As the investment industry shifts from traditional profit-focused investing to an approach that considers both finance and impact, more and more universities all over the world are offering postgraduate degrees that prepare students to become future impact investors.
Master of Business Administration – Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, United States
Wharton provides a holistic atmosphere for individuals taking up their MBA to explore the various aspects of impact investing. Through groups like the Wharton Social Fellows and projects under the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, as well as programs like the Wharton Impact Venture Associates, students are exposed to a large network of experienced mentors and colleagues that can help them jump start a career in impact investing. The school also conducts the prestigious Wharton Turner MIINT (MBA Impact Investing Network & Training) that gives students an experiential learning opportunity to perform due diligence and work together to present recommendations for impact investments.
First-year costs for 2020-2021 are expected to be around $111,695. Wharton offers numerous fellowship programs that can completely or partially cover tuition costs.
Joint MBA and MEM/MF – Yale University, United States
The Yale MBA and MEM/MF joint degree program is one of the earliest MBA programs geared towards environmental impact. Students spend a year under Yale’s School of Management to get the fundamentals of business administration and another year at Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies before spending their third year choosing from a list of electives from both schools.
MBA students should expect to shell out around $102,240 for the 2020-2021 school year. Yale provides both merit scholarships and financial aid.
Master of Science in Sustainable Finance – Kedge Business School, France
Kedge offers a short track for bachelor degree holders (3 academic semesters) and a long track for those willing to be admitted at the undergraduate level (2 academic semesters as a pathway and then 3 semesters for specialization). The sustainable finance program equips students with detailed knowledge of every facet of sustainable finance during the first two semesters of the specialization course while the last semester is focused on business internship and crafting a research memo.
The specialization course costs 16,500 euros for all three semesters while the pathway course is 8500 euros for 2 semesters.
Master of Business Administration – Harvard Business School, United States
A Harvard MBA not only provides extensive academic resources focused on impact resourcing, it also has numerous social innovation programs and projects that can give students significant hands-on experience. The Harvard MBA program taps its extensive network to also provide MBAs and Alumni more career options and connections.
Annual cost of attendance at the Harvard Business School can cost from $111,818 to $154,958. Harvard offers need-based aid though scholarships, sponsorships, and loans.
Master of Business Administration – Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley Haas offer extensive sustainable and impact finance programs to help MBA students interested in impact investing gain experiential knowledge in this area. These include experience in managing the Haas Impact Fund and/or the Sustainable Investment Fund. Students also get significant industry experience under the Impact Investing Practicum course where they are teamed up with impact investing companies and organizations.
Estimated tuition fees for 2020-2021 range from $102, 150 for CA residents to $106,348 for non-CA residents. Berkeley Haas offers merit-based and need-based scholarships and fellowships as well as student loan options.
Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy: Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment specialization – NYU Wagner
This MPA offering by NYU Wagner is one of the most organically aligned postgraduate degree courses in the field of impact investing. This pioneer program was designed to explore the potential of impact investing in addressing public and social challenges. The curriculum is structured in way that can provide potential innovators and impact investors a background in both finance and social impact.
Taking an MPA at NYU Wagner would cost $1934 per credit for the 2020-2021 semesters. Students have access to private and federal student loans to help fund their studies.
Master of Business Administration – Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, United States
Fuqua’s Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship Impact Investing Initiative (CASE i3) program helps first-year MBA students get extensive hands-on experience and first-hand knowledge on impact investing. The program approaches impact investing from a blend of academic and practical real-world perspectives and works with industry leaders and key practitioners to further develop this burgeoning field.
Tuition for Fuqua’s Daytime MBA program can run up to $70,000 while other expenses can bring the total annual cost to about $97,330. Fuqua offers merit-based scholarships and financial aid, as well as federal and private loans.
Master of Business Administration – Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Students taking the Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship will work with the University’s Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the leading research and academic center in Africa for social and impact investing.
South African residents and African citizens are expected to pay a tuition of around R 271640 or approximately $7,854.43 while international students would pay around R 514300 or approximately $33,804.06. The school offers numerous funding opportunities, including full and partial scholarships and student loans.
Investment Management (Coventry University)
Coventry University in Coventry, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in Investment Management. The program is geared toward both recent baccalaureate degree recipients who wish to further their studies and current financial practitioners looking to advance their careers. To earn the degree, students must take the following courses: Quantitative Methods for Finance, Fund Management, Equity Investment Using Thompson-Reuters Eikon, Derivatives, Bond Market Analysis Using Bloomberg, Research Methods, The Foreign Exchange Market, and Governance, Accountability, and Ethics. With full-time campus study, the program takes 12 months to complete. With part-time study, most students can complete all degree requirements in 24 months.
Business Administration (New York University)
New York University in New York City, New York, United States offers a Master of Business Administration degree program in Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment. The program is open toward bachelor’s degree recipients of all backgrounds who wish to work as policy leaders, social entrepreneurs, impact investors, or nonprofit and for-profit managers. Every student in the program takes the following classes: Statistical Methods for Public; Nonprofit, and Health Management; Microeconomics for Public Management, Planning, and Policy Analysis; Management and Leadership; Financial Management for Public, Nonprofit, and Health Organizations; and Introduction to Public Policy. The full-time, on-campus program lasts for 24 months.
Social Impact (Swinburne University of Technology)
Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, offers a master’s degree program in Social Impact. The program takes 18 months of full-time study to complete. Students take classes in Corporate Responsibility, and Accountability, Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation, Social Investment and Philanthropy, Leadership for Social Impact; Evaluation and Impact Measurement, Strategic Philanthropy, and Social Venture Development. All courses are taught in person on the university’s campus. Throughout the program, students will have a chance to gain real world work experience through experiential learning opportunities, which include possible internships related to grant-making, fund-raising, program design, and corporate social investment.
Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, also offers a master’s degree program in Advanced Social Impact. This program is intended for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field plus a minimum of three years of full-time relevant professional experience. Students must also complete the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact program before gaining admission. Those accepted to the 24-month program participate in a number of experiential learning activities. In addition, the following courses are required: Opportunity Discovery. Creativity and Design; Corporate Responsibility and Accountability; Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation; Social Investment and Philanthropy; Leadership for Social Impact; Evaluation and Impact Measurement; Strategic Philanthropy; and Social Venture Development.
Dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration program (New York University)
New York University in New York City, New York, United States, offers a dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration program. The purpose of the program is to prepare individuals to take leadership roles at not-for-profit organizations and in public service institutions. Students have the opportunity to choose from 20 different areas of specialization. Regardless of the specialty chosen, every student takes courses in Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Impact Investing, Public-Private Partnerships and Hybrid Organizations; Lobbying and Government Affairs; and Complex, Highly Regulated Industries. The program requires three years of full-time, on-campus study to complete.
Graduate Certificate program in Sustainable Finance (Columbia University)
Columbia University in Manhattan, New York, United States, offers a Graduate Certificate program in Sustainable Finance. Students have the option to complete the program online, through campus-based coursework, or a blend of the two. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required for admissions consideration. To earn the certificate, students must complete 12 credit hours of coursework, choosing from an assortment of classes that includes: Financing the Clean Energy Economy; Cost Benefit Analysis; Sustainable Investing and Economic Growth; Energy and Sustainable Development; Solar Project Development; Impact Finance for Sustainability Practitioners; Sustainable Finance; Global Environmental Markets; Energy Markets and Innovation; and Financing Natural Infrastructure. Those who study full-time typically complete the requirements within six months. A part-time version of the program is also available and gives students up to two years to take all of the courses.
Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment (City University)
The City University of London in London, England, United Kingdom, offers a master’s degree program in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment. All students in the program take the following classes: Learning and Understanding the Voluntary Sector; Strategy, Diversity and Governance; Marketing and Fundraising; People Management in the Voluntary Sector; Charity Accounting and Finance; Principles of Grantmaking, Philanthropy, and Social Investment; and Management of Grantmaking, Philanthropy, and Social Investment. In addition, students participate in a fieldwork experience that allows them to gain work experience in social investments such as grant-giving, loans, endowments, contracts, social bonds, and impact investing. Students take courses on a part-time basis. Most finish all of the degree requirements within two years.
MBA Social Impact (Eastern University)
Eastern University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, offers a Master of Business Administration degree program in Social Impact. The program is open to individuals currently working in public service, philanthropy, or non-profit management as well as recent baccalaureate degree recipients. All coursework is offered online, allowing students to enroll and take classes from anywhere in the world; however, students must be fluent in English to gain admission. All students take three required courses: Global Financial Management; Social Entrepreneurship; and Managing for Optimal Performance. Additional elective courses related to students’ individual interests are also selected with the help of an academic advisor.
Investment Banking (Indiana University Bloomington)
Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, offers a Master of Business Administration degree program in Investment Banking. A bachelor’s degree in business or another field plus relevant work experience is required for admission. To earn the degree, students take a series of classes that include: Real Options in Capital Budgeting; Venture Capital & Entrepreneurial Finance; Fixed Income Investments; Spreadsheet Modeling for Finance; and Corporate Financial Strategy. All classes are taught on campus, and students must enroll in the program full time. The course of study takes one full year to complete.
International Finance and Investment (Northumbria University)
Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in International Finance and Investment. To receive the degree, students take courses in: Financial Econometrics and Forecasting; International Financial Markets and Institutions; Investments and Risk Management; Dissertation Preparation and Research Methods; Developing Global Management Competencies; and Academic and Professional Development. Most students are able to take all of the courses within 12 months. For admission to the program, students must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, mathematics, engineering, or a similar quantitative field. Those who have a bachelor’s degree in other fields can consider the university’s Master of Science degree program in International Financial Management.
