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Organizational Governance and Sustainability at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

On this MSc Organizational Governance and Sustainability we explore the complex and changing relationships between organisations, corporations, their stakeholders and the societies in which they operate. Why choose this course?

  • It addresses the social, environmental, political and moral aspects of organisations’ relationships with stakeholders and society and is ideal if you wish to engage critically with the policy aspects of organisational governance and sustainability.
  • This course explores international perspectives, recognising the increasing globalisation of organisations and finance and investigating the wide variety of cultures and governance systems within which organisations operate worldwide.
  • It is ideal if you wish to build a career in the regulation of private, public and third sector organisations, the management or trusteeship of pension and other investment funds, or the field of organisational, social and environmental sustainability.
  • It benefits from the involvement of a number of leading figures in the field including members of national and international committees on organisational governance, shareholder activists and NGO representatives. It is also a signatory member of the UN’s Principles of Responsible Management Education.
What you will learn On this MSc, you will gain insight into:
  • organisational governance and sustainability in the private, public and third sectors
  • systems of governance in the major world economies, the political and economic principles and cultural values on which these are based and the pressures promoting and resisting their convergence
  • social, environmental and ethical responsibilities of organisations and how they implement, communicate, measure and address sustainability issues.
You will develop a critical understanding of the nature, behaviour and outcomes associated with the social, economic, political and legal systems governing organisations and sustainability. You will also examine the different theoretical perspectives on the role of organisations in society and sustainability. How you will learn We encourage you to be an active learner on this course and you will be taught via a mixture of lectures (some pre-recorded) and seminars. The MSc Organizational Governance and Sustainability combines coursework and independent research leading to a dissertation. This course is available to study full- or part-time and follows an evening timetable. Highlights
  • The course builds upon the School of Business’s research strength in organisational governance and ethics, corporate responsibility and sustainability and organisational psychology. This is supported by Birkbeck’s Responsible Business Centre and Centre for Political Economy and Institutional Studies.
  • We combine an interdisciplinary approach with in-depth research training in business and organisational psychology. The course also offers you a strong foundation for PhD research in the area.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this MSc, you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:
  • how to assess quantitative and qualitative analyses
  • imaginative and original approaches to using methodological tools
  • library and archive skills
  • oral presentation and communication skills
  • effective team working.
Graduates can follow or progress a career path in roles such as:
  • organisational governance and sustainability analysts, consultants or policy-makers
  • environmental and sustainability advisers or managers
  • company secretaries
  • professional managers or trustees of pension and other investment funds
  • executive and non-executive board members.
Some of our graduates have gone on to be employed at:
  • World Wide Fund for Nature
  • Pensions and Investment Research Consultants
  • Innovation Forum
  • NHS Board of Governors
  • Amnesty International
  • UCL Hospital Board of Governors.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A combination of examinations, coursework, presentations and a dissertation. See individual modules for specific assessment details for each module.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification. A professional or other qualification obtained by written examinations approved by Birkbeck. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £6225 Year 1
Northern Ireland £6225 Year 1
Scotland £6225 Year 1
Wales £6225 Year 1
International £10170 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Organizational Governance and Sustainability at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS