MSD Master's degree programs in Sustainable Development
The first MSD curriculum 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 have been accepted until spring semester 2026). For a general overview see info sheet MSD 2017.
We welcome new applications for the revised program called MSD 2026, 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: the online course directory, the general timetable and the medium-term syllabus are available as downloads (for the current program MSD 2017).
The details are usually published around mid-Mai for fall semester, and in early December for spring semester.
For the MSD 2026 a draft of the medium-term syllabus will be published around end of April; the online course directory will be published on 11. May 2026.
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, and summarized here.
Module structure
The MSD has a modular structure (structure MSD 2017; structure MSD 2026). 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 revised program (MSD 2026), students can choose a major out of three or the MSD without a major - independently from the bachelor's degree.
The focus area/major determines the module selection and thus also the courses for which students must enroll.
Regulations
The study regulations and study guidelines inform about the formal aspects of the Master's Degree in Sustainable Development. You can find information about admission requirements, application process, curriculum, majors, assessments etc.
MSD 2017: study regulations and study guidelines here (link box: Regulations).
MSD 2026: study regulations original in German; translation in English; the study guidelines will be available later in 2026.
With the optimal course progression plans we show how the study period can be organized within four semesters (= full-time) and what part-time study could look like.
MSD 2017: for details see here (link box: Fact Sheets).
MSD 2026: the optimal course progression plans will be available around May/June 2026.
Fact sheets (concerning recognition of credit points, the master’s graduation, etc.) and templates (for application forms, learning agreements, etc.) are available on the website.
MSD 2017: for details see here (link box: Forms and Templates).
MSD 2026: the documents will be available later in 2026.