MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance

This course will introduce you to the fundamental laws of physics and the phenomena that govern climate change. You will learn about the systems that produce or consume energy, as well as the laws and equations that show where the difficulties lie in achieving optimum energy use. You will also learn about the various aspects of physics through practical application.

The course explains how basic economic ideas can help answer fundamental questions about the abatement of climate change, such as how to choose between different initiatives and how quickly and extensively we should act. You will be introduced to the social discount rate as a key conceptual tool that will provide a unifying thread between concepts. You will learn how to assess the relative desirability of various abatement options and how to weigh the pros and cons of fast, moderate and slow abatement practices. You will discover the main analytical tools to use (the Ramsey equation, integrated assessment models) and develop a critical understanding of their strengths and limitations. You will be exposed to cutting-edge research in the area and take part in real-life exercises.

This seminar aims to develop your cognitive and behavioural abilities to manage and lead effectively across cultures, particularly for students pursuing careers in finance. After attending this seminar, you will be able to understand the role of managers and their leadership challenges, gain practical experience of diversity by working effectively and productively in international teams, and learn to question stereotypes through heightened cultural awareness and the critical analysis of diverse leadership styles.

The energy transition will not occur spontaneously and will require active intervention (from stakeholders: governments, companies, etc.). Achieving decarbonisation targets on time will require a shift from open-loop (past) revolutions to a closed-loop energy transition.

This course will help you understand the stakes involved in the design of an actual low-carbon transition and the concepts underlying the term of transition in the context of climate change. You will analyse past energy transitions/revolutions and, in doing so, learn about the mechanisms underlying the energy transition in sample countries. You will learn how to draw up energy transition policies that are compatible with climate issues.

The course aims to provide you with an overview of climate change from the perspective of regulation, including climate science, the international political architecture and associated policies. It will help you to understand what affects the world around you and what leads to its evolution in terms of the fight against global warming.

You will gain a solid grounding in what is at stake, as well as the instruments and tools needed to make decisions consistent with a net-zero world. On completing the course, you will be able to evaluate a variety of systemic decisions in the context of achieving long-term objectives and draw on the appropriate elements of the course to develop a relevant analysis of international climate issues.

The course provides a broad range of perspectives on the global energy situation. You will learn the basic facets of climate science and climate dynamics, from the physical equations that govern global energy exchange to models and measurements. To find solutions to global warming, you will need to be aware of its causes. You will need to know about energy fluxes, reserves, resources, potential and transformation. You will learn about state-of-the-art production and usage across sectors, the concept of energy chains (coal, oil, natural gas, electricity, and others) and about interactions and substitutions to reduce climate impacts.

The notion of “sustainability” has arisen in recent decades to describe the development that aims to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Most experts agree that fulfilling this definition requires us to respect three pillars of sustainability, namely, the environmental, the economic and the social.

You will gain global insights into the methods and tools available to measure the environmental and social sustainability of energy systems, based on the multi-criteria framework of life-cycle thinking. On completing the course, you will understand the life-cycle sustainability assessment framework, as well as social interaction and externality principles. You will have the skills to apply a life-cycle assessment to energy generation and to analyse the environmental impacts of energy systems.

While technology abounds, it is important to have some tools to assess the CO2 emissions of the energy production and use of real, local-scale projects. On this course, you will learn how to use Retscreen® expert software to analyse the energy efficiency and feasibility of renewable energy projects at local scale, including the economic aspects. Projects will be proposed in several areas, from renewable production to energy-efficiency valuation in the industrial or tertiary sector, agriculture or transportation.

On completing the course, you will have a good understanding of the feasibility and performance concepts of local energy systems and be able to use appropriate technologies and methodologies to assess environmental impact.

The aim of this course is to analyse and illustrate what market participants can do to grasp the environmental challenges by redirecting financial flows toward projects with low environmental impacts to support and strengthen the environmental transition, as well as controlling and mitigating the environment-related financial risks.

This transformation of financial markets requires an understanding of the assets available for financing sustainable development, the metrics currently used to estimate the environmental impact of investments, the practices adopted by the most sophisticated sustainable investors, and the supporting capacity of public institutions, such as central banks.

This course, therefore, takes an original approach, consisting of addressing the issue of environmental finance from the viewpoint of financial markets, which are a powerful lever for transforming society. It is intended to provide students with the tools required to be able to understand and support the greening of the financial system by presenting them with a combination of academic research, practical applications, and the latest regulations.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to use the climate metrics in portfolio management and construct climate-resilient or climate-impact asset allocations.

The finance industry needs to be at the heart of the transition to a low-carbon economy. To make sure this happens, regulators have embarked on a wide range of projects to frame and accelerate the initiatives already taken by the financial industry. This course aims to provide you with a thorough overview of these initiatives and discusses their potential impacts.

