One-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

Curriculum

In today's fast-paced world, sustainability is more important than ever. Based in International Geneva, a center of finance and sustainability, the one-year Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development (60 ECTS, 2 semesters, full time, in English and in person in Geneva, Switzerland) prepares you to address urgent sustainability challenges by providing expertise and vision.

Led by esteemed faculty and supported by a strong community, our program offers a rigorous curriculum that explores the intersection of finance, sustainability, and development. We equip students with analytical tools, and critical thinking skills to drive meaningful change.

Please note that all classes are in person and taught in English.

One-Year MAS Curriculum 2025-2026 (subject to changes)

One-Year Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development (60 ECTS). Students may take additional courses (maximum 12 additional ECTS) and hence exceed the 60-credit requirement with permission from Prof. Nathan Sussman, MAS Co-Director (see below).

Required Courses (credited, ECTS in parentheses) = 60 ECTS in total

• Climate Finance and Impact Investing, Beatrice Weder di Mauro (6)
• Sustainable Finance and Development, Nathan Sussman (6)
• Empirical Methods for Evidence-Based Policy Research, Imelda (6)
• Microeconomic Foundations, Frédéric Robert-Nicoud (3)
• Corporate Financial Management, Ugo Panizza (3)
• Principles of Finance, Lilach Zacharia-Trabelsi (3)
• Python for Data-Driven Sustainable Finance, Ireneu Pla (3)
• Immersive Nature Lab: Ecosystems, Climate & Capital, Beatrice Weder di Mauro (6)
• Global Macroeconomics, Ugo Panizza (3)
• Demystifying Blended Finance in Impact Investing, Thierry Buchs (3)
• How Sustainable Finance Works: Meet the Practitioners, Nathan Sussman & Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz (6)
• Social Finance for Sustainable Development, Anna-Riikka Kauppinen & Kristen McNeill (6)
• Impact Investing, Uncertainty, and Rapid Economic Transition, Nathan Sussman (6)

Required Workshops (non-credited)

• Summer Math Bootcamp, Matteo Ficarra
• Impact Evaluation Workshop, Bertrand Gacon
• Non-Financial Reporting Workshop, Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz
• Public Speaking Workshop, Claire Doole
• Stata Workshop, Matteo Ficarra and Josh Ostry
• Career Workhops (CV & Cover Letter, Networking, Interview preparation, LinkedIn), Career Services

Example of Elective Courses (credited, ECTS in parentheses, subject to availability) = Maximum 12 ECTS in total. (Students may exceed the 60-credit requirement and take two credited electives with permission from Prof. Nathan Sussman)

• International Finance in History, Rui Esteves (6)
• International Environmental Law, Anne Saab (6)
• Impact Investing, Catalina Martinez Gutierrez (6) - course given at the University of Geneva (UNIMAIL)
• Agroecology: Paradigm and Practice, Christophe Gironde (6)
• Global Food Systems from a Legal Perspective, Anne Saab (6)
• International Finance, Filippo Pallotti (6)
• Internship (3 ECTS). IMPORTANT: Students have to find their own internships. And internships cannot go beyond September 30th, 2026 since students lose their student status on that date. (3)
• French Semester course (Autumn and Spring) for Beginners, A1, A2 and B1 levels (non-credited)

Please note that all classes are in person and taught in English.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Faculty

Throughout your journey, you'll receive support from a community of dedicated scholars, practitioners, and fellow learners who share your commitment to making a positive impact.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Core Courses Faculty

  Anna-Riikka Kauppinen, Assistant Professor, Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

  Beatrice Weder di Mauro, Full Professor, International Economics; Faculty Associate, Centre for Finance and Development

    Bertrand Gacon, Co-Founder and CEO at Impaakt

  Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz, Lecturer (Ph.D.), Member of the European Platform on Sustainable Finance, European Commission; Research Fellow, Centre for Finance and Development, Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development

  Frédéric Robert-Nicoud, Full Professor, Institute of Economics and Econometrics, University of Geneva

  Imelda, Assistant Professor, International Economics & Andre Hoffmann Assistant Professor in Environmental and Resource Economics

   Ireneu Pla, Software Engineer, Google

  Kristen McNeill, Assistant Professor in Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Gender Centre

  Lilach Zacharia-Trabelsi, Managing Director, TBH Global Family Office SA

  Nathan Sussman, Full Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development;  Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development; Director, Centre for Finance and Development

  Thierry Buchs, Senior Policy Advisor, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

  Ugo Panizza, Full Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Director, International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies; Deputy Director, Centre for Finance and Development; Faculty Associate, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Applications for 2025-2026 are closed.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

Application (2026-2027, 2 semesters)

Join us for this transformative journey!

• Who should apply: Graduates and Professionals holding a bachelor degree. No professional experience is required. Background in economics and finance is preferred.

• Admission requirement: GRE or GMAT is compulsory.
• GRE or GMAT Results are accepted until February 28th, 2026. Please send us your GRE or GMAT results by email.

• Application Fee: CHF 150
• Full Tuition Fees: CHF 35’000.
• Scholarships are available. Please submit both MAS and SCHOLARSHIP application forms at the same time.

• Application deadline: Applications for 2026-2027 are open until February 15th, 2026. Please submit both MAS and SCHOLARSHIP application forms at the same time.

• Notification deadline: The MAS Admission Committee will notify its decisions to the admitted students by February 28th, 2026.
• Confirmation deadline: Admitted students will need to confirm their registration to the MAS programme by March 15th, 2026.

• Location: Geneva Graduate Institute, Maison de la paix, Chemin Eugène Rigot, 2a, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
• Format: Two semester full-time programme (60 ECTS). All courses are taught in English and classes are in person only. French courses are available during the two semesters.

• Duration: ONE YEAR, from September 1st, 2026 to September 30th, 2027.  
• The Geneva Graduate Institute's first semester officially starts on September 14th, 2025, but please note that MAS registered students have to attend a compulsory Math Bootcamp about one week prior to the start of the semester (exact dates tbc).
• If you are booking a room in one of our student residences (see below), please make sure to start your lease on September 1st, 2026.

HOUSING IN GENEVA

• The Geneva Graduate Institute offers several housing options in our student residences.

• In order to book a room in one of our residences, please note that you need to pay the first installment of your tuition fees (CHF 1'500) to confirm your registration to the MAS.

• Housing applications for 2026-2027 should (tbc) open on March 24th, 2026 (until April 14th). Since rooms are provided on a first come first served basis and are in very high demand, we encourage you apply as soon as possible.

• While the majority of  students choose to stay in our residences, some opt for housing outside of campus. Please contact us for more information. IMPORTANT: please stay vigilant when it comes to potential SCAMS on social media platforms like Facebook groups.

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman

• For any questions, please contact sustainable.finance@graduateinstitute.ch or book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman, Full Professor, International Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Director, Centre for Finance and Development, and Co-Director, MAS in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development.

Join us for this transformative journey!

WELCOME To the 2025-2026 MAS Admitted Students!

A Warm Welcome to the students starting the MAS in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development in September 2025!  

Find out more about the 2025-2026 programme on the MAS Admitted Students Portal

MAS Admitted Students Portal

Find out more about the different Student Initiatives at the Geneva Graduate Institute

Student Initiatives

We look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Maison de la paix in September 2025!

life in Geneva   

Book an online consultation meeting with Prof. Nathan Sussman