Course summary

We’ll give you the knowledge and skills you’ll need to lead the way to a more sustainable future in business, government and society. In the first trimester our taught modules give you an up-to-date knowledge of key sustainability challenges, and of the scientific findings and policy issues that underlie them. Delivered mainly through online material you will have 3 weeks of face to face learning in Cambridge for full-time students or 2 weeks of face to face learning in Cambridge for part-time students. You’ll develop your ability to understand complex environmental, economic and social systems and apply this knowledge to help create a more sustainable future. In the second trimester you’ll learn how to apply this knowledge as a sustainable business and for a sustainable economy. You’ll spend time learning and living at the Eden Project in Cornwall (2 weeks) experiencing first-hand how it functions as a world-renowned visitor attraction and as a sustainable business. You’ll also get the chance to practice what you have learned in the workplace, gaining valuable work experience and rehearsing your future as a ‘catalyst for change for sustainability’. Finally, you’ll also undertake your own piece of research, a Major Project on a sustainability topic of your choice. Eden project logo Our course is open to graduates from all disciplines and attracts students with backgrounds in the arts, science, health, finance and business. Our students come from a wide range of roles. Some utilise their prior experience and return to a sector that is already familiar, working with a new sustainability perspective to help change how that sector and their business operates. Others use the MSc as an opportunity to start a new career or as the bridge to a change in career, becoming sustainability professionals in businesses, charities, governments and education. Some of our graduates use the MSc to set up or grow their own sustainable businesses or to provide a stepping stone to PhD research. This course offers you flexibility to continue working in your current job anywhere in the world. Even if you choose to study full-time you’ll only be required to attend five weeks of residential visits between September and March. The rest of your course is supported via online learning. See the 'Where you’ll study' section below for residential week dates.