On completing the course, you will be able to understand the regulations affecting the energy transition in the financial industry, and to analyse and evaluate the impacts of these regulations on the business model and the management of financial-industry participants.

limate change is no longer hypothetical. Scientific evidence is clear about the fact that temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate and that this has largely been due to human activity since the mid-20th century. To limit the increase in global average temperatures to at most 2°C above pre-industrial levels, all industries will have to make investment decisions that will alter the current path. Delaying emissions reductions will lead to long-lasting implications. This course will lay the foundations for developing solutions in the financial industry. You will learn how to design solutions to finance the climate transition and how to conduct climate stress-testing for financial assets.

On completing the course, you will be able to analyse specific climate-related financial problems and design well-articulated, well-documented and persuasive solutions.

Spurred on by the issues of climate and economic globalisation, prospective modelling ‒ a tradition neglected over the years, linking digital projection, mathematical economics, public economy and strategic thinking ‒ is being used once again in the context of international negotiations on climate issues.

This course introduces you to prospective modelling tools created in the 1960s from the dialogue between mathematicians and economists, based on the concept of optimality. Through concrete examples, you will learn why these tools, which bring skills in applied mathematics and the economic sciences to bear, have become an essential aid in assessing policies to tackle climate change. The course also looks at mathematical problems from another angle, by illustrating the role of mathematical modelling and optimisation in theoretical issues; in preparing for debates on climate change by giving perspective to available modelling tools; and in tackling the problems with modelling in a complex dynamic context ‒ that of climate change, where the human factor is central.

The objective of the course is to provide you with a solid knowledge of the principles and practice of long-term modelling applied to energy system, and to develop your understanding of the tools necessary to make consistent decisions with the energy-climate issues. It aims to provide an overview of decision support tools in the energy/climate field and to showing students what tools are available, who can access them, how do they work and how to interpret the results obtained or presented. During this course simplified technology explicit models will be built from scratch to have a practical experience of energy system modeling. This hands-on experience will allow you to consider the many analyses that come from these tools in a more informed manner.

Global investment in energy transition technologies, including energy efficiency, reached a record high of USD 1.3 trillion in 2022. However, annual investments need to at least quadruple to remain on track to achieve the 1.5°C Scenario. Investment rose in almost every industry, including renewable energy, energy storage, electrified transport, electrified heat, nuclear, hydrogen and sustainable materials. In this practice – oriented course you will learn how banks and investors position themselves on this booming sustainable Energy market, in line with the new regulatory framework put in place in and outside the European Union. While getting an overview of the main technologies - solar PV, on-shore or offshore - based wind energy, green hydrogen, bio-fuels, Carbon capture & storage - you will learn how to structure various financing solutions, both on the Debt & Equity side, to respond to the growing funding needs of these strategic industries.

Technology is pervasive in our day-to-day life, often thanks to companies that were venture capital-financed start-ups not so long ago. The venture capital career path is extremely compelling for students who love variety and whole-of-life learning, together with the chance to model the future and have impact on the planet (not to mention the personal financial benefit). The course will strive to be as practical as possible and you will benefit from numerous case studies and external speakers. You will learn everything from start-up due diligence and funding organisations to venture capital as an asset class and impact investing.

On completing the course, you will be able to evaluate a team, a market or a business model, value a start-up, and scale up and negotiate a term sheet. You will understand the particulars of portfolio construction in venture capital firms, the duties and risks associated with being a board member, the need to differentiate yourself when fundraising and how to evaluate different impact measurement methods.

One of the most important challenges that must be addressed is how to integrate the deployment of current and future clean technologies.
On completing this course, you will fully understand the specificities of clean technologies in OECD countries. You will be able to utilise the proper technologies for use-case assessment, to analyse the impacts of clean technologies on a local and global scale, and to evaluate the benefits of clean technologies in OECD countries. 

From a technological perspective, several individual innovations have been proposed to enable the transition to more sustainable energy systems. Yet, the adoption of these solutions faces several technical and non-technical barriers. One of the most important issues to be addressed is how to achieve the effective deployment and integration of all available clean technologies. This challenge, a critical element in any energy strategy, varies from country to country. The objective of this course is to provide you with the skills you need to understand the principles, the expected contribution and the adoption challenges of various clean technologies in a developing country context.

This course introduces students to fundamental research concepts and prepares them to apply these in the development of their Applied Master Projects (AMPs). Students will gain an understanding of the basic principles of scholarly research and the structure and conventions of academic writing. They will also learn to search for relevant scholarly articles, interpret the information presented in academic research, and apply these insights to problem-solving, decision-making, and planning in their AMPs. By following standard academic writing practices, students will be equipped to produce high-quality, well-structured research work.

When is the programme application deadline? 

For non-French degree holders:
Applications for the September 2025 intake are open until 9th June 2025.

For French degree holders:
4 rounds of application

Do you accept scanned documents?

Yes, you can make scanned colour copies of the documents required

Should the application file and the two recommendation letters be typed or written by hand?

Letters of recommendation must be on official letterhead, signed and/or stamped (official stamp from the School/University or the Company). Your referees can use our recommendation template or they can choose to write their own letter using the Company/School’s official letterhead. Letters of recommendation that don’t follow the above requirements will not be accepted. 

