MSc in Sustainability
Cranfield, United Kingdom
DURATION
36 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 18,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* full fees for both home and overseas students
Introduction
The role of a sustainability professional is evolving from a specialist to a sustainability-literate change agent with a key role in setting and delivering an organizational strategy that supports long-term organizational resilience and success.
The Sustainability MSc brings together academics from our School of Water, Energy, and Environment and School of Management to create a holistic, multidisciplinary learning experience. The course is designed in consultation with the industry to equip sustainability professionals and leaders in organizations of all sizes with this critical mix of technical and management skills. It will deepen your knowledge of the theory and practice of organizational sustainability, and help you build the personal competencies you need to lead and manage change towards improved sustainability performance.
On completion of the program, you will be awarded professional recognition as a Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) and Practitioner Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (I.E.M.A.) or Chartered Environmentalist (Full Member of the I.E.M.A.) depending on your level of experience prior to the course.
Who is it for?
The course is suitable for:
sustainability professionals across management levels who are keen to improve/enhance their sustainability skills, knowledge and abilities, and lead their organizations more effectively towards improved sustainability performance,
employees who are new to their sustainability role, whether leading or employed within a team of dedicated experts, who are keen to build their sustainability skills, knowledge and abilities, and apply these in their workplace,
employees in other functional areas (e.g. operations, procurement, HR) for whom sustainability is becoming an increasingly important aspect of their role, and who want to build their knowledge and skills in this area, and be equipped to lead their function to align with their organization's sustainability strategy,
entrepreneurial individuals who are looking to develop their sustainability skills, knowledge, and abilities to grow an existing business in a sustainable way or even start a new business.
Informed by industry
The course has been designed in consultation with industry representatives from across sectors (including retail, banking, consumers goods, utilities, non-profit), academic experts, and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (I.E.M.A.) to ensure its relevance to sustainability roles across management levels and sectors.
The course faculty combines expertise from Cranfield’s School of Management and the School of Water, Energy, and Environment, supported by a team of external industry speakers, who will bring the latest thinking and practice to the course.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Bursaries
We are delighted to offer two bursaries to candidates on our MSc Sustainability. These funding opportunities are designed to assist future sustainability leaders to complete their studies – enhancing their ability to lead organizations, implement change, drive innovation and achieve excellence in sustainability performance.
Changemaker Bursary
This bursary supports candidates who have already achieved significant positive environmental and/or social impact, and plan to use this course and a platform to lead transformational change in their organizations and beyond.
Curriculum
Learner journey
The course comprises 14 taught modules and a thesis.
The course is primarily delivered online to minimize the carbon footprint of the course and enable wide and diverse participation in sustainability education. Modules are delivered live on alternative Fridays over a six-week period with students completing self-directed learning in between these sessions.
Additional elements of experiential learning, including activities such as site tours, games, and coaching take place at annual three-day Spring Schools at Cranfield, which provide the opportunity for cohorts to get to know each other, network with academics and industry representatives and create enduring supportive alumni groups.
The learning objectives of the course are delivered through interactive lectures, case study discussions, simulations, and role-play across the taught modules.
Course Modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
- Leading for Sustainability
- Principles of Sustainability
- Leading Sustainable Business
- Evaluating Sustainability
- Economics of Sustainability
- Performance Management and Reporting
- Environmental Risks: Hazard, Assessment and Management
- Risk Communication and Perception
- Environmental Innovation
- Sustainable and Circular Supply Chains
- Circular Innovation
- Strategic Foresight
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability in Practice
- Practice-based thesis (individual thesis project)
Program Outcome
The courses will equip leaders with the technical knowledge and management capabilities to drive positive change in their organizations and share their knowledge and experiences with their colleagues and peers.
The course aims:
- to develop sustainability leaders who will deliver real change in their organizations and play an integral role in a growing and evolving community of sustainability professionals,
- to provide students with a mix of technical and leadership (management/business) skills that will enhance their knowledge of sustainability practice and facilitate the improvement of the environmental, social, and governance performance of organizations,
- to engender in students a sustainability mindset, capable of articulating the symbiotic relationship between business, society, and the biosphere,
- to help students understand the market drivers for sustainability, so they can build a business case for integrating sustainability into practice, recognizing the importance of creating long-term value for all stakeholders,
- to equip students to lead towards sustainability and model ethical and sustainable behaviors, and enable them to do the same in others, so collectively we can respond to the complex sustainability challenges we face with the changes required,
- to empower students and enhance their competencies, self-awareness, and confidence to operate effectively as 'change leaders' and 'visionaries' in a team and to effectively communicate the sustainability agenda to internal and external stakeholders,
- to build a supportive network of sustainability professionals who share their learning and experience for the common good.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The need for sustainability professionals is growing as social and environmental issues become more urgent and complex and legislation increasingly focuses on clean growth and sustainable development. Understanding long-term trends and resource use, and their influence on stakeholders, will enable companies to examine the market drivers for sustainability, build the business case for integrating sustainability into practice and create more competitive business models.
Our Sustainability MSc will enable you to develop your knowledge, skills, and abilities while applying what you learn directly in your workplace. The program will support your career progression, preparing you to successfully carry out sustainability-related leadership roles in the future.
Our Career Services team offer: individual career consultations, speaker events, alumni networking, networking workshop, personal and executive career coaching, leadership assessment center, and more practical skills-based workshops on writing CVs and cover letters and interview skills.