Certificate Programme in Integrative Sustainability Management (SuM-HSG)

Autumn Semester 2024

The certificate programme starts with the mandatory Base Camp course, which runs from 9 to 13 September 2024 (one week prior to the semester start) in an off-site location.

To complete the certificate programme in Integrative Sustainability Management (SuM-HSG), a total of 24 ECTS credits must be earned.

Of these, 16 ECTS credits must be earned in courses that are open and compulsory for SuM students only (Base Camp, 4 ECTS; Introduction to Sustainability Management, 4 ECTS; Final Project, 8 ECTS).

Elective courses worth 8 ECTS credits can be taken simultaneously in the major and in the SuM. However, this is only possible for courses that can be counted as electives in the SuM.

You can submit your application via Compass from mid-March until 30 June 2024.

All compulsory courses in the SuM are taught in English only. Electives can be taken either in English or German.

The certificate programme is open for students of all bachelor programmes (majors) after successful completion of the Assessment Year. 

To apply for the SuM certificate, submit your one-page personal essay, your one-page CV, and your current grade transcript (at least first semester of the assessment year) via Compass by 30 June 2024.

Please hand in one PDF file with the required documents in the following order: "Personal Essay – Curriculum Vitae – Grade Transcript." Name your file according to the following format: LastName_FirstName_SuM.pdf. All documents need to be submitted in English.

Your essay must be no longer than one page and needs to address one of the following questions:

• What aspects of your life experiences and character enable you to make a contribution to the peer community fostered in the SuM?
• The SuM establishes a community of learners who are open and curious – and want to leverage that to make an impact on sustainability. When was a time in your life (academic or personal) you recall being deeply excited to learn? What excites you most thinking about the SuM?
• Collaboration is a key tenet of the SuM learning journey, and requires getting to know our collaboration partners as people. Write a letter to a future SuM classmate that will help that person get to know you.

Please note that your essay will be treated confidentially within the selection team and will only be used for the purpose of this application process.

Please note that SuM is limited to a maximum of 50 participants.

Your SuM application provides us with a holistic view of you as an applicant: from your CV we gain an understanding of your experiences, interests, and activities; your transcript shows us your academic achievements; your essay helps us gain insight into your ideas and what’s important to you. We aim to accept a cohort of students from across HSG’s bachelor programmes with diverse backgrounds, interests, and worldviews. We want to learn how the SuM could support you in your journey, and in turn what you would bring to the SuM.

There are no additional costs for students regularly enroled in one of the HSG's bachelor programmes.