Bachelor in Sustainability Management

Bachelor in Sustainability Management is one of 4 English-taught Sustainable Development programmes at bachelor’s level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 1 is at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

Sustainability Management at IMC Krems is a part-time bachelor's degree taught entirely in English. It sits within the IMC Business School and runs over six semesters, awarding 180 ECTS and the title Bachelor of Arts in Business (BA). The programme is for people who want to help companies and organisations find the overlap between ecological capacity, social responsibility and financial viability.

What you study

The curriculum starts with the basics: Accounting, Introduction to Circular Economy, Management Essentials, Principles of Sustainability, and Scientific Methods and Analysis. In later semesters you move into Data and Decision Making, Economics, Principles of Law, Sustainability and Environmental Management, Emerging Technologies, Finance, Investment and Mathematics, Global Sustainable Trade and Value Chains, and Marketing and Marketing Research. Future Skills I and II run alongside.

By the fourth semester the focus turns to applying sustainability: Behavioural Science and Psychology, Business Models and Business Planning, Circular Product and Service Design, Social Business and Innovation, and Sustainable Materials and Technologies. The final year includes Bachelor Thesis I and II, Cooperation, Cocreation and Community Engagement, Current Issues in Global Sustainability and Circular Business, International Cooperation for Sustainable Development, and Political Skills: Institutions and Influence. You finish with a Bachelor Exam.

Teaching combines lectures with other formats under the principle of constructive alignment. You build methodological skills in data analysis, project planning and life cycle analysis, and soft skills such as leading diverse teams, resolving conflicts and communicating across cultures. The programme also looks at how digital tools like AI can support resource efficiency and data-driven decisions in climate and circularity strategies.

How the programme is organised

This is a part-time degree. Classes normally take place from Friday at 2 pm to Saturday, with one block week per semester. That structure is built for people who are already working or volunteering.

Practical competence is built into the later semesters. In semesters 5 and 6, 500 hours of experience are accredited as practical competence. Your work counts if it contributes to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, whether through a job, an internship or volunteering with an NGO.

The third semester includes a mobility window at one of over 220 partner universities worldwide. The programme is taught entirely in English and is designed with a global perspective, so you study alongside peers from different cultural backgrounds. IMC Krems also offers a Founders Lab where students can get support to implement start-up ideas.

Who it suits

This degree suits people who want to drive change inside companies, public bodies or NGOs, and who need to keep earning while they study. It is a good fit if you are interested in circular economy practices, climate neutrality, gender equality plans, sustainability reporting, CSR and ESG criteria. The programme prepares you to work across sectors, including government, social businesses and international agencies, and to understand public policy and social impact.

It also suits students who want an international cohort and a semester abroad. You do not need to have a business background to start, because the first year covers accounting, management and economics.

Admission, language and next steps

The teaching language is English. Applications go directly to IMC Krems, not through a central portal. The programme's own page gives the application period and the deadline for non-EU nationals. The page states that it is currently not possible to apply for this degree programme, so check the official page for the next application window before you prepare documents.

As a university of applied sciences, IMC Krems sets its own tuition fee. The programme page lists a study fee and notes that different tuition fees apply to non-EU citizens, and that Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) dues are added. Check the institution's page for the exact amounts and for any updates on admission.

The degree programme thoroughly prepares you for careers in sustainability management and the circular economy. Graduates will acquire fundamental expertise in and deepen their understanding of applying sustainable principles in business contexts.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admission procedure. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.