Overview of our part-time Master's-level sustainable business qualifications
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- Key details for Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment Programmes
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Key Details
University of Cambridge qualification: | Master of Studies Degree | Master of Studies Degree | Postgraduate Diploma | Postgraduate Certificate | |
Course title: | Sustainability Leadership (continuous route) | Sustainability Leadership (flexible route) | Sustainable Business | Sustainable Business (PCSB) (available as a blended residential and remote programme or a fully online programme) | |
Part of MSt flexible route? | No. This is a continuous route to the Masters award. Certificate (Stage 1) students can apply to join. | Yes. Stage 1 to 3 of the three-stage award. | Yes. Stages 1 and 2 of the three-stage award. | Yes. Stage 1 of the three-stage award. | |
Type of programme | Full Master’s degree | Full Master’s degree | Stand-alone postgraduate qualification equivalent to 2/3 of a Master’s degree. Progression to Master’s is available through the flexible route only. | Stand-alone postgraduate qualification equivalent to 1/3 of a Master’s degree. Progression to Diploma/ flexible route or Master’s continuous route is available. | |
Duration and format | Part time over 2 years. 24 days residential in Cambridge via 4 workshops. | Part time over a minimum of 5 years. Students can take up to 10 years to complete, inclusive of gaps between the 3 stages. 24.5 days residential in Cambridge (8 days in stage 1, 8 in stage 2 and 8.5 in stage 3) via 8 workshops (2 in stage 1, 3 in stage 2 and 3 in stage 3). | Part time over 3 years (PCSB plus 2 years for stage 2). 16 days residential in Cambridge* (8 days in stage 1 and 8 days in stage 2) via 5 workshops (2 in stage 1 and 3 in stage 2). | Blended: Part- time over 9 months. 8 days residential in Cambridge via 2 workshops. OR Online: Part-time over a minimum of 12 months, 2 months for Part 1 and 10 months for Part 2. | |
Application dates | Applications for 2026 entry open in September 2025 and close 27 January 2026. | See PCSB (right) for stage 1 application dates. Applications for 2026 entry to stage 2 (PCSB students/alumni only) open in September 2025 and close 29 April 2026. | Blended: Applications for 2026 entry open in September 2025 and will close 26 March 2026. Online: Applications for Part 2 starting in May 2026 will close 26 March 2026. | ||
Workshop dates | Provisional workshop dates for students starting in 2026 are: 13-19 September 2026 4-10 April 2027 12-18 December 2027 09-15 July 2028 In addition to the residential workshops, students must attend a virtual dissertation conference in March/April 2028 (date TBC). | See PCSB (far right) for 2025 stage 1 workshop dates. See PG Diploma (right) for stage 2 workshop dates. Stage 3 students must choose when to attend the 3 residential modules they have not attended during Stage 2, discussing and agreeing their choices with the programme team before starting. Available workshops through which to attend the residential modules for students starting stage 3 in 2026 are: 13-19 December 2026 04-10 April 2027 11-17 July 2027 12-18 December 2027 02-08 April 2028 09-15 July 2028 | See PCSB (right) for stage 1 workshop dates. Stage 2 students must choose 3 residential modules plus half a day of leadership residential sessions to attend. See the course modules link for details of the blocks to pick from. Available workshops through which to attend the residential modules for students starting stage 2 in 2026 are: 13-19 December 2026 04-10 April 2027 11-17 July 2027 12-18 December 2027 02-08 April 2028 09-15 July 2028 | Blended: Provisional 2026 workshop dates: 20 -23 July 2026 23 - 26 November 2026 Online: Cohort 2 is due to start in May 2026, exact start date TBC. | |
Time commitment | 1 day per week (8 hours) on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-to-one support, and completing work for assessment. Students admitted to the programme are also expected to be in a position to undertake personal reflection, apply the learning in practice and/or gain relevant practical experience related to the themes of the programme for at least 1 day per week. | During stage 1 students will need to spend 1 day per week (8 hours) on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-to-one support, and completing work for assessment. Students admitted to the programme are also expected to be in a position to undertake personal reflection, apply the learning in practice and/or gain relevant practical experience related to the themes of the programme for at least 1 day per week. Stages 2 and 3 are designed to deliver content at a less intensive pace. For Stages 2 and 3 the expected time commitment outside of workshops is half that stated above, i.e. approximately 0.5 days (4 hours) per week on directed learning plus 0.5 days per week on personal reflection. | 1 day per week (8 hours) on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-to-one support, and completing work for assessment. Students admitted to the programme are also expected to be in a position to undertake personal reflection, apply the learning in practice and/or gain relevant practical experience related to the themes of the programme for at least 1 day per week. | ||
Fees | £34,680 (£17,340 p/a). The fee includes membership of a Cambridge College. It excludes accommodation and meals; however, reasonably priced College accommodation is offered. Applicants will be expected to cover the application fee (£85 online). Field trips, gala dinners, matriculation and other group photos are optional additional costs. PG Cert alumni pay a reduced fee of £25,292 (£12,964.50 p/a) | Fees are charged in 3 parts, at the start of each stage. See PCSB (far right) for stage 1 fees. See PG Diploma (right) for stage 2 fees. 2026 fee for stage 3 is £17,178 (£8,589 p/a). The fee includes membership of a Cambridge College. It excludes accommodation and meals; however, reasonably priced College accommodation is offered. Applicants will be expected to cover the application fee (£85 online). Field trips, gala dinners, matriculation and other group photos are optional additional costs. | See PCSB (right) for stage 1 fees. 2026 fee for stage 2 is £9,528 which includes all teaching fees, learning materials and accommodation for the Cambridge workshops. Fees do not include travel costs or meals during workshops. . | Blended: £9,926, which includes all teaching fees, learning materials and accommodation and meals for the two Cambridge residential workshops. Fees do not include travel costs. Online: Fees are charged in two parts. The fee for Part 1 starting in 2026 is up to £2,350. The fee for Part 2 starting in May 2026 is £5,996. | |
