Sustainability and Business MSc

If you have a positive vision of the future, want to lead innovation and do business better – either across a large organisation or through your own startup – then our Sustainability and Business Masters degree is ideal for you.

Uniquely based outside of a business school, we are preparing you, the next generation of innovators, to think, develop and reinvent sustainable enterprises in an increasingly challenging world.

Learn what shapes the relationships between business, environment and society, and how individuals and organisations can address social and environmental problems by means of creating and developing new businesses and innovation.

You will develop specialist skills to meet the growing need for sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation. Although large corporations are more visible, real innovation in sustainability is emerging and being driven by new businesses.

Practical skills – like developing ideas and plans for new sustainable ventures, pitching to investors and acting as a change agent within large organisations – give you experience of genuine business challenges faced in the real-world.

This course is co-delivered by the Sustainability Research Institute and the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies, and during your studies you may have the chance to learn directly from award-winning academics, professionals in government, large corporations, stakeholders and entrepreneurs.

Course highlights

• Leading in the field for over 10 years, you will be taught by academics from the Sustainability Research Institute – one of the largest academic groups of sustainability experts in the world.

• Uniquely based outside a business school – you will focus on how sustainability leads business practice. You will use key interdisciplinary research methods and approaches that relate to environmental management and corporate social responsibility.

• Study modules taught by the Leeds University Business School.

• Join a truly global School – think beyond Leeds and gain a wider perspective by studying alongside students and academics from across the world.

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Full-time study

The course is split into three semesters if you study on a 12 month full-time basis. In the first two terms you will take lectures and seminars, followed by approximately four months of individual work leading to the submission of a dissertation in late August.

You will consider different aspects of sustainability, while a wide range of optional modules allow you tailor your study to fit your interests and career plans.

Part-time study

The course runs for 24 months on a part-time basis, with each year split into three semesters. You will take two modules in each semester, followed by individual work leading to the submission of a dissertation in semester three of your final year.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sustainability and Business MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sustainability and Business MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods to help you develop both generic and subject-specific skills.

This includes lectures, real case studies, practical workshops, computer lab sessions, project work (individual and groupwork) and a written dissertation. There may also be research seminars from external speakers.

Practical exercises focus around real-world scenarios and case studies to produce optimal solutions including familiarisation with state-of-the-art technical approaches, software and the regulatory regimes that companies and public sector organisations operate within.

The research-intensive environment of our School ensures that your course material is both up-to-date and research led.

You will also learn the scientific and rational principles lying behind the practical approaches used in the world outside academia, so that your skills keep pace with changes in technology or the regulatory environment.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of ways including both written and oral assignments and exams.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a natural, environmental, physical, management or social science subject.

Applicants with a 2.2 will be considered on a case by case basis where applicants can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a related specialist field. Graduates from other disciplines and those with professional experience in the sector will also be considered.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

31 July 2021 – International applicants

10 September 2021 – UK applicants

Apply (Full time)

Apply (Part time)

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Environment Taught Admissions Policy 2021

Fees

• UK: £10,250 (total)
• International: £23,250 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

Because we recognise the value of field experience the school heavily subsidises or covers the transport and accommodation costs for all compulsory taught field courses.

We hope to run our fieldwork activities as planned for the 21/22 academic year, but it might not be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continually reviewing the situation and will communicate any decisions to applicants and offer holders at the earliest possible opportunity.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

We have a strong commitment to enhancing student employability and have our own dedicated school Employability Officer. We offer extra support and activities to help you stand out in your chosen field and achieve your career goals.

You will learn the skills to pursue careers both in business and in other sectors of the economy, such as government or non-governmental organisations.

This Masters could also help you enhance your current sustainability credentials, returning to your jobs with new skills and understanding.

Recent graduates work for local government or NGOs, or undertake internships. While others are now working for consultancy companies. You could pursue a research career and continue on to a PhD or pursue sustainability or CSR jobs.

Our graduates have secured positions including:

• Sustainable Procurement Officer, Leeds City Council

• Environmental training officer, Carlsberg Tetley

• Environmental consultant, Young White Green consultants

• Energy operating company, working on environmental legislation and advising different sites on how to comply

• Research Analyst, Suzlon Energy Ltd India

• Leading the US strategy for 2degrees network - a collaboration platform for sustainable professionals

• ICICI Bank India, Project Finance with interest in funding renewable energy investments

• PhD study.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

We have strong links with industry and during your studies you may have the chance to learn directly from award-winning academics, professionals in government, large corporations, stakeholders and entrepreneurs.