One-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

One-Year Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance and Development

Nathan Sussman, Full Professor, International Economics; Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development; and Director, Centre for Finance and Development

DRIVE THE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE REVOLUTION!

The One-Year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development (60 ECTS, 2 semesters, full time, in English and in person in Geneva, Switzerland) is a selective post-graduate programme focused on preparing students for employment in the financial sector, international organisations, NGOs and think tanks. 

The programme combines training in the advanced empirical and analytical tools that are required for employment in the field of ESG and impact investing. Courses are taught in English by the faculty of the International Economics Department and of the Interdisciplinary Programme. They provide students with the necessary analytical skills and the transdisciplinary background they will need in order to apply the tools of sustainable finance to the world of socially responsible investments aimed at financing the SDG goals. Our practitioners course on sustainable finance offers a unique exposure to sustainable finance firms from the financial sector, accounting, consultancy as well as multinational organisations. 

This applied approach – teamed with our close connection to one of the globally dominant sustainable investment hub  that benefits from the presence of many international organisations and NGOs based in Geneva,  and to our close links to international financial organisations such as the World Bank and the IFC – opens up many career opportunities in the field of ESG and impact investing.

Join us for this transformative journey!

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Upcoming Online Information Session

Our MAS Students & Professors at Building Bridges

Babatunde, Amelia, Marie, Maximilian, Heesu, Nadine and Augusto (MAS Students 2024-2025) at the Building Bridges Summit 2024
Professor Ugo Panizza
Professor Nathan Sussman
Professor Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Professor Ugo Panizza

Building Bridges

Building Bridges is a joint initiative, launched in 2019 by Swiss public authorities, the finance community, the United Nations and other International partners, to accelerate the transition to a global economic model aligned with the SDGs. Learn more.

Download the Building Bridges Reports written by the Centre for Finance and Development

 Full Report 2024 (coming soon)     Full Report 2023     Full Report 2022  

Learn more about Sustainable Finance

 Sustainable Finance

And watch a short video on Building Bridges 2024

Building Bridges 2024 VIDEO

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ONE-YEAR MAS IN SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT - APPLY HERE

MAS APPLICATION FORM 2025-2026

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MAS Scholarship Application Form 2025-2026

Field Trip to Tbilissi, Georgia | MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development 2023-2024
Our Campus in Geneva
Keza Mbodje | MAS 2023-2024 (Elective Internship)
Juliette Geisinger | MAS 2023-2024 (Elective Internship)

MAS BROCHURE

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ONE-YEAR MAS IN SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT BROCHURE

Learn more about the MAS Field Trip and Capstone Project

Key benefits

  • Acquire analytical skills and critical thinking
  • Identify the main challenges of sustainable finance and impact investing and how to overcome them
  • Design and build innovative sustainable financial instruments aligned to the latest regulatory frameworks
  • Be able to quantify the impact of your portfolios
  • Benefit from a capstone project
  • Study in Geneva, in a unique location, at the heart of international affairs and financial expertise
  • Study in English

 

Unique learning experience

  • Learn from world-renowned faculty and leading practitioners in the field of sustainable finance
  • Tailor your studies according to your particular interests with interdisciplinary electives in sociology, political science, international law and history
  • Build your professional network
  • Benefit from an exceptional student–faculty ratio
  • Learn French
  • Join the Geneva Graduate Institute’s network of 22’000 alumni, and be part of a diverse community of 110 nationalities from all 5 continents

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

 

Curriculum

 

In today's fast-paced world, sustainability is more important than ever. Based in International Geneva, a center of finance and sustainability, the one-year Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance and Development (60 ECTS, 2 semesters, full time, in English and in person in Geneva, Switzerland) prepares you to address urgent sustainability challenges by providing expertise and vision.

Led by esteemed faculty and supported by a strong community, our program offers a rigorous curriculum that explores the intersection of finance, sustainability, and development. We equip students with analytical tools, and critical thinking skills to drive meaningful change.

Please note that all classes are in person and taught in English.

 

One-Year MAS Curriculum 2025-2026 (subject to changes)

One-Year Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance and Development

60 ECTS in total (Students may exceed the 60-credit requirement with permission from Prof. Nathan Sussman, MAS Co-Director)

 

Required Courses (credited, ECTS in parentheses). 51 ECTS in total

  • Climate Finance and Impact Investing, Beatrice Weder di Mauro (6)
  • Sustainable Finance and Development, Nathan Sussman (6)
  • Empirical Methods for Evidence-Based Policy Research, Imelda (6)
  • Impact Investing, Uncertainty, and Rapid Economic Transition, Anna-Riikka Kauppinen (6)
  • Foundations in Microeconomics, Frédéric Robert-Nicoud (3)
  • Corporate Finance, Ugo Panizza (3)
  • Principles of Finance, Lilach Zacharia-Trabelsi (3)
  • Sustainable Finance In Practice, Nathan Sussman & Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz (6)
  • Social Finance for Sustainable Development, Anna-Riikka Kauppinen and Kristen McNeill (6)
  • Foundations in Macroeconomics, Ugo Panizza (3)
  • Intensive Nature Seminar (INS), Beatrice Weder di Mauro (3)

