Additional information will be available in Fall 2027.
Master change management and elevate your leadership with our Master of Science degree in sustainability.
Presentation
The MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations is an 18-month, English-taught program designed to prepare you to lead responsible and effective change in response to today’s pressing sustainability challenges. As sustainable development and corporate responsibility become strategic imperatives, organizations are seeking professionals with expertise in change management and interdisciplinary approaches.
This program goes beyond traditional management education. It explores the intersection of innovation, corporate sustainability, and systems thinking to equip future leaders with the mindset and tools to implement sustainable transformation across sectors.
Through hands-on projects, academic immersion in Europe, and a strong focus on real-world impact, you will develop the critical competencies needed to lead sustainability initiatives, manage change, and foster collaboration across business functions and stakeholder groups.
Whether your goal is to work in sustainable business, consulting, public policy, or the nonprofit sector, the MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations offers the interdisciplinary foundation and international exposure to become a catalyst for change.
Key program information
- Program name: MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations
- Language: English
- Format: Full-time
- Duration: 18 months
- Entry requirements: 3- or 4-year Bachelor's degree
- Campus: Lyon + international experience
- Rankings: #2 in France for employability (Times Higher Education - GEURS 2026)
- Degree or certification obtained: Master of Science - accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE)
Program core strenghts
- Expertise of a top European business school
emlyon business school combines academic excellence with a strong focus on responsible leadership and sustainable impact.
- Global and interdisciplinary immersion
Study in Paris and London, and engage with diverse sustainability challenges across cultural contexts.
- Curriculum focused on sustainable transformation
Explore topics such as corporate sustainability, change management, and impact measurement through a mix of theory, field work, and project-based learning.
- Career-oriented and impact-driven
Prepare for roles in consulting, CSR, policy, or NGOs by developing the skills and mindset to lead sustainable development initiatives in complex, real-world environments.
Program
The Master of Science (MSc) in Leading Sustainable Transformations, offered by emlyon business school, is accessible to international and French students.
- Program in 18 months: 12 months of classes and a 4-6 month internship/work placement
- Accessible after completing a Bachelor's degree (valid diplomas include bac +4 or bac +3).
This degree in sustainable transformation equips you with the strategic mindset and interdisciplinary skills needed to address today’s complex environmental and social challenges. Through international immersion, real-world projects, and a hands-on learning approach, you’ll learn to design and lead responsible change within organizations and across ecosystems.
Explore a comprehensive curriculum focused on corporate sustainability, change management, and sustainable development to build the practical expertise required for impact-driven careers.
This program combines cutting-edge academic knowledge with practical experience through group projects, business simulations, professional missions, and immersive experiences.
Evaluate transformations, sustainability and change
The first period in Paris provides you with the foundational tools to assess and respond to transformation in business environments. You will explore sustainability across key business functions - strategy, marketing, operations, HR, and finance - while learning to evaluate change using methodologies such as carbon footprint analysis and data analytics (Python, R). Through interactive seminars, practical workshops, and leadership development sessions, you will build the strategic and analytical skills needed to design sustainable and competitive business solutions.
Sustainability & Business Fundamentals - Evaluating Sustainability and change
- Sustainability and governance and strategy
- Sustainability in marketing
- Sustainability in business operations
- Sustainability, leadership and HR practices
- Technology (including Artificial intelligence) and sustainability
- Sustainability and finance – “green finance”
- Career evaluation & strategy
- Quantifying carbon emissions: you will learn how to conduct a carbon footprint to integrate sustainable strategies into your organization's activities and anticipate regulatory changes and climate risks. Learning the carbon footprinting methodology will also enable you to meet customer and investor expectations, reduce costs, and improve your organization's competitiveness.
- You will learn to use the Python and R programming languages to effectively evaluate organizational change at any scale and propose sustainable solutions.
Transversal and soft skills for change
- Research methods to diagnose sustainability readiness
- Leadership development
- Storytelling & Public speaking: with the help of Sélène ASSAF, an actress from the Cours Florent, you will learn how to speak in public, defend your ideas and influence your organization in order to carry out effective change management projects in the long term.
Inside the program: Mastering Leadership for Change - Presentation skills - Data visualization
Initiating change - Design sustainable transformations
This period in Paris focuses on designing and implementing sustainable business transformations. Through hands-on methods and collaborative learning, you’ll explore how to integrate sustainability into strategy, marketing, technology, and organizational culture. You will also develop essential soft skills - such as negotiation, agile project management, and behavior change techniques - needed to lead innovation effectively. An international seminar complements the experience, offering first-hand insight into how global companies are driving sustainability and change.