Investment Management (Indiana University)
The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, offers a Master of Business Administration degree program in Investment Management. The program is ideal for both recent bachelor’s degree recipients as well as working professionals who wish to further their education. Students take classes in: Real Options in Capital Budgeting; The Firm in the Capital Markets; Asset Valuation and Strategy; and Equity Markets. In addition, all students conduct independent investment research and compose a master’s thesis that presents their findings. All courses are taught on campus. Most students finish their degrees with 12 months of full-time study.
MBA in Sustainability (University of Haifa)
The University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel, offers a Master of Business Administration degree in Sustainability. The program blends elements of business administration, sustainable energy, and environmental management to prepare for students in a wide variety of careers. During the one-year, full-time program, students take the following 20 courses: Behavioral Sciences, Business Game, Business Strategy, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Information Systems, Investments, Managerial Economics, Managing Organizations, Marketing Management, Marketing Strategy, Project Management, Quantitative Methods, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Law and Policy, Environmental Management Systems, GIS and Natural Resource Management, Principles of Sustainability, and Resource and Environmental Economics.
Entrepreneurial Financing (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya)
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, offers a master’s degree program in Entrepreneurial Financing with an emphasis on Venture Capital and Private Equity. The program is open to recent bachelor’s degree recipients as well as individuals who are currently working in finance as junior professionals. Students move through a series of required courses that include: Venture Capital – Entrepreneurial Financing; Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Business Modelling; Technology, Innovation & Leadership; Private Equity – Advanced Corporate Finance;
Impact Investment; and Marketing. The program typically only takes 10 months of full-time, on-campus study to complete.
Investment and Financial Management (University of East Anglia)
The University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in Investment and Financial Management. Graduates will have the knowledge necessary to continue their studies at the doctoral level or to find employment as a manager, business analyst, trader, broker, market specialist, or accountant. Every student in the program takes the following classes: Accounting and Financial Management; Advanced Financial and Investment Management; Corporate Financial Management; Integrated Business Decisions;
International Corporate Governance; and Managing People and Organizations. All courses are taught on campus with students studying full time. The program lasts for 12 months.
Behavioural Decision Making for Finance (University of Stirling)
The University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in Behavioural Decision Making for Finance. Drawing from finance, management, leadership and organizational behavior backgrounds, the program allows students to understand how financial data and psychology can be used in tandem to make informed investments decisions. Students take the following classes: Behavioural Economics l: Concepts and Theories; Quantitative Methods in Finance; Corporate Finance; Behavioural Finance; and Evidence – based Decision Making. In addition, students take part in the Flying Start Leadership Programme to build their leadership skills. This on-campus, full-time program requires 12 months of study to complete.
Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School)
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland, offers a Master of Science degree program in Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance. Students who hold bachelor’s degrees in Business, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Environmental Science, and Physics are invited to apply. To receive the degree, students must complete courses in Quantitative Methods for Finance, Financial Econometrics, Capital Markets and Instruments,
Derivative Securities, Financial Theory, Financial Analysis, Environmental Finance & Impact Investing, and Renewable Energy Finance. With full-time study, the program can be completed in 12 months. Students also have the option to enroll in a flexible part-time program. This option usually involves 24 months of study.
Financial Management (Boston University)
Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Financial Management. The program is blended, meaning that students complete some coursework on campus and the remainder of the classes are taken online. Among the required courses are: Financial and Managerial Accounting; Financial Regulation and Ethics; Quantitative Methods for Finance; Corporate Finance; and Financial Markets and Institutions. Those who successfully complete the program will be prepared to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) examination. Students have the option to take classes full time for 12 months or enroll in a flexible part-time program that usually takes 24 months to complete.
Sustainability and Social Innovation (HEC Paris School of Management)
The HEC Paris School of Management in Jouy-en-Josas, France, offers a Master of Science degree program in Sustainability and Social Innovation. The program prepares graduates to work in sustainability and social innovation in a variety of industries. Recent graduates have found employment with companies such as Cisco, Deloitte, and EDF. To earn the degree, students take the following classes: Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights; Globstart Challenge Triple Bottom Line; Have a Cause, Make an Impact; Strategy & Sustainability; Data for Sustainability; Geopolitics, Natural Resources, and Global Governance;
Foundations of Finance for Sustainability; Corporate Finance Core Concepts; and Responsible Investing. The program offers flexible scheduling, allowing students to study full or part time.
International Banking and Finance (De Montfort University)
De Montfort University in Leicester, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in International Banking and Finance. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary to seek employment in the fields of banking, finance, or investment management. All students take the following classes: Research Methods; International Financial Markets and Institutions; Bank Financial Management; Credit and Lending; International Banking and Financial Regulations; Portfolio Management; and applied Trading. Students also have the option to participate in the #DMUglobal international experience programme, which includes language learning courses and a visit to the Financial District in New York City.
