Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership
The Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership is designed for those looking to build bold and pragmatic business solutions to the sustainability challenges and opportunities facing society.
Designed around CISL’s mission to empower individuals and organisations to take leadership to tackle critical global issues, the programmes build the skills and knowledge to enable systemic innovation and change towards thriving markets and a better future.
Applications for 2026 entry have now closed. Applications for 2027 entry will open in September 2026.
About the Master's
The Master's helps to develop leaders who can respond effectively to the economic, social and environmental challenges facing the world and lead others to achieve positive change.
It is fully accredited by the University of Cambridge, and is delivered as an interdisciplinary programme by CISL, drawing on academic expertise from the Departments of Engineering, Geography, Land Economy, Zoology, and the Cambridge Judge Business School, among others.
Both academic excellence and practical application in a business context are prioritised in the competitive selection process, and in the design and delivery of the programme. Assessment is through short practical assignments as well as an extended research assignment.
The programme attracts an exceptional calibre of senior and mid-career leaders globally from a wide range of sectors. Applicants may wish to formalise their credentials as sustainability professionals or gain a better understanding of how sustainability risks and opportunities apply to mainstream business functions. We likewise appeal to leaders from the not-for-profit or public sectors who wish to work together with the private sector to address sustainability challenges.
Read about the impact of our postgraduate programmes from our students
Aims and curriculum
Through a combination of interdisciplinary insights, academic analysis, practical business application, peer learning and personal reflection, the Master's aims to develop a community of leaders who have:
- a wide awareness and deep understanding of the social, environmental, ethical and economic challenges and opportunities facing the world
- the vision and ambition to drive business leadership to achieve real systems change
- the knowledge, experience and ability to critically evaluate a range of strategic levers for change
- the leadership capacity and confidence at a personal and organisational level to best use these levers to effect transformation
This course is designed around six interconnected learning outcomes:
- The changing global context, the case for a radical shift from current systems and the role of business
- A sustainable future, and the potential synergies and tensions in achieving it
- Potential levers, leverage points and pathways to achieve change both within and beyond organisations to achieve sustainability
- Personal and collective leadership and effective action as an agent of change
- Sustainability insights, knowledge and research for specific contexts
- Communication and engagement, individually and collaboratively, to advance the sustainability agenda
The course modules are delivered via a combination of residential workshop teaching and a programme of online learning.
Routes to the award
There are two routes that can be taken to achieve the Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership, which are continuous or flexible. Both routes will result in the same qualifications if successfully pursued to the end, achieving the same learning outcomes and provide a similar learning experience and networking opportunities.
Students on the flexible route will complete the same modules as those on the continuous route, although they may receive content in a different order, depending on the modules they elect to join in stage 2.
The continuous route is the traditional entry method to the Master’s, requiring a consistent commitment to study time during the 2-year programme. The flexible route offers the option to split studying into shorter, less intense, stages for more flexibility to accommodate work, family and other commitments, and provides qualifications in multiple stages up to the full Master’s degree.
The graphic and detail below summarise the key differences between the two routes.
Format
Continuous route
Continuous, unless an intermission is granted due to exceptional circumstances.
Flexible route
Students can elect to take a break between each of the three stages (Certificate, Diploma, MSt) but must complete all three in a maximum of 10 years. Each higher qualification subsumes the previous, ie only one qualification is obtained.
Estimated time commitment
Continuous route
An average of one day per week equivalent for the duration of the course (in addition to attendance at residential workshops).
Flexible route
Stage 1: An average of one day per week.
Stages 2 & 3: An average of half a day per week.
(these are in addition to attendance at residential workshops)
Residential workshop attendance requirements
Details of workshop dates can be found in this overview table
Continuous route
Four 7-day workshops, two in year 1 and two in year 2.
Flexible route
Stage 1: Two 4-day workshops (Blended route only).
Stage 2: Three 2.5-day workshops plus half a day of ‘Leadership for Change’.
Stage 3: Three 2.5-day workshops plus two half days of ‘Leadership for Change’.
Assignments
Find out more about the course assignments here
Continuous route
Year 1: Two individual assignments and one group research project.
Year 2: Research dissertation.
Flexible route
Stage 1: Two individual assignments and one group research project.
Stage 2: Two individual assignments.
Stage 3: Research essay.
Fee schedule
Details of the fees can be found in this overview table
Continuous route
Fees are charged in two equal halves, half before starting year 1 and half before starting year 2.
Flexible route
Fees are charged in three parts relative to each stage. For stages 1 and 2, the full fee is charged before the start of the programme. For stage 3, fees are charged in two equal halves, half before starting year 1 and half before starting year 2.