- Strategizing for sustainability – Sustainable futures
- Leveraging technology and Artificial intelligence for sustainability
- Designing sustainable marketing
- Managing cultural change for sustainability through leadership
- Sustainability and the consulting industry
Transversal techniques and soft skills for change
- Creativity for sustainability
- Methods for changing behaviors
- Negotiation techniques for sustainability
- Agile project management
- Self and leadership development for sustainability
International Seminar
This International Seminar in Brussels and Amsterdam is a unique opportunity to visit companies that are leading the way in building sustainability and learn from their top managers how they are implementing change. Finally, it is a way to start building your international network.
Implement sustainable transformations
This term in London focuses on applying interdisciplinary thinking to real-world sustainability challenges. You will explore sustainability as a complex, systemic concept, and learn how to align ethics, behavior, and organizational culture with sustainable goals. Central to this period is the Red Thread Project, a team-based consulting assignment culminating in a professional publication and digital portfolio on a current transformation theme - such as sustainable food systems. Throughout the project, you will gain experience using industry-standard tools (Trello, Slack, Notion) to manage and communicate your work effectively.
- Integrating sustainability in culture and behaviors
- Analyzing sustainability as the interdependence of systems and resources
- Developing ethics for sustainable change
Red Thread Project
Throughout the year, students will study a real-world case study and make connections between the economic, societal, environmental, digital, and organizational transformations of a particular sector (e.g., transformations in the travel industry, or in food & nutrition). Each year will be dedicated to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning with the overall objective defined by emlyon business school to reflect its annual focus and mission. Students will take on the role of consultants and will be expected to produce and disseminate the content of their research in an innovative format: podcast, book, video, etc.
Professional Thesis & Internship
PROFESSIONAL THESIS
To conclude your graduate studies, you will have to write a professional thesis. The topic will be chosen in coordination with your academic supervisor and in line with your missions during your internship or first job.
INTERNSHIP
The professional mission will last from 4 to 6 months and can be an internship, a VIE (international volunteering mission), a fixed-term contract or a permanent contract. This is a great opportunity to put your academic knowledge to the test and acquire tangible experience within the industry. The school will give you all the support and tools you need to find the right job for you.
Assessment methods
- Assessment methods may include case studies, presentations, mock exercises, tests, etc.
- Graduation rate following the last board: 100% of students who took the exam have graduated (Examination Board of July 2026).
CGE Accreditation: a mark of excellence
The Master of Science programs at emlyon business school are accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE), a prestigious French association that recognizes academic excellence, rigorous admissions standards, and strong professional integration.
This label guarantees that the MSc programs meet the highest national and international standards, offering students a high-quality education that is both academically rigorous and closely aligned with the expectations of the global job market.
Being CGE-accredited also enhances the value of the degree, providing graduates with strong recognition among employers and institutions worldwide. At the end of your program, you will obtain a degree delivered by emlyon business school, a globally renowned business school recognized by the triple accreditation: EQUIS, ACCSB and AMBA.
Career
Embarking on the Master of Science in Leading Sustainable Transformations at emlyon business school offers comprehensive career support in sustainability leadership and transformative innovation. This program combines knowledge of sustainable practices and strategies with hands-on courses in change management, preparing you for roles such as sustainability consultant, transformation leader, or positions in corporate social responsibility on a global scale.
Jobs after the MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations
- Chief Sustainability Officer
- CSR Project Manager
- Sustainable Development Consultant
- Digital Project & Change Manager
- Sustainable Innovation Catalyst
- ESG Analyst
- Climate Risk Analyst
- Sustainable Finance Analyst
- CSR Auditor
- Business Operations Manager
- Chief Transformation Officer
- Chief Diversity Officer
Job placement statistics
Main recruiters
- Consulting firms
- Large corporations
Internship placements include:
The companies shown reflect the internship hosts of the inaugural cohort of the MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations. Our students have secured positions both in France and internationally.
Support from leading companies
"We support this program as we are convinced it will contribute to educate a new generation of leaders, able to conduct the transformations needed toward a more sustainable and socially responsible economy... Such profiles are crucial to our business - this is the reason why we support this program."
Schneider Electric Recruiting Department
About our Career Center
The Career Center provides continual support in identifying career goals and developing action plans. You graduate with real experience, strong connections, and concrete career opportunities.
- 1:1 coaching sessions with career advisors to define your goals and action plan
- Hands‑on workshops on CV writing, LinkedIn optimization, and interview practice
- Recruitment events with top companies (career fairs, company talks, job offers)
- Access to job platforms with internships, apprenticeships, and graduate roles
- International opportunities through global career support, partners, and worldwide job access
Alumni network
As a future graduate, you will become a lifelong member of the emlyon business school alumni network, a community of nearly 52,000 alumni across more than 130 countries.
You will benefit from a wide range of services, including online assessment modules. The network will support your career development at every stage by providing career insights, facilitating business exchanges, and sharing valuable experience.