Bursaries | A CISL Sustainability Leadership Access bursary is available for up to 50% of the Combined Graduate Fee. Additional bursaries and scholarships are also available. | See PCSB (far right) and PG Diploma (right) for details of funding available for stages 1 and 2. For stage 3 a Sustainability Leadership Access bursary is available for between 10% and 50% of the Combined Graduate Fee. | Limited bursary funding is available for deserving candidates who can demonstrate a clear case for financial need, this could include applicants from low income backgrounds, developing countries, or without access to company or other funding sources. | Limited bursary funding is available for deserving candidates who can demonstrate a clear case for financial need, this could include applicants from low income backgrounds, developing countries, or without access to company or other funding sources. | |
Accreditation** | 180 CATS points at level M | 180 CATS points at level M | 120 CATS points at level M | 60 CATS points at level M | |
*Candidates who elect to take the online version of stage 1 (PCSB Online) will not be required to attend any residential days in Cambridge during stage 1
**CATS points refers to the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme. It may be possible to transfer the CATS points to Level M programmes of other higher education institutions. As institutions vary on their policies of accepting transferred credits you should contact your preferred institution for further advice.
Additional information
University of Cambridge qualification: | Master of Studies Degree | Master of Studies Degree | Postgraduate Diploma | Postgraduate Certificate |
Course title: | Sustainability Leadership (continuous route) | Sustainability Leadership (flexible route) | Sustainable Business | Sustainable Business |
Who would benefit? | Mid-career, current and aspiring leaders who want to develop their capacity to drive the business response to sustainability challenges, drawing on the research excellence of the University of Cambridge. The continuous route is suited to candidates who know they wish to achieve a full Master’s and have the time and funding to commit to 2 years of study. | Mid-career, current and aspiring leaders who want to develop their capacity to drive the business response to sustainability challenges, drawing on the research excellence of the University of Cambridge. The flexible route is suited to candidates who may wish to take time to determine the level of academic award that will most benefit them, or who prefer to extend their studies over a longer period, at a slower pace. | Mid-career professionals who wish to enhance their existing knowledge and gain a higher qualification through a flexible course, combining a practical focus with academic rigour. | Mid-career professionals who wish to gain a broad and action-oriented introduction to sustainability in a strategic business context. |
Assessed work | First year: Two organisation-relevant individual assignments and a Group Project (typically 5–7 students), supported by a specialist course supervisor. Second year: 15,000-word research dissertation, under the direction of an academic supervisor. | See PCSB (far right) for stage 1 assignments. See PG Diploma (right) for stage 2 assignments. Stage 3: 10,000-word research essay, under the direction of an academic Supervisor. | See PCSB (right) for stage 1 assignments. Stage 2: Two individual assignments supported by a supervisor. | Two business relevant individual assignments and a Group Project (typically 5–7 students), supported by a supervisor. |
College membership and award of degree | Students become full members of a Cambridge College and can attend a University graduation ceremony at the Senate House. | During stage 3 students become full members of a Cambridge College and can attend a University graduation ceremony at the Senate House. | Students are not members of a Cambridge College. Residential workshops are held in a range of Cambridge Colleges and Institutions, and an Award Ceremony at a Cambridge College is offered to successful students who wish to receive their certificate in person. | |
Progression options and eligibility | Alumni of PCSB can apply. If accepted, they pay a reduced fee and are exempt from the first-year assignments and the first workshop. PCSB alumni must be able to complete the MSt within 10 years of enrolment in the CISL Postgraduate Certificate, or they must provide evidence of substantive learning or experience in a relevant field in the last few years. PG Diploma students cannot transfer to the continuous route. MSt is the highest award currently available via CISL. Progression to a PhD would be via another Department or University. | The MSt flexible route is taught in three stages. Candidates can apply for each stage individually, and take gaps in between, but all three stages must be completed within 10 years (from the start of Stage 1). Applicants can only apply to stage 3 once they have completed the PG Diploma, or while they are in their final year of Diploma studies. MSt is the highest award currently available via CISL. Progression to a PhD would be via another Department or University. | Alumni of PCSB, or PCSB students currently studying, can apply. Individuals who have completed the PG Diploma can apply to the MSt in Sustainability Leadership flexible route stage 3. Diploma students and alumni must be able to complete the MSt within 10 years of enrolment in the CISL Postgraduate Certificate. Alumni who would not be able to meet this requirement must provide evidence of substantive learning or experience in a relevant field in the last few years. | Individuals who have completed PCSB can apply to the PG Dip or the MSt in Sustainability Leadership continuous route. Those accepted on the MSt in Sustainability Leadership continuous route pay a reduced fee and are exempt from the first-year assignments and the first MSt workshop. PCSB students and alumni must be able to complete the MSt within 10 years of enrolment in the CISL Postgraduate Certificate. Alumni who would not be able to meet this requirement must provide evidence of substantive learning or experience in a relevant field in the last few years. |
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