Master of Science in Sustainable Finance and Investments
Utrecht University
Key Information
Campus location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* Dutch and other EU/EEA students statutory fee, full-time 2022-2023; Non-EU/EEA students institutional fee 2022-2023: € 17,500
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Introduction
Pioneering in Finance: Creating Value through Sustainability
More than ever, today’s financial markets play a key role in tackling global environmental and social challenges. Regulators and society expect major capital suppliers to demonstrate the purpose they serve beyond financial goals. At the same time, the financial sector recognizes that considering issues such as climate change and societal well-being in financial decision-making is not just the right thing but also a smart thing to do.
It is the reason why the world’s leading institutional investors, banks, and financial service providers are making sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) an integral part of their core activities. For example, BNP Paribas and APG no longer finance the tobacco sector, while ABN AMRO and Triodos invest in companies that have a positive impact on society and earn competitive financial returns.
This move towards sustainable finance creates the need for professionals who can use their knowledge of finance and sustainability to achieve financial and societal goals. Are you interested in learning how financial analysis and investments can take sustainability risks and opportunities into account? Do you want to apply finance in a meaningful way by investing in companies and projects that have a positive impact on society? Do you want to bridge the knowledge gap between traditional finance professionals and sustainability experts?
Our Master’s program Sustainable Finance and Investments is an opportunity to study how fundamental finance knowledge and the principles of sustainability can be brought together in financial analyses and investments. The program equips you with the latest scientific know-how and practical skills to integrate environmental and social issues in finance. This combined expertise is sought by major financial institutions and companies that seek to fulfill their financial goals while promoting a more sustainable financial market, economy, and society.
Research Expertise
In this Master’s program, you will learn from academic staff with more than a decade’s experience in research and education on sustainable finance and business. Utrecht University School of Economics’ (U.S.E) academic staff excel in integrating financial and economic perspectives into broader societal issues. U.S.E promotes the translation of science into practice and policy through initiatives such as the Sustainable Finance Lab and the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative.
Program Outcome
This Master’s program equips you with the knowledge and skills that will benefit you in your professional and personal life.
Over the year, this program provides you with:
- An understanding of the principles of sustainability and how these are considered by the finance profession and companies in practice;
- The ability to identify sustainability issues that matter to the financial market, investors, and companies;
- The knowledge and skills to apply financial analysis and make investment decisions while considering the environmental and societal impacts of investments;
- Key insights into scientific and practical sustainability impact measurement tools, and the competencies and techniques to apply social or environmental impact assessments on investments; and
- The competencies to qualitatively argue how sustainability principles should be reflected in financial decision-making and, if feasible, support these arguments with financial analyses.
Curriculum
During this Master’s Sustainable Finance and Investments, you will focus on:
- Acquiring the fundamental finance knowledge and tools you can use to assess the returns, risks, and value of investments;
- The sustainability risks and opportunities that financial professionals are experiencing – such as climate change, resource scarcity, social inequality, and stakeholder well-being;
- Implementing sustainable and ‘impact investments’;
- Measuring the financial performance and social impact of investments;
- The pros and cons of using ESG metrics in the financial analysis of companies, investing and shareholder engagement;
- What externally financed companies can do to identify, prioritize and report on material sustainability issues; and
- Learning from finance and related disciplines on how the financial sector can promote the transition to a more sustainable economy and society.
Career Opportunities
You may envision working at a traditional finance-focused organization that aims to make better financial and investment decisions by considering sustainability. Or you may aspire to work for an investment firm that intends to generate positive societal benefCareer Prospectsits alongside financial rewards. The Sustainable Finance and Investment program equips you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in these areas.
A Career to Contribute to a More Just and Sustainable Future
You may envision working at a traditional finance-focused organization that aims to make better financial and investment decisions by considering sustainability. Or you may aspire to work for an investment firm that explicitly aims to use investments to generate societal benefits as well as financial benefits. The Sustainable Finance and Investment program equips you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in these areas of finance.
Students who complete the program can pursue a career as, for example:
- (Junior) portfolio manager of (sustainable) investments at a financial institution (e.g. pension funds or asset managers such as APG, Blackrock, and Robeco);
- (Junior) investment manager for impact-driven financial institutions (e.g. Triodos, ASN, and FMO)
- Financial or sustainability/ESG analysts for an investment research provider (e.g. MSCI ESG Research);
- Engagement specialist at shareholder engagement service providers (e.g. Federated Hermes and BMO); and
- Consultant in the sustainability departments of corporate and investment consulting firms (e.g. Deloitte and KMPG).
Professors and teachers from Utrecht University School of Economics have extensive professional networks, experience outside academia, and ties with government and market institutions, providing students with the opportunity to broaden their academic and professional options.
Admissions
Rankings
Utrecht University in the Rankings
As a student at Utrecht University (UU), you will be studying at one of the world's top universities. The Shanghai Ranking places UU as the top university in the Netherlands and 50th in the world. Utrecht University aims to be at the forefront of open science because open science promotes transparency and enhances the scientific and social impact of research. Our place in the rankings mentioned above is often based on other values than these.