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Master's in Sustainability, CSR & ESG

Earned

Master's Degree

Duration

One (1) Year

Course fee

~12,870€

This interdisciplinary program prepares professionals to lead organizational transformation toward sustainable, responsible, and ESG-compliant business models. Aligned with EU regulations including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and the EU Taxonomy, the curriculum integrates environmental management, social responsibility, corporate governance, sustainable finance, and strategic sustainability leadership. The program aligns with EQF Level 7 descriptors and emphasizes double materiality, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and the integration of sustainability into core business strategy. 

This curriculum prepares graduates to lead the sustainability transformation of organizations, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, creating long-term value for stakeholders, and contributing to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient economy.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, graduates will be able to:

  • Strategic Sustainability Leadership
  • Design and implement comprehensive sustainability strategies, CSR policies, and ESG frameworks that align with organizational mission, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory requirements (CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, SDGs).
  • Sustainable Finance and Investment
  • Evaluate green finance instruments (green bonds, sustainability-linked loans), assess ESG risks and opportunities for investors, apply socially responsible investment (SRI) criteria, and structure bankable sustainability projects.
  • ESG Reporting and Compliance
  • Apply European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and double materiality principles to conduct materiality assessments, collect ESG data, prepare sustainability reports, and ensure compliance with CSRD and other regulatory frameworks.
  • Corporate Governance and Ethics
  • Implement ethical governance structures, anti-corruption programs, compliance management systems, and board-level oversight mechanisms that integrate ESG considerations into corporate decision-making.
  • Environmental Management and Climate Action
  • Assess and manage environmental impacts, develop carbon accounting and footprint measurement systems, design climate transition plans, and implement circular economy and biodiversity strategies.
  • Sustainability Communication and Reputation Management
  • Develop transparent, credible sustainability communications, manage reputational risks, avoid greenwashing, and engage effectively with investors, customers, employees, and civil society.
  • Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Manage relationships with diverse stakeholders, design social impact programs, ensure human rights compliance in operations and supply chains, and lead diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • Research and Analytical Competence
  • Conduct independent research on sustainability challenges, apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies, analyze ESG data, and formulate evidence-based recommendations for complex, multidisciplinary sustainability problems.

Key Learning Areas

The 60 ECTS are distributed across five integrated learning areas:

  • Foundations of Sustainability, CSR & ESG
  • Core modules establishing interdisciplinary foundations:
  • Introduction to Sustainability and CSR
  • Historical evolution of CSR, sustainability paradigms, triple bottom line, stakeholder theory, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the business case for sustainability.
  • ESG Frameworks and International Standards
  • Overview of ESG criteria, major reporting frameworks (GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP), EU regulatory landscape (CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, SFDR), and international standards (ISO 14001, ISO 26000, ISO 37301).
  • Governance, Finance and Reporting
  • Corporate governance and financial dimensions:
  • Corporate Governance, Ethics and Compliance
  • Board governance and ESG oversight, ethical frameworks, anti-corruption and anti-bribery programs, compliance management systems (ISO 37301), whistleblower protection, and regulatory compliance.
  • Sustainable Finance, Green Investment and ESG Integration
  • Green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, EU Taxonomy alignment, ESG integration in investment decisions, socially responsible investment (SRI), impact investing, and sustainable financial reporting.
  • Environmental Dimensions and Climate Action
  • Environmental management and climate strategy:
  • Environmental Management Systems and Impact Assessment
  • Environmental management systems (ISO 14001), environmental impact assessment (EIA), life cycle assessment (LCA), carbon accounting (GHG Protocol), and environmental compliance management.
  • Climate Change, Circular Economy and Biodiversity
  • Climate science and risk assessment, science-based targets, net-zero transition strategies, circular economy principles, waste management, sustainable resource use, and biodiversity/nature-positive strategies.
  • ESG Reporting, Communication and Strategy
  • Reporting, transparency, and strategic integration:
  • CSRD, ESRS and Sustainability Reporting
  • In-depth application of CSRD requirements, ESRS standards, double materiality assessments, data collection and assurance, sustainability report preparation, external verification, and integration with financial reporting.
  • Sustainability Communication, Reputation and Green Marketing (included across modules)
  • Sustainability marketing, brand positioning, avoiding greenwashing, crisis communication, reputation management, and stakeholder communication strategies.
  • Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Management
  • Social dimensions of sustainability:
  • Social Impact, Human Rights and Supply Chain Responsibility
  • Human rights due diligence, labor standards, modern slavery prevention, supply chain sustainability, community engagement, social impact assessment, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
  • Stakeholder Engagement, DEI and Social Innovation
  • Stakeholder mapping and materiality analysis, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies, employee engagement, social innovation, corporate philanthropy, and partnerships with civil society and NGOs.
  • Strategic Sustainability Management and Leadership
  • Integration and transformation:
  • Strategic Sustainability Management and Change Leadership
  • Integrating sustainability into corporate strategy, business model innovation, sustainability transformation roadmaps, change management, leadership competencies for sustainability, and measuring sustainability performance (KPIs, OKRs, balanced scorecard)
  • Master's Thesis or Applied Project
  • An independent research dissertation or applied capstone project addressing a real-world sustainability, CSR, or ESG challenge. Students may conduct a materiality assessment, develop a sustainability strategy, design an ESG reporting system, or analyze a specific sustainability topic, demonstrating integration of knowledge, analytical skills, and professional competencies.

