MSc in Global Strategy & Sustainability
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
11 Jun 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
15 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 28,800 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* this programme operates a series of selection deadlines; first deadline: 12 October 2022; final deadline: 7 June 2023
** international including EU| GBP 19,100 for home
Introduction
As a society, we face urgent challenges from the impact of climate emergencies, environmental damage, and social inequality. There is a pressing need for organisations to transform their cultures, processes, and even business models. You will have the opportunity to learn about business and its impact explore how to build a humane, resilient future and align business mandates and missions with ethical responsibility.
Admissions
Curriculum
Semester 1
September–December
Compulsory courses
- Carbon Accounting
- Corporate Responsibility
- Responsible Management of Digital Innovation
- Strategising for Sustainability
- Sustainable Business Practice
- Sustainability in Context
Semester 2
January–May
Compulsory courses
- Sustainable Business Consultancy Projects
Option courses (Group 1) - Choose 1
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Qualitative Research Methods
Option courses (Group 2) - Choose 1
- Climate Change and Capital Markets
- Design Thinking (2): Practice
- Human Resource Management
- Mitigation Outcome Assessment
- Organising for Social Change
- Service Management
- Strategies for Internationalisation
- Strategy, Power & Politics: Navigating to Net Zero
- Sustainable Knowledge-based Business
Summer
May-August
Dissertation
- Dissertation (Global Strategy and Sustainability)
Program Outcome
The programme aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the theories, processes, behaviours and institutional forces affecting the environmental and social sustainability of organisations, and the role of strategy in affecting local and global outcomes. It will enable them to gain insight into the range of risks and opportunities facing all institutions in the transition to an equitable low-carbon economy.
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
- Critically and strategically assess existing understanding about a range of issues within the field of business and its systemic relationship to research-based knowledge of environmental sustainability and social impact.
- Critically and strategically assess the role of practices, processes, and policies in enabling organisational performance, sustainability, and equity.
- Critically and strategically assess the challenges and opportunities for developing and implementing these new practices, processes, and policies.
Graduate attributes
By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
- Critically apply theories and practices of strategy, sustainability, and equity within the context of global business.
- Search for, evaluate, and use information as the basis of effective knowledge assimilation and synthesis using appropriate quantitative or qualitative techniques.
- Respond positively and effectively to problems in unfamiliar contexts.
- Apply new ideas, methods, and ways of thinking.
- Engage with diverse stakeholder groups to deliver creative, sustainable, and equitable solutions to specific problems.
- Be able to communicate effectively in written and oral communications across a range of specialist and generalist genres.
- Possess skills and abilities in personal effectiveness to work effectively.
- Gain the necessary practical and technical skills required for creating, developing, and implementing a project related to environmental sustainability and social impact in the business context.
Scholarships and Funding
Applicants to the MSc in Global Strategy and Sustainability can apply for a range of scholarships both from the University and external organisations.
Programme and School scholarships
We are keen to recruit the very best talent from all over the world. To this end, several programme-based and School-funded Scholarships are available, as well as others which are generously sponsored by industry and alumni.
Other scholarships and funding
You may be eligible for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or an external organisation.
Accreditations
Career Opportunities
Career Development
Graduates from the University of Edinburgh are highly sought after globally. Our dedicated Student Development Team within the Business School will be an integral part of your student experience from day one. We are here to help you become equipped to maximise your potential in the global market.
Graduate Employment
The MSc in Global Strategy and Sustainability provides a unique opportunity for students. Students on the programme will have diverse educational backgrounds and work experience, and either want to pursue careers in a relevant field based on these backgrounds and incorporate sustainable and ethical strategic thinking or will want to pursue a career specifically in sustainability.
Examples of roles and areas of work include:
- Strategy and Sustainability Analyst or Consultant
- Business Consultant
- Sustainability and Environmental Manager or Officer
- Sustainability Programme Manager
- Sustainability Communications Consultant
- Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
- Community Development Manager
- Business Development Manager or Consultant
- Regulatory Affairs Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Human Resources Manager
- Investment Banking
- Project Management