The new fully online version of the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB Online) is a Master's-level postgraduate programme, delivered part-time for working professionals over approximately one year. The programme is designed to strengthen leadership skills, and help embed sustainability in a range of organisational contexts.This programme is designed for senior and mid-career professionals who wish to gain a broad and action-oriented introduction to sustainability in a business context and apply the learning either within their organisation, or across their organisation’s value chain. It equips students to respond to sustainability challenges and opportunities, and embed sustainability principles in mainstream business practice and ‘real-life’ contexts |
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Programme overview
PCSB Online is part of CISL’s mission to empower individuals and organisations to take leadership to tackle critical global challenges. More specifically, through combining academic foundations with leading business insights via a collaborative and applied approach, students will:
- Understand global social, environmental, and economic trends, and how business can catalyse wider system-level change
- Gain critical skills and confidence to embed sustainability into business action
- Adopt new approaches, tools, and techniques for leading change
- Acquire skills to influence and engage key stakeholders and embed sustainability in a specific context.
- Obtain a Master’s-level qualification from the University of Cambridge.
The programme is delivered in two parts.
Part 1: Business Sustainability Management* |
Part 2: Sustainable Business Leadership in Practice |
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BSM provides foundational knowledge for students new to sustainability and business, as well as advanced content to drive change and impact. Part 1 comprises:
Part 1 modules:
* In future, additional themes may be offered which will align with some of CISL’s portfolio of 8 week online courses. |
This part provides students with the opportunity to strengthen leadership skills, and apply sustainability knowledge to achieve positive, transformative change for businesses and wider society. Part 2 comprises:
Part 2 Modules:
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Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged and supported to collaborate and network with your fellow students as well as with the expert contributors, through online discussion forums, interactive workshops, supervision sessions and self-organised group project meetings. You will also have access to a multitude of academic and research resources at the University of Cambridge.
Start date, duration and format
- Start: September 2025 for alumni of CISL’s Business Sustainability Management (BSM) online course joining Part 2. (In future, additional themes may be offered which will align with some of CISL’s portfolio of 8-week online courses.)
- Duration and estimated time commitment: 10 months; 1 day per week (8 hours) on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-to-one support, and completing work for assessment.
- Format: Part-time; Fully online with live learning (synchronous) sessions where diligent participation is expected delivered on Tuesdays at midday GMT (12:00 UTC; 13:00 BST).
Virtual live participation
During Part 2 students will be expected to participate in virtual live sessions for 4-5 hours/month on average, including:
- 2 hours/month on average of virtual live teaching sessions (webinars, masterclasses, discussions)
- 2 hours/month on average of group meetings with supervisor.
- 0.5 hours/month on average for individual meetings with supervisor and other miscellaneous meetings.
All live learning sessions will be on Tuesdays at midday GMT (12:00 UTC; 13:00 BST). Dates will be published in the course handbook and/or VLE, and diligent participation is expected. Live sessions are likely to be more concentrated during the first two months. Students may wish to set aside Tuesdays that do not have live sessions to finalise assignment submissions if they prefer to have a more regular schedule, i.e. to reserve around 12:00-14:00 GMT every Tuesday for course-related activities.
Bursaries and other sources of funding
Full or partial support for programme fees is available. Consideration is given to social, economic or educational disadvantage experienced by applicants, enabling applicant from disadvantaged backgrounds to access the opportunity to study
More information available here.
University of Cambridge award and progression
- Award: Postgraduate Certificate, equivalent to 1/3 of a Master’s degree. 60 CATS points at level M. (In Frequently Asked Questions we answer: “What is a postgraduate certificate and how does it differ from other types of ‘certificate’?”)
- Progression: Possibility to apply to continue to the Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s in Sustainability Leadership, which require some residential attendance.
Download the brochure to find out more
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In an interview with Eco-Business, CISL Director of Postgraduate Education shares his thoughts regarding how PCSB Online can help to close the global ‘green’ skills gap by making high-quality education more accessible.
"The launch of PCSB Online is an exciting development for CISL and the University of Cambridge. It is the first fully online qualification awarded by the University and is an important milestone in improving access to world-class education. I’m delighted that we’re able to offer this as an option for equipping sustainability leaders who are unable to join our existing residential programmes."Dr Theo Hacking |
Not ready to apply?
Register your interest to be kept up to date with future cohorts of the PCSB Online, including details of additional themes available that align with CISL's broader portfolio of 8-week online courses.