Required Workshops and Courses (non-credited)

  • Early-September 2025 Math Bootcamp (1 week prior to the start of the first semester)
  • Stata Workshop
  • Public Speaking Workshop
  • Non-Financial Reporting Workshop
  • Data and Text Analysis Using Python Course
  • Capstone Workshop

Example of Elective Courses (credited, ECTS in parentheses, subject to availability). At least 9 ECTS in total 

  • Financial Globalization: Patterns, Challenges and Policy Response, C. Tille (6)
  • International Investment Law, N. Bernasconi, D. Bentolila, M. Potesta (6)
  • Social Finance for Sustainable Development, A. Kauppinen & K. Mcneill (6)
  • Economics of Development, C. Raisaro (6)
  • Economic Development of Resource-Rich Countries, T. Moerenhout (6)
  • Impact Evaluation, Jan Höffler (6)
  • Applied Environmental Resource Economics, (6)
  • Internship (3 ECTS) - Please contact Dr Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz (MAS Co-Director) and the Institute’s Career office for potential online or in-person offers. Also, please note that for the 2025-2026 programme, internships cannot go beyond September 14th, 2026 (end of your student status). Thank you.

Optional (non-credited)

  • Intensive Summer French course (for Beginners, A1 and A2 levels only)
  • French Semester course (Autumn and Spring) (for Beginners, A1, A2 and B1 levels)
  • Career Workhops (CV & Cover Letter, Networking, Interview preparation, LinkedIn)

Please note that all classes are in person and taught in English.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Faculty

 

Throughout your journey, you'll receive support from a community of dedicated scholars, practitioners, and fellow learners who share your commitment to making a positive impact.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Core Courses Faculty

Anna-Riikka Kauppinen_100   Anna-Riikka Kauppinen, Assistant Professor, Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Beatrice Weder di Mauro 100   Beatrice Weder di Mauro, Full Professor, International Economics; Faculty Associate, Centre for Finance and Development

Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz 100   Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz, Lecturer (Ph.D.), Member of the European Platform on Sustainable Finance, European Commission; Research Fellow, Centre for Finance and Development, Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

Frédéric Robert-Nicoud 100   Frédéric Robert-Nicoud, Full Professor, Institute of Economics and Econometrics, University of Geneva

 Imelda 100   Imelda, Assistant Professor, International Economics & Andre Hoffmann Assistant Professor in Environmental and Resource Economics

Kristen McNeill 100   Kristen McNeill, Assistant Professor in Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Gender Centre

 Lilach ZACHARIA-TRABELSI 100   Lilach Zacharia-Trabelsi, Lecturer (Ph.D.), Institute of Management, University of Geneva

Nathan Sussman 100   Nathan Sussman, Full Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development;  Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development; Director, Centre for Finance and Development

Ugo Panizza 100   Ugo Panizza, Full Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Director, International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies; Deputy Director, Centre for Finance and Development; Faculty Associate, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

 

Application (2025-2026, 2 semesters)  

Join us for this transformative journey!

 

  • Who should apply: Graduates and Professionals holding a bachelor degree. No professional experience is required. Background in economics and finance is preferred.

     

  • **** IMPORTANT ****

    Admission requirement: GRE or GMAT is compulsory. Results are accepted until February 23rd, 2025. (Please send us your GRE or GMAT results by email).

 

  • Fee: CHF 35’000.
  • Scholarships are available.
  • Location: Geneva Graduate Institute, Maison de la paix, Chemin Eugène Rigot, 2a, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Format: Full-time programme. Please note that all classes are in person and taught in English. Optional French classes are also available. (60 ECTS, 2 semesters, full time, in English and in person in Geneva, Switzerland)

 

  • **** NEW **** Duration: 12 MONTHS, from SEPTEMBER 1st, 2025 to SEPTEMBER 11th, 2026. 

    MAS registered students will have to attend a compulsory Math Bootcamp one week prior to the start of the semester (which starts on September 14th, 2025). Please note that students can also attend the optional French Intensive Summer Course in August-Septembre 2025 free of charge.

 

  • **** IMPORTANT **** Application deadlines for 2025-2026 (2 semesters)
    Application deadline: February 23rd, 2025
    Decision notification: March 7th, 2025
    Confirmation deadline: March 30th, 2025
  • Early application for 2025-2026: please contact sustainable.finance@graduateinstitute.ch

 

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman, Full Professor, International Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Director, Centre for Finance and Development, and Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development.

 

Join us for this transformative journey!

 

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WELCOME To the 2024-2025 MAS Admitted Students!

 

A Warm Welcome to the students starting the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development in September 2024!  

Find out more about the 2024-2025 programme on the MAS Admitted Students Portal

MAS Admitted Students Portal

Find out more about the different Student Initiatives at the Geneva Graduate Institute

Student Initiatives

We look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Maison de la paix in September 2024!

life in Geneva   

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Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

 

MAS IN SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT - APPLY HERE

MAS APPLICATION FORM 2025-2026

MAS Scholarship Appllication Form_front page_web

MAS Scholarship Application Form 2025-2026

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MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

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