Curriculum, Target Group & Application Process

In the Minor/LAO Innovation & Entrepreneurship students will:

• Analyze innovations and their mechanisms, and critically evaluate them across different contexts and disciplines.
• Develop and implement ideas or inventions into practice within organizational, non-profit and start-up contexts.
• Assess and strategically leverage innovation ecosystems to create impact.
• Apply teamwork, communication, and leadership skills to develop and realize ideas in interdisciplinary teams.
• Integrate and refine evidence-based strategies and methods to design sustainable and scalable solutions in real-world challenges. 

This Minor is for you if you want to develop an interdisciplinary and adaptive understanding of innovation and learn how to turn insights from your own field into impact‑oriented, responsible solutions.

If you are motivated to explore, experiment, and create meaningful impact, and you see yourself taking on responsibility in the innovation economy, stepping into a leadership role in the corporate world, contributing to the public or non-profit sector, or founding your own start-up, this program gives you the mindset, skills, and academically grounded understanding to develop and implement new ideas and turn your vision into impact.

UZH students from any faculty with a BA degree as well as Swiss Mobility students. 

Information for Swiss Mobility

Information for UZH students changing degree

Application deadlines in Fall and Spring Semester (First time admission at UZH)

Yes, you can enroll every semester. Please note that the module "Foundations of Innovation" is the entry module and needs to be your first module in the minor. It is offered every autumn semester. 

The program can be combined with any UZH Master’s program, as it is offered through the School for Transdisciplinary Studies. However, compatibility depends on your individual study plan and your Master Major Program. We recommend checking with your home Master’s program or feel free to contact us directly.

We ensure interdisciplinarity by bringing together students from diverse academic backgrounds and creating learning settings where they collaborate on shared challenges. Throughout the program, you work with faculty from different disciplines across UZH and engage with practice partners who bring real‑world perspectives into the classroom. This mix of viewpoints, methods, and experiences enables you to gather a deep understanding about innovation and entrepreneurship and empowers you to develop innovative and impact‑oriented solutions.

Yes, you can. The program is open to all UZH students. It is offered through the School for Transdisciplinary Studies, which means students from any discipline can participate.

We recommend checking whether it fits with your individual study plan. Feel free to contact us for further questions.

Yes. The program is open to all UZH students, as it is offered through the School for Transdisciplinary Studies. No background in economics is required.

We recommend checking with your home Master’s program to ensure it fits with your study plan or feel free to contact us directly.

Innovation happens across disciplines. Students therefore complement the core modules with crosslisted courses from different faculties. These modules allow participants to deepen specific competences according their Master’s profile or broaden their perspective on innovation-related topics. This way, the students can create their own personalized learning pathway within the minor.

Possible areas include:

• technology and digital transformation
• sustainability and social innovation
• design and creativity
• management and strategy

Students choose courses according to their interests and academic background.

The goal of the program is to enable you with fostering the skills, methods and mindset needed to build a venture if you choose to. Throughout the program, you also gain access to a supportive network that can be valuable should you later decide to launch your own project.

One ECTS equals 25-30 working hours for a student (including self-study). The lectures will take place on Friday afternoons during the semester and for some modules we have blocked lectures before the semester starts. Please note that "Foundations of Innovation" starts already on the 1st of September 2026.