►EU-BACKED MBA - OCTOBER 2026 INTAKE

Lead the Digital Circular Economy Transition

A 90 ECTS MBA for working professionals who want to turn sustainability regulation, deep-tech, digital product passports, AI, blockchain, and circular business models into a strategic advantage. 


MBA Degree in Digital Deep Tech Driven Circular Economy

START DATE
October 2026

CREDITS

90 ECTS

DURATION
18 months

LANGUAGE

English

DELIVERY
Online with
hybrid elements

AWARD

MBA Degree

Full tuition-fee waiver for eligible applicants.
Eligible applicants who are citizens of EU Member States, or of countries participating in the Digital Europe Programme, will receive a full waiver of tuition fees, subject to admission and confirmation of eligibility. The waiver applies to tuition fees only. A non-refundable application fee is payable by all applicants. Admitted applicants must also pay the applicable admission/registration fee. Applicants who do not meet the tuition-fee waiver criteria are responsible for all applicable fees, including tuition fees. 


EU PROGRAMME SUPPORT

Supported under the European Commission’s STEP Seal

MBA CREDENTIAL        

90 ECTS | EQF Level 7 / ISCED Level 7
MBA Degree | AMBA accredited

FUNDING & FEES

€45,000 tuition | 100% tuition-fee waiver for eligible EU/DEP citizens | Application fee applies | Admission fee if admitted

FORMAT, INTAKE, DURATION

October 2026 intake | 18 months |
Online with hybrid elements

FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS

Circular economy, governance and digital transformation professionals

WHY THIS MBA, WHY NOW

Turn Europe’s Green and Digital Transition Into a Business Advantage

This MBA is designed for these professionals who need to lead in that new business reality.
European organisations are entering a new competitive reality. They are reshaping strategy, investment, product design, procurement, risk, and growth.
You will learn how to connect circular economy strategy with digital technologies, regulatory foresight, business model innovation, and executive decision-making. The goal is not only to understand the transition. The goal is to use it to create value, build resilience, and lead transformation across functions.

This is not a traditional MBA with a sustainability module added on.
It is an applied MBA built around the business models, technologies, regulations, and leadership capabilities defining the next phase of European competitiveness.

THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL mBA

Built For The Intersection That Traditional Programmes Miss

Most programmes approach the transition from one angle. Traditional MBAs focus on management. Sustainability courses focus on ESG knowledge. Technology programmes focus on tools. This MBA is designed for the space where today’s strategic decisions are actually being made: where business models, EU regulation, digital infrastructure, finance, operations and circular economy transformation meet.

Traditional MBA

General management

Strong for leadership, finance and strategy, but often not designed around circular economy regulation, digital product passports, ESG transformation or deep-tech implementation.

Sustainability course

ESG and circularity knowledge

Valuable for awareness and reporting, but often too narrow for business model redesign, investment decisions, operations, innovation and executive leadership.

Technology course

Digital tool adoption

Useful for technical literacy, but often disconnected from market strategy, regulatory context, organisational change and commercial value creation.

EPBS Research Driven MBA

Integrated transformation leadership

An MBA for professionals who need to connect strategy, regulation, finance, circular business models, digital technologies and implementation.

IS THIS MBA FOR YOU?

Designed For Professionals Leading The Transition

This MBA is for people working where sustainability, technology, regulation, operations, innovation and business strategy meet. It is designed for ESG and sustainability professionals, engineers moving into leadership, product and innovation teams, digital transformation leaders, operations and supply-chain managers, consultants, policy and compliance specialists, researchers, executives and entrepreneurs.
Applicants may come from companies, start-ups, consulting firms, research organisations, public authorities, regulatory bodies and policymaking institutions. 
AN 18-MONTH APPLIED MBA JOURNEY

Programme Structure

The MBA is organised as an 18-month learning journey combining digital circular economy foundations, core business leadership, specialist electives and an applied dissertation or business project.

PHASE 1
Foundations of the Digital Circular Economy
Build a shared strategic language for circular economy, digital transformation, standards, transparency and European market change.
  • Digital circular economy principles
  • Digital product passports and traceability
  • EU regulatory compliance and standardisation
PHASE 2
Business Leadership and Strategy
Move from technical awareness to executive decision-making, business-model redesign and financially credible transformation.
  • Circular business models
  • Innovation and strategic management
  • Financial strategies for circular ventures
PHASE 3
Deep-Tech Electives
Tailor your pathway toward the sectors and technologies most relevant to your organisation or venture.
  • Energy transformation, digital health, Industry 4.0
  • AI and blockchain for circular supply chains
  • Smart cities, regions and data-driven social economy
PHASE 4
Integrative Business Project
Develop a practical transformation project that can be used in your organisation, market, venture or policy context.
  • Executive-ready circular transformation roadmap
  • Mentored project development
  • Final dissertation or applied business project
INTEGRATIVE BUSINESS PROJECT

Your Final MBA Capstone: From Insight to Applied Transformation

The Integrative Business Project is where your MBA learning becomes applied management practice. In the final semester, you work on a supervised circular-economy challenge, drawing on research, consultancy methods and the full MBA toolkit to produce evidence-based recommendations for an organisation, value chain or sectoral context.

STEP 01

Define the need

Identify the organisational, value-chain or ecosystem challenge your project will address.

STEP 02

Research the context

Build a strong evidence base using data, literature, market insight and policy context.

STEP 03

Apply consultancy methods

Use a structured approach to diagnosis, analysis, solution design and recommendation.

STEP 04

Connect the disciplines

Bring together strategy, finance, governance, technology, stakeholder and sustainability perspectives.

STEP 05

Create recommendations

Develop actionable conclusions, a business case, roadmap or implementation logic where relevant.

STEP 06

Evidence your contribution

Present the project and demonstrate your individual learning through reflection and assessment.

Programme Faculty

Ready to lead the transition?
Take the next step towards a future-focused MBA designed for working professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the MBA start, and how long does it last?
The October 2026 intake is scheduled to begin in early October 2026. The MBA runs for 18 months across three semesters, carries 90 ECTS and is taught in English. Successful participants receive an MBA degree at EQF/ISCED Level 7.
Do I need a technical degree or technical professional background?
No. A technical academic background is not required, and applications are welcomed from all disciplines.

The programmes are designed for experienced professionals who need to connect business leadership with areas such as technology, regulation, risk, sustainability, operations or organisational transformation. The relevance of the applicant’s experience, motivation and professional objectives will be considered during admissions.
How is the programme delivered?
The MBA is delivered online with hybrid elements. The learning experience combines live online sessions, guided asynchronous learning, readings, assignments, discussion forums, peer collaboration and applied project work.

Selected in-person opportunities, such as events, conferences or access to relevant learning facilities, are currently expected to be optional. Further details will be provided with the final programme calendar.
Does submitting an expression of interest mean that I have applied?
No. An expression of interest only registers your interest in receiving programme and application updates. It is not a formal application, and no admission decision is made on the basis of an expression of interest.

To be considered for admission, you must complete and submit the official online application once the application portal is available.
Can I complete the MBA while working full-time?
Yes. The MBA is designed for working professionals, although participants should expect a substantial commitment alongside their employment.

The final timetable has not yet been confirmed. The current indicative structure is:
-Semester 1: four live online sessions of approximately three hours each per week, representing around 12 hours of live teaching.
-Semester 2: five live online sessions of approximately three hours each per week, representing around 15 hours of live teaching.
-Semester 3: primarily centred on the Integrative Business Project.

Live sessions are expected to take place on weekdays after normal working hours. Participants will also need time for readings, preparation, asynchronous learning, assignments and group work. The additional workload will vary according to the modules, assessment schedule and each participant’s study pace.
What is the application process?
The admissions process is:

-Check your eligibility.
-Prepare the required documents.
-Submit the online application.
-Complete an admissions interview.
-Receive the admissions decision.
-Accept the offer and pay the applicable admission fee.
-Begin onboarding to the virtual campus.

The current application link and deadline should always be checked through the official Ponts Academy admissions portal.
What are the admission requirements?
Applicants should meet the following requirements:

-A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution. Degrees from all academic disciplines are accepted.
-At least three years of relevant full-time professional experience after graduation by the time the programme begins.
-Sufficient English proficiency for master’s-level study.
-At least one professional reference from someone able to comment on the applicant’s performance, leadership potential and suitability for the MBA.

Applications are assessed on academic readiness, professional progression, motivation and overall programme fit.
What documents should I prepare?
Applicants should normally prepare:
-An updated CV.
-Their diploma and academic transcript.
-A passport or national identity card.
-Professional reference details.
-Evidence relating to English proficiency, where requested.

Where original academic documents are issued in a language other than English, applicants must provide official English translations together with copies of the original documents. In many cases, universities can issue diplomas or transcripts directly in English upon request.
Do I need to submit IELTS, TOEFL or another English-language certificate?
Applicants are not normally required to provide IELTS, TOEFL or another external English-language certificate as a standard part of the admissions process.

However, because the MBA is delivered in English, the admissions team must confirm that each candidate can follow academic content, participate in discussions and group work, and complete written assignments in English.

Previous studies completed in English, professional experience in English and relevant certifications studied or examined in English may be submitted as supporting evidence. External test results may also be included. These do not provide an automatic exemption from the school’s own assessment.

English proficiency may be assessed through the candidate’s overall application, the admissions interview and, where considered appropriate, École des Ponts Business School’s internal Analytical Test.
What fees apply to the October 2026 intake?
The currently published fees are:
-Application fee: €100. This is non-refundable and payable by every applicant when the formal application is submitted.
-Admission fee: €2,400. This is payable by admitted applicants to accept their offer and secure their place.
-Tuition fee: €45,000. This applies to applicants who do not qualify for the full tuition-fee waiver.

Who is eligible for the full tuition-fee waiver?
The full tuition-fee waiver is available to applicants who are citizens of:
-An EU Member State; or
-A country participating in the Digital Europe Programme.

The waiver is subject to admission and formal confirmation of eligibility. It applies only to the €45,000 tuition fee. It does not cover the €100 application fee or the €2,400 admission fee.
Does living, studying or working in the EU make me eligible for the tuition-fee waiver?
Eligibility is based on citizenship, not residence, employment or study location.

Holding a residence permit in an EU country, having long-term resident status, working for an EU university or organisation, or participating in an EU-funded project does not provide an alternative route to the waiver where the citizenship requirement is not met.

Recognised with the EU Commission
STEP Seal

This MBA is part of the 3D-CIRCULAR project, which has received funding from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency under Grant Agreement No. 101226256. The initiative has been awarded the European Commission’s STEP Seal, recognising alignment with Europe’s strategic technology and competitiveness priorities.
For professionals, this means you are joining a programme connected to Europe’s digital, green and industrial transformation agenda.
This project has received funding from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency under Grant Agreement No. 101226256. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.