The MSD has been implemented in October 2005. Prior to this program, students at Unibas could enroll in an interdisciplinary program called "Mensch-Gesellschaft-Umwelt" which had been doing pioneering work in the field of sustainable development as a scientific research topic since the early 1990s.

Today, we are running the MSD 2017 which has been implemented in fall semester 2017, but will be phased out until end of January 2029 (new students are accepted until spring semester 2026). For a general overview see info sheet MSD 2017.

We welcome new applications for the revised program, which is scheduled to be implemented in the fall semester 2026 following a thorough revision process. For a short overview seeinfo sheet MSD 2026.

Approach

The idea behind sustainable development is to achieve inter- and intra-generational equity while preserving the functionality of the various systems (ecological, social and economic), considering the present as well as the future. In order to ensure this, the inclusion of scientific knowledge from different disciplines is required. Therefore, the MSD is an interdisciplinary degree program that places particular emphasis on the interaction between the disciplines.

Teaching

For each semester the relevant information on teaching is published on our website: a detailed course directory, the general timetable and the medium-term syllabus are available as downloads.

The details are usually published around mid-Mai for fall semester, and in early December for spring semester. For the revised program MSD 2026 a draft of the medium-term syllabus will be published around end of April.

Application and admission

The MSD is a specialized master’s degree. Thus, specific admission criteria have to be fulfilled. The admission requirements and the application process are fixed in the study regulations according to university rules.

Module structure

The MSD has a modular structure. Students choose one focus area (MSD 2017) out of three, according to their abilities and interests in writing the master's thesis. Also in the the revised program (MSD 2026) students can choose a major out of three or even a “free” MSD, without a major - independently from their bachelor's degree.