MA Sustainable Business

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

Buckinghamshire New University

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about making a difference in business and the world, the MA Sustainable Business is designed for you. You’ll learn how to help companies grow while staying environmentally responsible and socially conscious — perfect if you want to lead change, shape strategies, and create a real impact.

Curriculum Structure

This one-year master’s is focused, practical, and career-oriented. You’ll explore the core ideas of sustainable business and apply them directly through projects or placements, making sure your learning is hands-on as well as theoretical.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): You’ll get to grips with ESG strategies — learning how to assess, implement, and improve sustainability practices in real business scenarios.
Global Sustainability in Business: This module looks at sustainability on a global scale, including frameworks like the UN SDGs and international reporting standards, helping you understand how companies around the world integrate sustainability into their operations.
Strategic Sustainable Leadership & Sustainable Business Strategy: You’ll discover how to lead and plan for sustainability at a strategic level, making sure sustainability isn’t just a “nice-to-have” but part of the core business.
Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Here, you’ll explore how to innovate and launch businesses or projects that are profitable and responsible, blending ethics, strategy, and creativity.

You’ll finish the year with a major project, consultancy, or work placement, giving you real-world experience and the confidence to step straight into a sustainability-focused career.

Focus areas

Sustainability, ESG strategy, global business frameworks, strategic leadership, CSR, sustainable entrepreneurship, real-world consultancy experience.

Learning outcomes

Graduates leave ready to analyse ESG challenges, create and implement sustainable strategies, lead teams or projects, apply global sustainability standards, and deliver tangible business impact.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This is a UK Level 7 master’s degree awarded by Buckinghamshire New University. It prepares you for roles such as Sustainability Manager, CSR Consultant, Environmental Consultant, or policy advisor, giving you the skills employers actively seek.

Reputation (employability relevance)

With sustainability increasingly central to business worldwide, graduates are in demand across corporate, NGO, and consultancy sectors. The course combines industry connections, guest speakers, and practical placements to help you build experience and a professional network from day one.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

On the MA Sustainable Business, you won’t just sit in lectures — you’ll get your hands dirty with real-world sustainability challenges. From day one, the course is about putting theory into practice: working on live projects, collaborating in teams, and seeing how businesses tackle sustainability in the real world. You’ll gain practical skills that employers actually look for, all while supported by great facilities and expert guidance.

Here’s how your learning comes to life:

Industry visits and field trips — Get out of the classroom and see how organisations implement sustainability strategies. Hear directly from professionals and observe real-world ESG practices in action.
Live consultancy projects and work placements — Tackle real business problems through your Independent Professional Project, Business Consultancy module, or a work placement. This gives you hands-on experience and builds your confidence to step into a sustainability-focused career.
Group work and interactive workshops — Collaborate with peers on reports, presentations, and pitches that simulate real business challenges, helping you develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Access to BNU facilities — Make use of modern workspaces, incubation suites, simulation spaces, and a fully resourced library to support research and independent study.
Campus sustainability initiatives — Take part in green projects, community programs, and sustainability campaigns, giving you the chance to make a tangible impact beyond the classroom.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating with an MA in Sustainable Business opens doors to careers where you can make a real impact. Many of our graduates go on to become Sustainability Managers, CSR Consultants, Environmental or Sustainability Consultants, or Policy Advisors — roles where they help businesses and organisations make smarter, greener choices. With sustainability becoming central to business worldwide, your skills will be highly valued in both corporate and non-profit sectors.

Here’s how BNU helps you get there and sets you up for success:

Dedicated career support: BNU’s Career Success Team offers personalised coaching, CV and interview guidance, and ongoing support even after graduation — helping you confidently step into the job market.
Job and internship opportunities: Access platforms like Handshake and MyBNUFuture to find internships, placements, and roles tailored to your career goals.
Strong employability outcomes: Many BNU graduates earn over £45,000 within 15 months of graduating, reflecting the value employers place on our programmes.
Industry engagement and networking: Learn directly from sustainability professionals through guest lectures, networking events, and live projects, building real-world connections that help launch your career.
Long-term relevance: Your degree prepares you not just for your first role but for a flexible career path as sustainability continues to grow in importance across industries.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, you could pursue a PhD in sustainability, environmental policy, or business ethics, or take specialised professional development and executive certifications in ESG and corporate sustainability. You could also combine your degree with related fields like public policy, environmental management, or corporate governance to broaden your expertise and career options.