Circular Innovation and Sustainability

What you will gain from this degree programme

Take responsibility today for the changes of tomorrow and play an active role in shaping the future. BFH’s first interdisciplinary master’s programme (business, life sciences and technology) provides a uniquely broad insight into the fields of circular economy and sustainable development.  On this programme, you will gain an in-depth understanding of biological and technical cycles and come to know the potential they offer for developing sustainable product and process innovations. You will also acquire the skills to rethink conventional business models and make them circular.

Core features of your programme

Interdisciplinarity

The master’s is underpinned by an interdisciplinary foundation programme, equipping you with broad knowledge from research and practice about circular economy, resource efficiency and sustainable development. You will gain insight into the fundamental principles of a sustainable transformation in sectors ranging from food to energy management. Both the modules and the teaching staff on the programme are put together to be interdisciplinary. 

Specialisation

After the foundation programme, focused specialisation is possible. Thanks to a generous range of focus modules, you can pursue your personal interests in depth, not only in theory but also in practice with individual projects. Internships are an additional means of acquiring skills in specific areas. 

Subject competence

The new master’s programme brings together subject knowledge on circular economy and sustainability from all departments at BFH. Benefit from the scholarly expertise of leading researchers and pursue your studies at the cutting edge of applied research. 

Flexibility

Innovative teaching approaches guarantee you a highly flexible timetable. For full-time students, in-person classes take up around 40 per cent of the programme. The remaining time you spend working individually or in groups on specific learning objectives.

Relevance to practice 

During the programme you benefit from a large network of companies and organisations working in the field. A key component of the master’s is that these are directly integrated into modules – for example, in the form of excursions, guest speakers, internships, or working on problems identified in real cases.

Secure sustainability expertise now

Make the most of this opportunity to work with our students on current issues relating to the circular economy and sustainability in your organisation or company. Through your practical project, you secure the know-how of future experts in the field. And you gain direct access to the latest BFH research results.

Equipped for demanding specialist and management functions

The study programme promotes entrepreneurial thinking and offers you the possibility to individually steer your specialisation. It therefore qualifies you for sustainability-related profiles in different industries. Possible employers are medium-sized and larger companies, the public sector, non-profit organisations or international companies.

Fields of activity

Students are equipped with diverse skills that open up a wide range of job opportunities:

• in the private or public sector,
• in companies, start-ups, NGOs, or government agencies at federal, cantonal or communal level,
• as change agents/managers, sustainability officers, consultants, project managers or researchers.

120 ECTS credits must be earned to complete the degree. The programme structure is based on four module categories.

You will be admitted to the study programme,

• if you hold a bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences in the disciplines of economics, life sciences or technology.
• if you hold a bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences in another discipline, provided that at least 30 ECTS credits of the programme were completed in subjects with an economic, scientific or technical orientation or are made up in the first year of study of the master's programme.
• if you are studying at a Swiss or a foreign university, provided that you have at least three months of work experience related to sustainable development. 

Advisory service

Choosing a degree or continuing education programme is an important decision. During an individual advisory session, we will answer your questions and clarify with you your personal criteria for this programme.