MSc Responsible Business and Sustainability Curriculum
The programme consists of 8 taught modules, with 4 modules in Michaelmas Term (September–December) and 4 modules in Hilary Term (January–April). The final Trinity Term (April–August) is dedicated to your dissertation. Assessment is through a blend of written examinations and continuous coursework.
| Module | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Business and the Natural Environment: Global Ecosystems and Planetary Boundaries | 10 |
| Evidence Based Research | 5 |
| Sustainable Corporate Governance and Inclusive Business | 10 |
| Innovation Strategy and Systems Thinking | 5 |
| Climate Action: the Essentials of Carbon Accounting and Life Cycle Assessment | 10 |
| Sustainability Reporting | 10 |
| Responsible Technology | 5 |
| Value Based Leadership | 5 |
| Dissertation | 30 |
Taught modules normally take place across Michaelmas and Hilary terms, with the final Trinity term dedicated to the dissertation or group consultancy project.
|
September-December Michaelmas Term |
January-April Hilary Term |
May-August Trinity Term |
Note: Modules offered each academic year are subject to change. The modules listed above and below are the modules and timetable for 2026/27.
Module Descriptions
Business and the Natural Environment: Global Ecosystems and Planetary Boundaries (10 ECTS)
Explore the relationship between business and the natural environment, with particular emphasis on the environmental dimension of corporate sustainability. The module introduces ecological principles, global sustainability frameworks and practical tools for understanding business dependencies and impacts on nature. You will examine ecosystem services, nature-related risks and opportunities, circular economy approaches and the nature-positive agenda, then apply these ideas to products, organisations, value chains and real environmental settings.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This module establishes the ecological foundations of responsible business. It complements the programme's social, governance, climate and reporting perspectives by helping you integrate environmental evidence into corporate decision-making and develop credible strategies for nature-positive business.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Explain and apply ecological concepts and environmental assessment tools in business contexts.
- Analyse business dependencies and impacts on nature and evaluate related risks and opportunities.
- Critically evaluate environmental, social, economic and business trade-offs in natural resource use.
- Apply nature-positive, circular economy and related sustainability frameworks to business challenges.
- Develop and communicate evidence-based recommendations for environmentally responsible business strategy.
Evidence-Based Research (5 ECTS)
Learn how to make better-informed organisational decisions by identifying the evidence needed to understand a business problem, evaluating existing evidence and collecting relevant new evidence. Using the Evidence-Based Management framework, the module shows how to turn decision problems into research questions, investigate causal explanations, review academic literature and assess methods for gathering empirical data.
How this fits your MSc journey:
Responsible business and sustainability decisions can have significant consequences for people, communities and the environment. This module enables you to test plausible claims rigorously, evaluate what works and design credible research. It also provides an essential foundation for the Research Dissertation or consultancy project.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Transform a decision-making problem into a research question that guides evidence collection.
- Identify and critically evaluate the different types of evidence needed to inform a decision.
- Extract relevant evidence through a structured review of academic literature.
- Assess the strengths and limitations of methods for collecting empirical evidence.
- Select the most suitable research method for a defined question and organisational context.
Sustainable Corporate Governance and Inclusive Business (10 ECTS)
Examine how organisations can respond to complex sustainability challenges through stakeholder-oriented governance and responsible management. Focusing on transnational business and global supply chains, the module covers stakeholder engagement and value creation, societal grand challenges, multi-stakeholder initiatives, sustainable sourcing, diversity and inclusion, and business and human rights.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This module broadens your understanding of the role of business in society beyond profit creation. It equips you to analyse governance challenges involving multiple interests and to design inclusive, responsible policies and practices across organisations, partnerships and supply chains.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Explain and apply key concepts and frameworks in sustainable corporate governance and inclusive business.
- Analyse multi-stakeholder governance, political corporate responsibility, wicked problems and stakeholder engagement.
- Evaluate sustainability and responsibility across supply chains and integrate these considerations into decision-making.
- Develop stakeholder-oriented responses to complex political and business challenges.
- Work effectively in diverse teams and communicate solutions to real-world governance issues.
Innovation Strategy and Systems Thinking (5 ECTS)
Discover how innovation strategy and systems thinking can support sustainability transitions in business. The module explores sustainable business innovation, critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving and systems approaches to complex economic, social and environmental challenges, including the development of nature-based and systemic solutions.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This module helps you look beyond isolated interventions and understand how organisations operate within interconnected systems. It develops the strategic and collaborative thinking needed to assess sustainable business models, engage stakeholders and contribute to large-scale change.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Describe key frameworks and concepts in sustainable business innovation strategy.
- Evaluate theories and approaches associated with systems thinking for sustainable development.
- Investigate how global economic, social and environmental pressures affect business.
