Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB)
The Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB) is a Masters-level accredited programme from the University of Cambridge, designed to support those who want to contribute to building a better future for society through their organisation.
To tackle the challenges and instability of today and to harness future opportunities, business leaders need to develop bold and pragmatic solutions which meet the competitive demands of today and which build towards a better future and thriving markets.
By combining Cambridge quality education, expertise from global industry leaders, and focused streams of work together in this accredited postgraduate programme, the PCSB offers an exceptional foundation for those looking to complete their studies over 9-months or those looking to take a more flexible route towards a full Master’s.
Applications for 2026 entry are now closed. Applications for 2027 entry will open from September 2026.
About the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB)
PCSB is offered in two formats; 'blended', which includes short residential workshops in Cambridge, or 'online', which is delivered remotely. Please see below for an overview of the blended programme or here for an overview of the online programme.
The blended programme is offered in three streams to accommodate a variety of business functions and personal interests. The three streams are taught alongside each other but with dedicated workshop sessions focussing on stream-specific content and the opportunity to tailor assignments to stream-related topics. Admitted applicants will elect to study one of the three streams, with all students receiving the same award (Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business). The three streams are:
Organisational stream
This stream is recommended for senior to mid-career professionals and managers in any sector, function or organisation, who are looking at embedding sustainability within their organisation, leveraging a systemic perspective as well as a structural and strategic approach.
Value Chains stream
This stream is recommended for all business functions and stakeholders associated with a value chain – not just procurement or specific supply chain roles. The course is relevant to upstream as well as more downstream ends of the value chain, including post-consumer sustainability challenges.
Finance stream
This stream is recommended for senior to mid-career professionals and managers working as corporate treasurers, investment bankers, asset managers, asset owners, insurance and pensions investors, venture cap investors, and in other finance-related roles, who are looking at embedding sustainability within their organisations, decision-making, products and services.
Focus
Organisational stream
Embedding sustainability within the context of an organisation, from strategy through to operations.
Value Chains stream
Embedding sustainability across an organisation’s value chain by creating value across the full life cycle of a product (from its conception to its end use).
Find out more about the definition and characteristics of a value chain
Finance stream
Assessing the role of finance in building sustainable and economic resilience by exploring opportunities, risks and trade offs when using financial institutions and instruments as a lever for sustainability.
Who's it is for
Organisational stream
Senior to mid-career professionals and managers interested in:
- Embedding sustainability in organisational decision-making
- Developing or contributing to the development of sustainable strategies, policies, processes, or products
- Engaging internal and external stakeholders to drive sustainable change
- Understanding different levers at disposal, within and outside of organisations, to drive profitable sustainability-related change
Value Chains stream
Senior to mid-career professionals and managers interested in:
- Sustainable procurement
- Enhancing sustainability or building resilience across their company’s supply chain
- Engaging and influencing customers
- Developing ‘circular’ approaches to resource use
- Engaging peers across key sectors or regions to raise standards or address common challenges
Finance stream
Senior to mid-career professionals and managers interested in:
- Harnessing the influence and potential of financial systems (corporate treasurers, investment bankers, asset managers, asset owners, insurance and pensions investors, venture cap investors) across public and private sectors in any country to contribute to the creation of sustainable development and more resilient companies and economies
- Embedding sustainability in investment decisions
- Influencing their organisation to include sustainability considerations in decision-making
- Engaging shareholders and businesses to help them implement a sustainable approach
What will you learn
Organisational stream
- A robust knowledge of global social, environmental and economic trends and how business can catalyse wider system-level change
- Ideas and frameworks to develop a strategic business case for and lead organisational change
- Enhanced understanding of different opportunities to embed sustainability across an organisation, from strategy and governance to operations
- Understanding of how to build coalition within and outside the organisation to drive sustainability-related change
Value Chains stream
- A robust knowledge of global social, environmental and economic trends and how business can catalyse wider system-level change
- Understanding of how to develop the strategic business case for embedding sustainability across value chains and markets
- New approaches, tools and techniques for developing resilient and sustainable value chains
- Insights on how to influence and engage customers, to shape the market context and embed sustainability across value chains
Finance stream
- A robust knowledge of global social, environmental and economic trends and how business can catalyse wider system-level change
- Enhanced understanding of sustainable frameworks that can help the financial sector deal with sustainability-related opportunities and risks
- Sustainable financial strategies and instruments across different markets, geography and firms
- Ideas to rethink financial systems to help them benefit environment, society as well as generate economic value
- Ways to develop the strategic business case for embedding sustainability across markets and organisations
- The perspectives of different stakeholders on sustainability and the skills to work with them to co-create additional value for yours and other businesses
- The ability to influence your organisation’s success through implementing sustainable finance strategies taking into account regulatory pressures, reporting framework and societal needs
Find out more about the PCSB Blended Curriculum options
Accreditation and progression options
Successful completion of the PCSB results in a Postgraduate Certificate awarded by the University of Cambridge. This carries 60 CATS points at Level M and is equivalent to one-third of a Master’s degree.
PCSB alumni who wish to continue their learning with CISL are welcome to apply for admission to the Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership via either of two routes:
- Continuous route: PCSB alumni are exempted from the first (of four) workshops and gain credit for the year 1 assignments.
- Flexible route: PCSB alumni can apply to continue to the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business. Thereafter, PG Dip alumni can apply to continue to the final stage to achieve the Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership. This route is longer in duration but has a less intensive workload compared to PCSB and the continuous route.
See here for more details on the differences between the two routes.