Career and Professional Development Areas

Graduates are prepared for leadership and specialist roles across corporations, consulting firms, financial institutions, public agencies, and NGOs:

 
  • Career Paths
  • Sustainability / ESG Manager: Leading sustainability strategy, ESG integration, and reporting processes for corporations across all sectors.
  • CSR Director / Head of Corporate Responsibility: Overseeing CSR programs, stakeholder engagement, social impact initiatives, and corporate philanthropy for large organizations.
  • ESG Reporting Specialist / Sustainability Reporting Manager: Managing CSRD/ESRS compliance, materiality assessments, data collection, sustainability report preparation, and external assurance processes.
  • Sustainability Consultant / ESG Advisor: Providing strategic advice on sustainability transformation, ESG due diligence, carbon footprint reduction, circular economy, and regulatory compliance for consulting firms or independent practice.
  • Sustainable Finance Specialist / Green Investment Analyst: Evaluating ESG risks and opportunities, structuring green bonds, assessing EU Taxonomy alignment, and managing sustainable investment portfolios for banks, asset managers, and institutional investors.
  • Environmental Manager / Climate Action Lead: Managing environmental compliance, carbon accounting, climate transition planning, and circular economy initiatives for industrial, energy, or infrastructure companies.
  • Supply Chain Sustainability Manager: Ensuring human rights compliance, environmental standards, and ESG criteria in global supply chains; conducting supplier audits and capacity-building programs.
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Manager: Managing relationships with investors, NGOs, communities, and employees; developing sustainability communications, reputation management, and crisis response strategies.
  • Public Policy and Sustainability Manager (Public Sector/NGO): Developing and implementing sustainability policies, programs, and projects for government agencies, international organizations, or civil society organizations.
  • Compliance and Ethics Officer (ESG Focus): Managing regulatory compliance, anti-corruption programs, ethics training, and governance structures that integrate ESG considerations.
  • Professional Skill Development
  • The program develops:
  • Strategic and Systems Thinking: Ability to integrate sustainability into core business strategy, understand interconnections between environmental, social, and governance dimensions, and design holistic transformation roadmaps.
  • Regulatory and Compliance Expertise: Mastery of EU and international sustainability regulations (CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, SFDR), standards (GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISO), and compliance management systems.
  • Analytical and Data Competence: Skills to collect, analyze, and interpret ESG data, conduct materiality assessments, measure carbon footprints, and evaluate sustainability performance using quantitative and qualitative methods.
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Effective communication with diverse audiences (investors, employees, customers, regulators, civil society), transparency management, and reputation-building strategies.
  • Ethical Leadership and Change Management: Capacity to lead organizational transformation, manage resistance to change, embed sustainability culture, and demonstrate ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
  • Regulatory and Standards Compliance: Understanding of sustainable finance regulations (SFDR, EU Taxonomy, CSRD), voluntary standards (UN PRI, TCFD, GRI), and impact management frameworks (GIIN, IMP).
  • Financial and Investment Acumen: Understanding of sustainable finance instruments, ESG integration in investment decisions, green bonds, and the financial materiality of sustainability issues.

Additional Digital Certifications/Badge

  • DP 900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals
  • INF-105: Cybersecurity
  • INF-308: Computational Thinking
  • Introduction to Data Science

Course Fee: 12,870€

  • Application Fee: 250€ (Due Immediately & Non-Refundable)
  • Installments: To be determine (Fee installments options will be discussed and confirmed following an initial consultation)
  • Total fee: 12,870€

IMPORTANT: The above tuition fees are based on SSM Learning Center, Rome. Please contact our Learning Center in Barcelona as prices vary.

No published installment plan for this program. Please inquire directly.

Tuition Fee Installment: Special payment arrangements are allowed with scheduled payment due dates.

FAQ

Yes we do. If you have been working in your industry in a managerial position for a few years and you wanted to earn a Master’s Degree, all you need to do is submit your Bachelor’s Degree Academic Credentials and your proof of work. ISASS will then review your industry experience and will determine if you have the equivalence of a Master’s Degree. This of course is depended on the decision of the Review Committee.

The total tuition fees of the program include all study materials (except for the books), examination fees, wi-fi access, access to the library, company visits, excursions and Personal Success Profile Analysis and Adventure Day. All fees except the Application Fee are fully refundable in case of rejection of the study visa. Once the enrolment is confirmed, all paid-in fees are not refundable.

NOTE: We offer a Tuition Fee discount OR Special Payment options. Ask us how.

Yes, ISASS will assist in your Student Visa application. You just need to pay a minimal fee for this process. Please note that for the application of Student VISA, the decision of the course rests in the hands of the Spanish Embassy in your country.

The student needs to pay Three Hundred and Ninety Euros (390€) for the processing of Visa papers. Please take note that this is non-refundable.

 
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