What we call Impact Entrepreneurship at ESCP Business School doesn’t only mean that a business maximizes environmental and social responsibility across the value chain – to us that’s a given. Impact Entrepreneurship means that the company has a specific environmental, social, or economic mission that is pursued with business means while making use of the most recent technological innovations. The impact mission is its raison d’être – e.g., changing energy infrastructures or providing access to educational and healthcare services to neglected social groups – in addition to informing how a company operates. Ecological and social value creation are at least as important as economic value creation in Impact Entrepreneurship. Whether it’s green, social, technology-driven, or mixed, Impact Entrepreneurship is commercially successful entrepreneurship.

It is important to consider that Impact Entrepreneurship shares some similarities with other types of special-interest entrepreneurship, such as sustainable or social entrepreneurship, but it is not the same (e.g., these types of entrepreneurship are mission-driven and use business success as a means to achieve a higher purpose – an impact goal). For example, social ventures are often donation-based or depend on public funding, i.e. they are leveraged. Sustainable entrepreneurship is often associated with green niche businesses. Impact Entrepreneurship, as a fundamentally purpose- and mission-driven form of entrepreneurship, includes these features, but under the condition that a commercially successful venture is created.

While there may be similarities, for us Impact Entrepreneurship is about developing financially self-sustaining ventures that aim at changing the conditions under which societies and economies operate – e.g., making use of innovative business models and AI-based technologies to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce consumers’ negative footprints, or make sure that global supply chains are responsibly developed and managed. A successful Impact Venture runs on a business model that is sustainable - for the environment, society, and for the business itself while it leverages the opportunities of modern, often digital and AI-based technologies.

Although this is an entrepreneurship programme, the MSc in Impact Entrepreneurship is not an incubator. You will, however, learn to exchange and elaborate on ideas, and creatively solve ecological and social challenges with entrepreneurial ways of thinking and working.

The programme’s curriculum is strongly rooted in theoretical and conceptual knowledge in the broad topics of impact and impact management, sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, business development, and intercultural management – this is roughly 50% of the programme. An additional 25% is spent on preparing you for your career (language courses, communication, etc.) and to complete a master thesis (research methods, etc.). The other 25% of the curriculum is spent on gaining practical experience with a company consultancy project, a year-long Impact Venture building project, and an internship or business development project.

In addition, you will create a new and vibrant network. ESCP students, alumni, and the Berlin and Paris entrepreneurial ecosystems will help you create the network you need for your future career in the small but rapidly growing field of sustainable business.

This programme is for candidates who are passionate about being successful as an entrepreneur (e.g., as startup founder, business developer at a young venture, impact analyst, etc.) or intrapreneur (e.g., project developer at a larger corporation, business analyst for at an SME, product developer, impact investment analyst, etc.). If you are interested in helping start new businesses as an entrepreneur or changing existing ones as an intrapreneur, the MIE programme should be the right choice for you.

Future students of Impact Entrepreneurship should arrive at ESCP with an entrepreneurial spirit, whether evidenced by previous work experience, extracurricular activities, or even hobbies. The MIE programme is most suited to candidates who have an academic background (can be a major or a minor) in business or management and are ready to revisit these topics specifically with a mission-driven, entrepreneurial lens. Candidates will be recent college graduates, with no more than four years of full-time work experience, and be keen to study in an international environment.

It’s for those who, after graduating, are interested in setting up their own business, a new business unit, a corporate spin-off, or other types of commercial project dedicated to solving a specific social or sustainability problem.

After graduating with the MSc in Impact Entrepreneurship, you will be prepared to work as an entrepreneur in your own business, or as an intrapreneur within existing organizations of all types. You’ll also be well-suited to lead or join start-ups, launch corporate spin-offs, business development units, or incubators.

Some example job titles include:

• Sustainable business developer
• Impact manager
• Sustainability consultant
• Project manager
• Innovation strategist
• Venture architect
• Sustainability marketer
• Venture analyst
• Impact investment analyst

We generally believe that those with a business background will be most equipped to succeed in such a unique programme. Keep in mind that students without a strong business/economics background are required to participate in a preparatory course prior to the start of the programme. This course will include the topics of accounting, marketing, finance, economics, and controlling. Attending online courses via MOOCs like Coursera or Udemy can also enhance your eligibility. This shows us that you’re invested in preparing yourself to tackle this academic challenge.

The MIE programme is designed for aspiring change makers who want to apply the tools of business development to solving the world’s most urgent social and environmental problems. You will acquire the skills, the practical understanding of relevant business concepts, and the methods to drive change within teams, firms, and industries. And to even launch completely new ventures yourself, as some of our graduates already did. You learn to use business development and innovation of all sorts as a tool to tackle social and sustainability challenges.

The Master in International Sustainability Management (SustM) is a programme that covers all aspects of managing environmental and sustainability issues within existing organizations. It integrates scientific knowledge with a business perspective, which will also equip you for a career where you can make a positive difference right away. Here, you learn about the management tasks and challenges that emerge when existing and typically large companies consider sustainability issues.

Loosely speaking, the SustM is grounded in a management perspective, while the core of the MIE programme is about employing entrepreneurial and innovative tools on social and sustainability challenges.

The programme covers 6 terms lasting two years in total. The programme starts every September.

The MIE takes place on the Berlin and Paris campuses of ESCP Business School. You will spend three terms in Berlin (Terms 1, 3 and 4), and one term in Paris (Term 2). Two additional terms for the master thesis and your internship or business development project can be completed anywhere in the world. There is no option to choose differently.

For non-EU citizens, that the majority of your studies take place in Berlin means that you could have the option of obtaining a 18-month residence permit after graduating. This permit can be converted into a longer work permit if you obtain a job.

120 ECTS

ESCP Business School was established in 1819, making it the first business school in the world. In its current form, ESCP stands out for its multicampus structure with six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin, and Warsaw. Being part of the school means embracing multiculturalism, diversity and interdisciplinarity. A European as well as an international outlook is part of our DNA.

ESCP has also long inspired and educated purpose-driven leaders who will have an impact on planetary, social, and organizational progress. Sustainability is not only something we teach, but also do. ESCP leads the way in integrating sustainability and responsible leadership into its educational activities, research, strategy, and operations.

ESCP not only seeks to provide you with a rigorous environment to develop your skills and knowledge, but also aims to thoroughly prepare you to enter the job market. Courses include a mix of lectures, group projects, instruction from practitioners and corporate partners, and case studies. Special features of the programme include a one-year impact venture development project, and a company consultancy project in which you work with real clients on solving real business challenges.

In addition, you can choose between a three-month internship or your own business development project during the last term. Here, you will be supported by our network of mentors and business partners.

No, submitting a test score is optional. If you do not submit an official score, then you will take the English test during the admissions sessions in order to evaluate your fluency and competency in the language.