectures and closed-book exams; learning here is challenge-based, hands-on and team-oriented.
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