Program Overview

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Strategic Sustainability Management MSc

Overview

This online MSc Strategic Sustainability Management is relevant to people working in all sectors: private, public, and third. It focuses on strategic management, corporate sustainability, and environmental impact - crucial areas for any future-focused organisation.

Key Course Details

• Study options: Part-time: 2-3 years
• UK fee: £9,450 (2024/25) ‡
• International fee: £9,450 (2024/25) ‡
• Start dates: September, January, May
• Location: Online

The Highlights

• This online MSc Strategic Sustainability Management is relevant to people working in all sectors: private, public, and third.
• It focuses on strategic management, corporate sustainability, and environmental impact - crucial areas for any future-focused organisation.
• You will be encouraged to think creatively and test out your ideas and strategies by running a virtual business. This is known as business simulation.
• It’s a very flexible online MSc, which is delivered all year round, has a choice of start dates, and allows you to adjust the pace of your study.
• Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Lead Organisations Towards Sustainability

If your ambition is to lead organisations towards a more sustainable business model - or you are already starting to do so - this online MSc Strategic Sustainability Management will provide the knowledge and skills you need.

This course has never been more relevant. Scientists believe that the action we take within the next ten years will ultimately determine whether we can meet a key goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: to stop the planet’s average surface temperature from rising beyond 1.5-2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Organisations need to act now to start shifting towards a low or zero emission economy, and to look for developments that are climate resilient. This programme can help you become one of the changemakers.

What You Will Study

You can view the study plan for this online course.

The online Strategic Sustainability Management Masters programme comprises six core 20-credit modules with two optional 0-credit modules and a final independent study research project which is a triple module, worth 60 credits.

• Postgraduate certificate
• Postgraduate diploma
• Masters

Core Modules

• Strategy Formulation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Strategic Execution, Management and Leadership
• International Business Strategies

Optional Modules

• Career Coaching and Mentoring

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

1. Develop and justify an attractive entrepreneurial or change business idea using strategic tools/frameworks in the business environment
2. Critically evaluate the challenges facing organisations moving from start-up to growth stage of organisational development
3. Learn and use different tools, analytical approaches and frameworks utilised in generating strategic options, building dynamic capabilities and managing innovation and entrepreneurship.
4. Critically analyse the contemporary issues and opportunities available in the internal and external environment to formulate a business strategy that suits the needs and visions of an organisation.

How You Will Learn

This MSc is delivered entirely online through our user-friendly digital learning environment. You will interact with your tutors and fellow students through a mix of virtual live classrooms, tutorials and guest lectures. You will also have a go at managing a virtual company through our advanced business simulation platform.

You will use forums and community spaces for group discussions, and there are other collaborative tools for group projects and assignments, such as wikis. Digital texts, ebooks, journals, databases and more are available electronically via our library.

You will be taught by expert academics who are practising professionals too. They bring examples from the business world into their teaching, so the content is always current and topical.

There will be 1/2 virtual classrooms over the 10 week trimester and if you are unable to attend you will be able to download the session to view in your own time.

Supporting You to Succeed

If you are nervous about studying online or haven’t studied for a long time, don’t worry. Many of our students are the same at the beginning of their course, so we have put in place support to enable everyone to succeed.

Firstly, our IT Service Centre provides technical support 24 hours a day, so whichever time zone you're in, there will be help on hand. Then there’s our team of online learner advisors who can answer your non-academic questions, such as those about study plans, submitting assessments, deadlines, payments, loans or fees.

Finally, if you need support with your study skills, there are lots of resources available, including guides, audio-visual tutorials and webinars. These cover topics like: research skills, critical evaluation in an academic context, literature searches, referencing, plagiarism and more.

Pace of Study

The academic year is made up of three, ten-week terms, known as trimesters. We recommend doing about 20 hours of study each week to complete one 20-credit module over a trimester. If you want to complete the course faster, you can choose to take our accelerated study plan. For this, you will need to study two modules in one trimester, which would mean about 40 hours of study each week.