Learn more about the alumni network by visiting the emlyon alumni website.
Student life
The Paris Campus
Our campus is located in the heart of Paris, in the lively 12th arrondissement, right across from the Gare de Lyon. With its central location, students enjoy quick access to top companies, cultural hotspots, and everything the city has to offer. It’s a vibrant place to learn, network, and live Paris to the full.
Student Life in Paris
Paris offers much more than academic excellence, it provides a dynamic, multicultural environment that enriches every aspect of student life.
- An International Business Capital: home to the headquarters of major global corporations and a thriving ecosystem of startups, making it a prime location for internships, networking, and launching an international career.
- Cultural Richness around Every Corner
From world-famous museums and historic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum, the city offers endless opportunities to explore, learn, and be inspired.
- A Well-Connected City
With its excellent public transport and international rail and air links, Paris makes it easy to travel within France and across Europe.
I chose emlyon business school because I really liked the curriculum on the website. It was a good mix of theoretical knowledge, practical case studies, and personal development. I also liked that it focused on developing hard skills, such as learning Python and conducting carbon footprint assessments. All of this made the course seem very well-rounded to me, and, coupled with its high rankings, it seemed like a great choice for my master's-level education.
Meet us during dedicated events
emlyon's Program Advisors are hitting the road to connect with you and discuss your career aspirations. Don't miss the opportunity to meet them at international student fairs for guidance in shaping your future career. You can also stay tuned for information about our campus open days!
Contact our student ambassadors
Want to find out more about student life, program content, campus life or the emlyon business school experience? Connect with our student ambassadors to get a first glimpse of what awaits you. You can ask them all your questions via our dedicated platform.
Disability support services
You will find the welcome guide and all the information on how we welcome and support our students and participants with disabilities here.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about the MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations
A Master of Science in Sustainability is a graduate program focused on understanding and addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It equips students with the skills to design sustainable strategies, assess long-term impacts, and develop innovative solutions for a more responsible future. It prepares graduates for a wide range of roles across industries.
A Master of Science (MSc) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and business schools, under the CGE (Conférence des Grandes Écoles) label, designed with a strong international focus and often taught entirely in English. It is ideal for students aiming for global careers or academic mobility. In contrast, a Master’s degree in France, accredited by the French state and the CEFDG, offers a solid general foundation in management combined with a specialization that is highly recognized both academically and professionally in France and across Europe.
The MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations delivered by emlyon business school is a Master of Science degree.
A Master of Science in sustainability (MSc) opens up diverse career opportunities in CSR, ESG, sustainable finance, and transformation leadership. Graduates become sustainability professionals driving change across industries:
- Sustainability Consultant: helping companies develop and implement sustainability strategies
- Sustainability Project or Program Manager in corporate, nonprofit, or public sectors
- Chief Sustainability Officer: driving the company’s overall sustainability vision and strategy
- CSR Project Manager: managing corporate social responsibility initiatives and reporting
- Digital Project & Change Manager: leading digital transformations that support sustainable practices
- ESG Analyst: evaluating environmental, social, and governance performance
- Climate Risk Analyst: assessing climate-related risks and opportunities for organizations
- Sustainable Finance Analyst: analyzing investments through a sustainability and impact lens
- CSR Auditor: ensuring compliance with sustainability standards and certifications
- Transformation Director: overseeing large-scale organizational change toward sustainability
This MSc in Leading Sustainable Transformations has a curriculum that combines core and elective courses, international seminars and real-world projects. This degree program covers key sustainability topics such as sustainable strategy, sustainable development, marketing, operations, finance and leadership. Students also develop skills in data analysis, change management and behavioural change.
Through practical, hands-on learning and interdisciplinary projects such as the Red Thread Project, students gain the expertise needed to drive sustainable transformation within organisations and systems.
To apply for a Master of Science degree in sustainability management at emlyon business school, you must hold at least a Bac+3 (Bachelor's degree) or Bac+4 degree. Here is the application process:
- Create an online account
- Upload required documents (CV, transcripts, diploma, etc.)
- Pay a €120 application fee (exemptions apply)
- Complete a digital test (1h30)
The requirements for Master's admission include English proficiency (C1 level recommended), and optional aptitude tests (GMAT, GRE, etc.).
The benefits of masters in sustainability include strong career advancement opportunities in growing green sectors, the ability to drive real impact on the environment, and the long-term value of a sustainability degree in meeting global business and climate challenges.
The skills gained from a Master of Science (MSc) in sustainability include strong technical skills in data analysis, carbon footprinting, and sustainable business practices, as well as problem-solving skills to drive transformation across organizations. You'll also develop leadership, project management, and interdisciplinary thinking to tackle complex sustainability challenges.
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