The difference between a Master's and Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment
Do you know which Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment programme is most suitable for you?
The Master's and Postgraduate Certificate have similar audiences; mid-career working professionals involved in the built environment sector who want to develop their capacity to deliver sustainable projects, work well in interdisciplinary teams and improve their leadership skills.
Both programmes require similar commitments in terms of time, with 1 day per week (8 hours) expected to be spent on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-to-one support, and completing work for assessment. You'll need to also undertake personal reflection and apply your learning in practice or gain practical experience via your work for a least 1 day per week. The in-person workshops of both programmes are 7 days in length and take place in Cambridge, UK. Neither programmes have examinations, with assessment conducted via written assignments.
The Master's in Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment
The Master's a full Master of Studies (MSt) degree studied part-time over two years, with 6 residential workshops in Cambridge. Students become full members of a Cambridge College and can attend a graduation ceremony at the Senate House upon successful completion of the programme. In the first year you'll undertake two industry-relevant individual assignments and a group project, for your second year you'll be focusing on your dissertation as your written assignment.
Provisional workshop dates:
- Workshop 1: 14 - 20 September 2025
- Workshop 2: 14 - 20 December 2025
- Workshop 3: 12 - 18 April 2026
- Workshop 4: December 2026 (dates TBC)
- Workshop 5: March/April 2027 (dates TBC)
- Workshop 6: June/July 2027 (dates TBC)
In addition to the residential workshops, students must attend a virtual dissertation conference in March/April 2027.
In terms of financial support, the Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment Access Bursary, the SLBE Changemaker Scholarship, Pomeroy Academy Scholarship, and Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors Scholarship are available for eligible applicants. Please ensure that you apply to the Master's before you apply to a scholarship or bursaries.
Find out more about the Master's and apply
The Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment
The Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) is a postgraduate qualification equivalent to 1/3 of a Master's and is studied part time over 10 months, with 2 residential workshops in Cambridge, taught alongside Masters students. You would not become a full member of a Cambridge College; however your residential workshops are held in Cambridge Colleges and Institutions, you may also wish to receive your certificate in person at an Award Ceremony at one of the Colleges here at Cambridge.
Provisional workshop dates:
- Workshop 1: 14 - 20 September 2025
- Workshop 2: 14 - 20 December 2025
In terms of financial support the Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment Access Bursary is available to support students. Please ensure that you apply to the Postgraduate Certificate before you apply to the bursary.
Alumni of the PG Cert can apply to progress onto the full Master's in Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment and if accepted, you will pay a reduced fee and are exempt from the first-year assignments and the two workshops already attended. You may wish to choose this option if you have been out of formal education for a while and would like to ease yourself more gently back into higher education.
Find out more about the Postgraduate Certificate and apply
Still got questions?
The SLBE Course Directors offer live webinars where they provide an overview of our programmes, outline the admissions process and answer any questions that you have.