Think carefully before you choose the accelerated rate - it’s important that you have enough time to fully engage with your studies and produce the best work that you can. We often advise that you study one module at the standard rate before deciding whether to then increase to the accelerated rate.

Assessments

This course is assessed entirely through coursework. There will be ongoing assessment (known as ‘formative assessment’) through things like self-assessment, peer review, or feedback directly from your tutor. Then there will be assessments for each module that count towards your grades (‘summative assessments’), such as:

• Computer-aided tests
• Research projects
• Business reports
• Case study analyses
• Collaborative group work, and
• Reflective reports

These assessments will usually be about applying your learning to your own organisation or a case study organisation, or they may relate to your personal development.

The final assessment on the MSc is the independent study, a triple module worth 60 credits. This is a major research project applied to a workplace, or you may choose to produce an academic paper for publication. You will be supported by an academic supervisor who will guide you through this process towards your final submission.

Personal Development Planning (PDP) and Employability

Personal development planning (PDP) is embedded throughout this course. During your studies, you will be encouraged to reflect on your personal brand and consider areas for personal or professional development. You will have access to reflective self-assessment and personal diagnostic tools and a wealth of resources to help you reflect on your current competencies. In addition, personal tutoring, coaching and career development workshops, delivered by the University, ILM or IEMA, will all help you to create your individualised leadership and personal development plan.

To further enhance your employability, we have embedded two support modules into the programme:

• Transforming Personal Skills, and
• Career Coaching and Mentoring

These modules are designed to help you to reflect on your personal skills, strengths and weaknesses while aiding your long-term career planning and professional development.

Student Support and Guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employment Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

Who Will Teach You

• Dr Justin Okoli
• Dr Becky Rawson
• Dr Uchechukwu Okere

Careers

During this MSc in Strategic Sustainability Management, you will become a skilled and thoroughly modern strategic leader and manager, who puts sustainability at the heart of every decision you make. You will gain a deep understanding of corporate sustainability and environmental impact, and be able to formulate, manage and execute sustainable business strategies in innovative and creative ways. You will have also developed sought-after expertise in internationalisation and entrepreneurship / intrapreneurship.

This combination of knowledge and skills prepares you for strategic management roles in any size of organisation and within any sector.

If you are already in work, you will be able to apply knowledge learned on the programme directly into your workplace throughout the course, helping you to make a positive impact quickly. This will be rewarding on a personal level and will be of great value to your employer or to your own business.

If you want to continue studying after this MSc, you could progress onto a PhD, DBA or other research degree in the area of business management and leadership, or corporate sustainability and environmental management.

Entry Requirements

You should normally have a UK undergraduate degree (at least a 2:2) with honours in any business-related subject discipline, or an equivalent international qualification. Equivalent professional qualifications will also be considered for entry.

If you do not have the above required academic or professional qualifications but do have significant management experience and a substantial record of achievement, then we will also consider your application.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL may be available for you based upon past study and experience.

English Language Qualifications

If English is not your first language or you have not completed your undergraduate degree at a UK University, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

• IELTS 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each module)
• TOEFL 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based) or 80 (internet based)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate: Pass
• London Tests of English: we accept level 4 for postgraduate courses
• International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
• International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C
• ASE Proficiency: Pass

Fees and Funding

• 2024/25 for new entrants
  • Per 20 credits: £1,050
  • Modules: 7 (six 20-credit modules and one 60-credit module)
  • Cost: £9,450
• 2025/26 for new entrants
  • Per 20 credits: £1,080
  • Modules: 7 (six 20-credit modules and one 60-credit module)
  • Cost: £9,720

About Your Fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible Payment Plans Available

Choose from two payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying
• Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases

Masters Funding Options

Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to help with living costs and tuition fees whilst studying your masters programme.

If you are considering applying for a student loan, please also see our additional guidance on Loans for Online Students.

Alumni Discount for Derby Graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

How to Apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.

Documents to Support Your Application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

• Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
• Current CV
• Written reference supplied on headed paper from either a manager, supervisor, tutor or teacher
• Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
• The translator’s contact details

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.