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
Key Details
Portfolio: | Sustainable Business | ||
University of Cambridge qualification: | |||
Course Title: | Sustainable Business (PCSB) available as a blended residential/remote programme or a fully online programme | ||
Part of MSt flexible route? | No. This is a continuous route to the Master's award. Certificate (Stage 1) students can apply to join. | Yes. Third and final stage of the three-stage award. Information below relates to Stage 3 only. Candidates cannot apply to stage 3 without first completing stages 1 and 2. | Yes. Stage 1 of the three-stage award. |
Type of programme | Full Master’s degree. | Full Master’s degree when all three stages are complete. | Postgraduate Certificate. |
Duration and format
| Part-time over 2 years. 24 days residential in Cambridge via 4 workshops. | Part-time over 2 years. 8.5 days residential in Cambridge via 3 workshops. | Blended: Part-time over 9 months. 8 days residential in Cambridge via 2 workshops. OR Online: Part-time over 9 months. |
Application opening dates
| Applications for 2027 entry open in September 2026 and close on 2 February 2027.
| Applications for 2027 entry open in September 2026 and close on 2 February 2027. Applications are only accepted from candidates who have completed or are in the second year of studying the CISL PG Diploma in Sustainable Business. | Applications for 2027 entry open in September 2026 and will close on 25 March 2027.
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Start date | 12 September 2027 | October 2027 (date TBC) | Blended: July 2027 (date TBC) Online: May 2027 (date TBC) |
Workshop dates | Provisional workshop dates for students starting in 2027 are: 12 - 18 September 2027 02 - 08 April 2028 Year 2 2028/2029 workshop dates TBC
In addition to the residential workshops, students must attend a virtual dissertation conference in March/April 2029 (date TBC). | 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 year 1 workshops through which to attend the residential modules for students starting stage 3 in 2027 are: 12 - 18 December 2027 02 - 08 April 2028 09 - 15 July 2028 Year 2 2028/2029 residential module dates TBC | Blended: Provisional 2027 workshop dates: 19 - 22 July 2027 (TBC) 22 - 25 November 2027 (TBC)
Online: Programme starts in May 2027, with regular live virtual sessions. |
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 able to undertake personal reflection, apply the learning in practice, and/or gain relevant practical experience related to the programme's themes for at least 1 day per week. | Stage 3 is designed to deliver content at a less intensive pace. The expected time commitment outside of workshops is half that of Stage 1, at approximately 0.5 days (4 hours) per week on direct 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 | £36,150 (£18,075 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 £27,054 (£13,527 p/a) | Fee for stage 3 only is £17,952 (£8,976 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.
| Blended: £10,158, which includes all teaching fees, learning materials and accommodation and meals for the two Cambridge residential workshops. Fees do not include travel costs.
Online: £9,099.
A discount of £2,350 is applied to this fee for candidates who have successfully completed a CISL 8-week online programme.
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Bursaries and scholarships
| An Access Bursary is available for up to 50% of the Combined Graduate Fee.
Additional scholarships are also available with support from external organisations. | An Access Bursary is available for up to 50% of the Combined Graduate Fee. | An Access Bursary is available for up to 50% of the programme fee. |
Accreditation* | 180 CATS points at level M. | 180 CATS points at level M when all three stages of the flexible route are complete. | 60 CATS points at level M. |
*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 Certificate |
Course Title: | Sustainability Leadership (continuous route) | Sustainability Leadership (flexible route stage 3) | Sustainable Business (PCSB) |
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 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 5–8 students), supported by a specialist course supervisor.
Second year: 15,000-word research dissertation, under the direction of an academic supervisor.
| Stage 3: 10,000-word research essay, under the direction of an academic supervisor. | Two business relevant individual assignments and a Group Project (typically 5–8 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.
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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. | Individuals who have completed PCSB can apply to 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. |