- Assess how systems thinking and collaboration can generate sustainable solutions.
- Evaluate the roles of governments and other stakeholders in large-scale systemic change.
Climate Action: The Essentials of Carbon Accounting and Life Cycle Assessment (10 ECTS)
Build the knowledge and practical skills needed to support a progressive corporate climate action agenda. The module introduces carbon accounting, organisational emissions baselines, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, science-based targets, net zero, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and life cycle assessment. Applied activities, industry perspectives and case work connect these frameworks with real business decisions.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This module gives you the technical foundation to measure climate impacts and translate evidence into action. It connects closely with Sustainability Reporting and prepares you to contribute to carbon management, transition planning and climate-related decision-making in organisations.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Explain and apply core carbon accounting and life cycle assessment frameworks to real-world cases.
- Describe Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, science-based targets, net zero, climate justice and a just transition.
- Evaluate the climate action dimension of corporate sustainability and integrate it into policy and practice.
- Develop collaborative and responsible management responses to climate action challenges.
- Communicate climate analysis professionally and work effectively in diverse teams.
Sustainability Reporting (10 ECTS)
Explore why sustainability reporting has become central to corporate accountability and how organisations measure and disclose their environmental and social impacts. The module examines integrated reporting and the Six Capitals model, materiality, stakeholder relationships, performance indicators, major international standards and European Sustainability Reporting Standards. It also considers reporting quality, corporate impact and greenwashing.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This module develops the analytical and practical capability to assess sustainability performance and communicate it credibly. It connects climate, governance and environmental knowledge with the reporting expectations of regulators, investors and other stakeholders, supporting careers in sustainability, management and financial services.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Identify the steps and performance indicators required to create a sustainability report.
- Analyse an organisation's business model and stakeholders to determine material environmental and social issues.
- Compare and evaluate leading international sustainability reporting standards.
- Critique reporting for strategic focus, comparability, reliability, completeness and future orientation.
- Assess an organisation's impact in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Evidence-Based Research (5 ECTS)
Learn how to make better-informed organisational decisions by identifying the evidence needed to understand a business problem, evaluating existing evidence and collecting relevant new evidence. Using the Evidence-Based Management framework, the module shows how to turn decision problems into research questions, investigate causal explanations, review academic literature and assess methods for gathering empirical data.
How this fits your MSc journey:
Responsible business and sustainability decisions can have significant consequences for people, communities and the environment. This module enables you to test plausible claims rigorously, evaluate what works and design credible research. It also provides an essential foundation for the Research Dissertation or consultancy project.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Transform a decision-making problem into a research question that guides evidence collection.
- Identify and critically evaluate the different types of evidence needed to inform a decision.
- Extract relevant evidence through a structured review of academic literature.
- Assess the strengths and limitations of methods for collecting empirical evidence.
- Select the most suitable research method for a defined question and organisational context.
Values-Based Leadership (5 ECTS)
Learn how responsible leaders diagnose, mobilise and implement organisational change in pursuit of sustainable and socially responsible outcomes. Through applied cases, the module examines motivation, organisational alignment, leadership style, culture, team dynamics, cross-functional collaboration, national culture, innovation and organisational design. You will learn to identify resistance and design integrated interventions that connect strategy, people, structures, processes and culture.
How this fits your MSc journey:
Sustainability ambitions only create impact when organisations can translate them into practice. This module develops the leadership and organisational judgement required to deliver sustainable, inclusive and socially responsible change across complex business, public and non-profit settings.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Analyse organisational change using relevant leadership, change and organisational behaviour frameworks.
- Diagnose alignment and misalignment between strategy, work, people, structure, culture and leadership.
- Evaluate how motivation, leadership, culture and team dynamics shape responsible change.
- Assess the role of collaboration and cultural intelligence across complex organisational contexts.
- Design and recommend integrated, evidence-based interventions for sustainable and inclusive change.
Dissertation (30 ECTS)
Complete the capstone of the MSc through either an individual research dissertation or a group student consultancy project. The dissertation pathway involves an in-depth investigation of a responsible business or sustainability issue, grounded in academic literature and rigorous research methods. The consultancy pathway allows a team to address a live challenge for a business, civil society body or public organisation and translate academic knowledge into actionable insight.
How this fits your MSc journey:
This mandatory module brings together learning from across the programme. It enables you to pursue a specialist interest, strengthen independent research and project skills, or gain experience of collaborative consultancy on a real organisational sustainability challenge.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Define a focused research question and position it within the wider field.
- Critically evaluate published research and its relevance to the selected question.
- Explain and justify the theoretical concepts and research methods used.
- Collect, evaluate, describe and analyse relevant data rigorously.
- Present a coherent evidence-based argument, analysis and conclusion in a clear professional style.