Master's Programme in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Transformation 120 credits

Image: Malin Grönborg

About the programme

Would you like to help shape a more sustainable future? The Master's Programme in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Transformation equips you with the knowledge and tools to address complex environmental and societal challenges through entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. You will develop the ability to identify opportunities, initiate change, and lead transformation processes in collaboration with others. The programme prepares you to work with sustainable transformation in businesses, public sector organisations, and civil society. Upon graduation, you will be well prepared for roles such as change manager, project manager, innovation manager, consultant, analyst, entrepreneur, or researcher.

While studying

The programme comprises two years of full-time study and is delivered in English within an international, research-oriented learning environment.

During the first semester, you will build a solid foundation in sustainable transformation, entrepreneurial leadership, ethics, decision-making, and self-leadership. You will develop a critical and reflective approach while deepening your understanding of the opportunities, trade-offs, and dilemmas that characterise sustainable transformation, as well as your capacity to address them effectively.

The second semester focuses on sustainable innovation and the development of sustainable organisations. You will work with real-world cases, projects, and assignments in collaboration with businesses, public organisations, and other external stakeholders. Through creative learning methods, workshops, and experiential learning, you will translate theory into practice and strengthen your ability to drive change together with others.

The third semester gives you the opportunity to shape your own profile through an internship, project work, elective courses, or exchange studies.

The programme concludes with a Master's thesis, allowing you to specialise in an area related to sustainable transformation and entrepreneurial leadership. The combination of sustainability, entrepreneurship, leadership, and close engagement with external organisations gives the programme a distinctive profile. You will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing you to lead change and play an active role in future transformation efforts.

Research-Based Education

The programme is grounded in a strong research environment in entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable transformation at the Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics. Research areas include green transition, sustainable business models, social innovation, the circular economy, and socio-ecological transformation. This research is conducted in close collaboration with businesses, municipalities, innovation systems, and international universities. As a student, you will learn from active researchers and engage with the latest developments in research and knowledge creation. This strong research foundation enables you to critically analyse both established solutions and emerging ideas for addressing sustainability challenges and contributing to sustainable societal development.

Good to know

Thinking about studying at Umeå University? Find out when we attend study fairs, arrange webinars and how you can get in touch with us to book study guidance.

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Show programme syllabus

Apply

Autumn 2027
- Master's Programme in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Transformation
  
  International admissions round
  
  HT27 / Umeå / English / On campus
  
  Application opens 16 October 2026
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
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  Start
  Autumn term 2027
  
  Number of credits
  120 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On campus
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Length
  2 years
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-M2000
  
  Eligibility
  
  A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognised university. Specific entry requirements are at least 90 ECTS in Business Administration or other subject within the Social Sciences as well as 7,5 ECTS Research Methods (quantitative or qualitative). Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
  
  Selection
  
  Selection is based on GMAT and academic credits in this order.
  
  1. Test results from GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test). GMAT Exam (10th edition): minimum 500, GMAT Exam: minimum 485. Percent of test results is the applicants merit rating.
  
  2. Academic credits accrued by the last application date (in the range of 30-285 credits equivalent to ECTS).
  
  For GMAT scores must be submitted directly to Umeå University. You need to indicate Umeå University when registering for the test. You should also upload the test results in universityadmissions.se.
  
  Degree
  
  Upon the completion of the study programme (120 credits), a student who has applied for a degree certificate can obtain a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) according to the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's web site). The Swedish translation of Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) is Ekonomie masterexamen. The degree is awarded in the main field of Business Administration with a specialisation in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Transformation.
  
  Upon the completion of the study programme's first year (60 credits), a student who has applied for a degree certificate can obtain a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) according to the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's web site). The Swedish translation of Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) is Ekonomie magisterexamen. The degree is awarded in the main field of Business Administration with a specialisation in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Transformation.
  
  Application
  The online application opens 16 October 2026 at 13:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 January 2027.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 48,300
  
  Total fee: SEK 193,200
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

Apply online via universityadmissions.se
You apply to our programmes and courses via universityadmissions.se – the official website for higher education applications in Sweden. There, you can track your application, check that your documents have been registered, and log in to find our your admission results.
 
Late applications
Admissions to most programmes and courses typically close after the final application deadline. However, some programmes and courses may still accept late applications if seats are available. These are marked “Open for late application” on universityadmissions.se. Please note that late applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

More about application and admission

Research excellence at Umeå University

Be a part of a world-class environment for teaching and research – where the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 geneediting began, and where innovation continues to shape the future.

Innovative with international impact

Research for society, nature and the future. Read about our research research environments and infrastructure.
Open climate for groundbreaking research

Emmanuelle Charpentier credits the research environment in Umeå as a key factor in her discovery.