Will the Admissions’ Team contact my referees to request letters of recommendation?

EDHEC will not contact your referees. You must ask your referees to send their letters to you directly and you will need to upload the letters directly on your application (documents tab).

Will I have an interview with the Programme Manager?

Students that apply to our MIM or MSc programmes will not have a direct interview with the Programme Manager unless the Programme Director deems it necessary.

How is the online interview conducted?

Once your online application is completed and validated by your recruitment manager, the Admissions Team will send you a link to conduct your online video interview in English. It comprises six questions on your motivation, your interest in the programme and your previous experience (professional, group work, etc.). There are no right or wrong answers. You will have a practice session before you start the actual interview. Once you have completed the interview, it will be sent, along with your application file, to the Selection Committee.

Can I apply for more than one programme?

• Yes, you can apply for two programmes. A separate motivation letter is required for each programme.
• Motivation letter template

What are the minimum scores expected?

• TOEFL Internet-based ≥ 92 (/120)
• TOEIC ≥ 850 (/990)
• IELTS ≥ 6.5 (/9.0)
• Cambridge Test of English ≥ 175

What is the EDHEC institutional code for TOEFL?

• The code is 0663.

Can I apply for a waiver?

English native speakers or those holding a degree taught in English (minimum three years) are eligible for an English test waiver.

As a reminder, aptitude tests* are required for some programmes and optional for others. Please see the “admissions requirements” for your programme of choice.

Students must assign EDHEC as one of their score recipient institutions at the end of their test.

GMAT

MSc & Global MBA Double-Degree: 3QQ-WQ-62
MIM Global Economic Transformation & Technology: 3QQ-WQ-06
Master in Management, Business Management: 3QQ-WQ-05
Master in Management, Finance: 3QQ-WQ-36
Master in Management, Data Science & AI for Business: 3QQ-WQ-34
MSc in Creative Business & Social Innovation: 3QQ-WQ-60 
MSc in Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence: 3QQ-WQ-82
MSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation: 3QQ-WQ-77 
MSc in Global & Sustainable Business: 3QQ-WQ-16
MSc in Marketing Management: 3QQ-WQ-47
MSc in Strategy, Organisation & Consultancy: 3QQ-WQ-84
LL.M. in Law & Tax Management: 3QQ-WQ-26 
MSc in Corporate Finance & Banking: 3QQ-WQ-73
MSc in International Finance: 3QQ-WQ-98
MSc in Financial Engineering: 3QQ-WQ-69
MSc in Accounting & Finance: 3QQ-WQ-04

GRE

EDHEC Master in Management: 6564
EDHEC Master of Science: 6563

*(GMAT/GRE/TAGE MAGE/CFA level II (for finance programmes only)/CAT official test score report for Indian students only)

Is an aptitude test compulsory?

Please see the “admissions requirements” for your programme of choice. In general, aptitude tests are required for the Master's in Management Grande École programme.

Can I add an unofficial GMAT score report to my application?

You will get an unofficial score report immediately after taking your exam. You can send it to the Recruitment Office as an additional supporting document when applying. This document will be accepted provisionally as part of your application. The official report will be required to confirm your place.

Is there any help for students with regard to campus housing?

Once officially enrolled, you will receive help to find suitable accommodation, either in EDHEC residences or in privately owned apartments. EDHEC's International Students Office (ISO) is familiar with the visa formalities of most countries and will provide you with the necessary paperwork for completion. Should you have any concerns about your visa application, you can contact the ISO, provided you have already checked the relevant pages in the Welcome Guide and contacted your local Embassy. One requirement for most visa applications is proof of accommodation in France. Again, the ISO is on hand to provide you with a list of apartments, halls of residence and other types of housing, depending on your criteria. You can even "visit" them virtually on our new housing website. The team will do everything it can to make arrangements with the property owner and secure your booking. It can also pick you up from the airport on the day of your arrival (where possible) and take you directly to your new home.

When must my tuition fees be paid?

Within 2 or 3 weeks depending on the admissions period.

How does financial aid apply to the tuition fees?

Financial aid applies to the second and third instalments of the MSc programme fees and to the second, third and fourth instalments of fees for the MIM programme.

What is the EDHEC Career Centre?

• The Student Career Centre is dedicated to helping students find a job or an internship.
• 60,000 internships and 33,500 job offers are posted on EDHEC’s dedicated jobs board every year.

Complementary French courses are offered to all international students enrolled in our MSc programmes. Our French classes cover all learning levels, from complete beginner to advanced language skills. The goal is to support your integration into French culture and give you the linguistic foundations ‒ grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing and listening ‒ to express yourself in the French language.

• Class size: 10-25 students per group
• Contact hours: 
  • MIM 3 hours per week (30 hours per semester +6 hours group projects)
  • MSc 2 hours per week (15 hours per semester)   
• Instructor qualifications: Courses are held by an officially accredited French language teaching institution.