The Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS) certificate at the University of St. Gallen equips students with interdisciplinary skills to address climate change, energy transition and sustainability challenges in business, policy and society.
Here you find a set of frequently asked questions about the MaCS certificate and the corresponding answers.
What career opportunities does the MaCS (Managing Climate Solutions) certificate open for students?
Graduates of the MaCS certificate gain skills that are increasingly in demand across many sectors. Climate change, sustainability transitions, and energy system transformation are among the most pressing challenges for businesses and governments worldwide.
Typical career paths include roles in:
Students benefit from the strong reputation of the University of St. Gallen in business, economics and policy, which allows them to combine climate expertise with management skills highly valued by employers.
Why are climate and sustainability skills important for future careers?
Climate change is transforming how economies, businesses and societies operate. Companies, governments and financial institutions increasingly require professionals who understand both the science of climate change and the economic, policy and technological solutions.
Skills developed in the MaCS certificate include:
These capabilities are considered core future skills as organisations transition towards net-zero and climate-resilient economies.
Which industries are particularly interested in graduates with climate expertise?
Climate and sustainability expertise is relevant across a wide range of industries, including:
The demand for professionals who can bridge business strategy and climate solutions is rapidly growing worldwide.
What makes the MaCS certificate at the University of St. Gallen unique?
The MaCS certificate combines climate expertise with business and policy perspectives, reflecting the strengths of the University of St. Gallen.
Key features of the programme include:
Students gain a systemic understanding of climate challenges and solutions, preparing them to contribute to sustainable transformations in business and society.
How does the MaCS certificate complement a master degree?
The MaCS certificate is designed to complement students' main master programme by adding specialised knowledge on climate and sustainability.
Students combine their disciplinary expertise with climate knowledge, for example:
This combination is increasingly valued by employers who are looking for professionals able to integrate sustainability into core business and policy decisions.
What electives can students choose in the MaCS certificate?
The MaCS certificate offers a broad and flexible selection of elective courses from different disciplines at the University of St. Gallen.
These courses allow students to explore topics such as:
The electives are taught in English and allow students from different master programmes to build a personalised learning pathway within the climate and sustainability field.
Why does the MaCS programme include such a wide variety of electives?
Climate change is a complex challenge that requires solutions from multiple perspectives. The MaCS programme therefore combines insights from economics, business, technology, public policy and social sciences.
The wide range of electives allows students to:
This interdisciplinary approach reflects how climate challenges are addressed in real-world decision-making.
Can students combine MaCS electives with their main master programme?
Yes. Many MaCS electives can also count towards students' main master programme, depending on the respective programme regulations.
This allows students to integrate climate knowledge into their primary field of study, such as:
The MaCS certificate therefore acts as a valuable complement to a wide range of academic backgrounds.
Do I have to be admitted to the main master programme before I can apply for the MaCS certificate?
You can apply before you have received the admission decision from your main master programme. We will check internally whether you are admitted to the main master programme, before the admission decision for the MaCS certificate is taken.
I have already started my master programme at University of St. Gallen. Am I still allowed to apply for the MaCS certificate?
Yes, you are eligible to apply for the MaCS certificate when you already completed parts of your master programme. The maximum study duration on the master level however cannot be exceeded despite the certificate.
I recently graduated from a master programme at the University of St. Gallen. Can I still apply for the MaCS certificate?
MaCS is mainly designed for students enrolled in the certificate parallel to their master programme. However, the MaCS certificate allows applications from students who already graduated from their master programme. Note that the regular semester fees still apply and physical attendance is mandatory for the core courses.
I am about to exceed the maximum study duration for my master programme, but I would be interested to do the MaCS certificate. Can I still apply?
Here we cite official regulation by the University of St. Gallen (Limits on number of semesters, Explanatory provisions and transitional regulations Resolution of the President’s Board of 4 October 2011):
“Supplementary courses: students who complete a supplementary course usually do so within the framework of a main degree course. The maximum number of semesters allowed for supplementary courses is therefore identical with the number of semesters allowed to students for programmes at the level concerned.”
and further
“Students who use up the maximum number of semesters for their main degree course without graduation will also be barred from supplementary courses.”
and further
“The Dean of Studies is entitled to increase the number of semesters for supplementary courses by a maximum of 2 semesters, beyond which no extension is possible.”
Do additional fees apply for studying the MaCS certificate?
No, there are no additional fees for the MaCS certificate. You have to pay the regular semester fees of the University of St. Gallen.
Do we receive an extra budget of bidding points for the MaCS courses?
Yes, you will receive separate budgets for the MaCS certificate and your main master programme. Note however, that courses that count for the MaCS certificate and your main master programme will reduce your bidding point for both accounts. For the MaCS core courses you don’t have to bid with bidding points, as you have a guaranteed spot for the core courses if you are admitted to the MaCS certificate.
I already took MaCS Electives before starting MaCS. Can I accredit them to MaCS?
Once you are admitted to the MaCS certificate, you can send an e-mail to zulassung@unisg.ch/admissions@unisg.ch with the respective courses. What is important is that the course must have been on the list of MaCS Electives at the point in time when you took the course.
I am considering to study one semester abroad. Do I have to be physically present in the MaCS core courses?
Yes, the core courses require physical presence.
I studied one semester abroad and took some courses that addressed climate solutions. Can I accredit those courses for the MaCS electives?
Based on individual requests to the programme management and the Admissions and Crediting Office of the university, credit points from courses abroad can be considered for the electives up to a maximum of 8 ECTS if they fit the scope of the MaCS certificate.
How many ECTS can I accredit to MaCS during my semester abroad?
You can accredit max. 8 ECTS to MaCS.
Can I accredit the MaCS core courses for my main master programme?
No, this is not possible. The core courses can only be accredited for the MaCS certificate.
What criteria does a MaCS Elective have to fulfill at HSG?
The electives were chosen according to the following criteria: there needs to be a climate-focus, it needs to be taught in English and it needs to be open to all MaCS students.
I was successfully admitted to the MaCS certificate programme. Can I wait with taking the core courses for one year or longer?
If you are admitted to the MaCS certificate, you have to take the first core course in the first fall semester and the second core course in the following spring semester. The elective courses can be taken based on your own schedule.
I am about to finish my main master programme. Can I graduate from my main master programme before completing all requirements for the MaCS certificate?
Yes, you can graduate from your main master programme, if you have fulfilled all respective requirements. You can still finish the MaCS certificate after graduation. Note, that you still have to pay the regular semester fees as long as you take courses (also for MaCS courses).
I completed all requirements for the MaCS certificate, but not yet for my main master programme. Can I receive the MaCS certificate already?
The MaCS certificate is only valid with a completed master degree. Certificates will therefore only be issued once the main master degree is completed.
Do you have further questions?
Don’t hesitate contacting us: macs@unisg.ch
I would like to learn more about the legal bases of the MaCS programme. Where can I find this information?
Here you can find the official regulations of the University of St. Gallen.
Provisions of the university of St.Gallen regarding admission and studies for MaCS:
Date of last changes: 19th of April 2022
These FAQs are meant to serve merely as guidance and consequently have no legal merit. They can also be subject to amendments.