Certificate in Sustainability

Information about the Certificate

• What are the requirements for the Certificate in Sustainability?

  To receive a Certificate in Sustainability, students must demonstrate that they have completed 2 sustainability courses and a Masters' Thesis* on a sustainability-related topic. The Masters' Thesis does not have to be supervised by Centre-affiliated faculty, but it must pertain to sustainability as defined above. Students may only apply for one Hertie School Certificate. 

  Regular attendance of the Centre’s Sustainabilty Colloquia is also expected.

  *In exceptional and well-justified cases, 3 sustainability courses may be accepted in lieu of 2 courses + a Masters' Thesis. Decisions about exceptions will be made by the Centre and Dean of Graduate Programmes.

• Who is eligible to apply for the Certificate in Sustainability?

  The Certificate for Sustainability is open to all students currently enrolled in the MIA, MPP and MDS programmes at the Hertie School. The Certificate was first launched in Spring 2023.

• What courses count toward the Sustainability Certificate?

  For coursework to be relevant for the Certificate in Sustainability, it should mainly relate to the Centre’s primary topic areas including climate policy, energy policy and/or other environmental dimensions of sustainability. Courses do not have to be taught by Centre faculty. Core courses (including project courses) and elective courses count.

  How do we define sustainability-related coursework? The United Nations Brundtland Commission Report (1987) concluded that human development can be sustainable if it meets “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability is a situation in which well-being of all humans is at least maintained (or improved) for future generations – with particular attention to those less well-off – considering multiple dimensions of sustainability. For coursework to be relevant for the Certificate in Sustainability, it should mainly relate to the Centre’s primary topic areas including climate policy, energy policy and/or other environmental dimensions of sustainability.

• How can I apply for the Certificate in Sustainability?

  To apply for the Certificate, please fill in this form (access via your Hertie School credentials). At the end of the form, you will be asked to upload the following documentation:

  • Scan/photo of final transcripts (including thesis grade)
  • Thesis abstract/executive summary
  • Course syllabi for any courses taken at partner institutions

  To submit the form, you are required to use your Hertie School email address. In case you can't access the form or experience any other technical problem, please write to sustainability[at]hertie-school[dot]org.

  If you are a dual degree student writing your thesis and/or graduating at a university with a different graduation timeline, you may apply for the Certificate when your final results are available (no later than one month after your graduation).

• Can dual degree/exchange students also apply for the certificate?

  Dual degree and exchange students can also apply to receive a Certificate in Sustainability.

  • Hertie School students who spend an exchange semester elsewhere but otherwise do their coursework and master's thesis at the Hertie School: Courses taken during the exchange semester may count toward the certificate. 
  • Dual degree students who do either their first or second year at the Hertie School. Courses and master's theses completed at the partner institution may count toward the certificate.

  Students who spend one exchange semester at the Hertie School are not eligible for the certificate. Coursework completed during previous degrees does not count toward the Certificate.

  Eligible students must provide course title, course description and a syllabus for certificate-relevant courses taken at the partner institution, plus transcripts that prove completion of the courses, in their application. 

• When can I expect to get my certificate?

  If you apply with a complete application by June 30th after Hertie School graduation: Certificates will be issued by the Centre for Sustainability over the summer.

  If you apply at another time, Certificates will usually be issued within 3 weeks of a complete application.

• Will the Certificate appear on my diploma?

  No, Certificates are offered by the Centre on an extracurricular basis. In other words, they are not formal, accredited concentrations and do not appear on formal graduation documents.

• If I'm going for a Certificate, do I get priority in course registration or thesis supervisor allocation?

  No, attempting a Certificate does not qualify students for priority course registration or Masters' Thesis supervisor allocation. It is also not guaranteed that certain sustainability courses will be available in all semesters. The Centre offers the Certificate as a way to acknowledge students who focus on sustainability topics in their studies, but it is not a formal degree track.