Sustainable Finance online short course
Improve long-term performance and learn to meet regulatory requirements as you build the capability to respond to social, climate- and nature-related risks and opportunities, and understand how financial systems must evolve to support a resilient economy.
Over eight weeks you will explore the current financial system and learn how to create and protect long-term value in a turbulent world where we are facing growing tensions between short and long-term priorities. You will also explore how financial flows can be rewired to support societal resilience, economic stability and sustainable growth that benefits the majority and not just a small minority..
Under the guidance of expert CISL faculty, students will learn to apply sustainable finance principles and practices. The course also offers a fresh perspective on how businesses, banks, investors and insurers are integrating social, climate and nature-related risks and opportunities into their decision-making.. With the University of Cambridge Sustainable Finance online short course, you will leave the course with a deep understanding of systemic challenges and sustainable finance strategies, as you learn to navigate and shape the transformation of the financial systems.
Course start dates
- 22 July 2026
- 7 October 2026
Format
- Online, tutor-assisted
Length
- 8 weeks online (+1 week orientation) 8–10 hours per week
Is the Sustainable Finance course for you?
This course is designed to equip those interested in using sustainable finance to create and protect long-term value.. It is suitable for finance professionals, including investors, bankers, financial advisors and financial service providers, as well as non-finance professionals, such as consultants, managers and individuals working with NGOs, seeking to understand how financial decision-making can support long-term business resilience and the transition to a greener economy.
In addition,, public policymakers interested in integrating environmental considerations into development planning and finance will find this course beneficial. The course provides insight into the changing role of finance in response to evolving risks, and opportunities,, and how realigning market incentives and capital flows is key to delivering both economic and environmental value.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at the CISL Sustainable Business and Finance bundle. Designed for leaders and finance professionals, this two-course series will teach you how to create and protect long-term value while supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Explore effective sustainable finance strategies as you work through the weekly modules of this online short course
Module 1: The rapidly changing context of finance
Module 2: Steering capital for a sustainable future
Module 3: Strategies that work for sustainable finance
Module 4: Rewiring risk and return
Module 5: Sustainable finance solutions
Module 6: The role of the public sector in sustainable finance
Module 7: Disruption, innovation and sustainable finance
Module 8: Creating impact
What will set you apart
On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:
- Insight into environmental and social sustainability challenges and the disruptions facing communities, business and governments , and why these pose material risks and opportunities for financial institutions.
- An understanding of how climate change and nature-related risks are rewiring financial systems and the skills to steer capital toward a sustainable future.
- Tools and frameworks to respond to financial risks and opportunities posed by sustainability-related issues, and the insights needed to create and protect long-term value and strengthen resilience.
- A personal action plan and the ability to develop and implement sustainable finance strategies in your role, organisation or professional sphere of influence.
- A broader network and meaningful peer relationships that strengthen your connection with the wider Cambridge sustainability community.
Course Convenors
The design of this online short course is guided by CISL faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.
- Alice Chapple- Sustainable finance and impact investment expert
- Martin Roberts- Sustainability and education specialist and former Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our ten business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
CPD certified
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 60 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. CISL and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Learn to lead in a changing world
Join over 24,000 students globally who have already benefited from the opportunity to:
- Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from a top-tier university, entirely online and in your own time.
- Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience that consistently achieves over 90 per cent course certification rate.
- Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.
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Delivered in Collaboration with GetSmarter
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is collaborating with digital education provider GetSmarter, a brand of 2U, Inc., to provide an interactive and supported online learning experience.
