MBA Sustainable Business Futures with Placement Year
Learn how to lead sustainable transformation with innovative, responsible business strategies which deliver global impact and, as part of your studies, get the chance to undertake a placement.
Our London-based MBA Sustainable Business Futures with Placement Year degree prepares ambitious professionals to lead in an era where sustainability is critical to business success. Designed for those who want to shape the future of organisations, the programme develops adaptable, values-driven leaders equipped to embed environmental, economic, and social responsibility into core business strategy while delivering competitive advantage.
Through specialist modules covering sustainable strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship, ethics, ESG integration, and circular economy principles, students gain the skills to navigate complex global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Real-world consultancy projects and data-driven decision-making tools ensure graduates can translate sustainability insights into practical, high-impact solutions across sectors.
This degree includes the opportunity to enhance your employability - and elevate your career - with a placement year, working full-time for a company. It’s a chance for you to immerse yourself in an industry, apply your knowledge and put theory into practice. It should also help you develop your professional skills and assist you in starting to make industry connections. Graduates with work experience are highly sought after by employers and often secure higher-level positions.
Applied, and globally relevant, this MBA is ideal for students seeking to transition into sustainability-focused leadership roles. Join a programme that empowers you to drive meaningful change, unlock new opportunities, and lead organisations toward a more resilient and responsible future.
School
Location
Duration
2 years sandwich
Start month
September
Fees information
For fee information related to this course, please see fees section below
What you should know about this course
What you will study
Subject to validation
We continually develop new courses to reflect the needs of students, employers, and professional bodies. This course is currently subject to the final stage of our approval and validation process.
In the unlikely event that the course is not approved before the start date, we will help you find an alternative course.
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Ethics and Global Corporate Citizenship (15 credits)
- Strategic Management and Leadership (15 credits)
- International Data Analytics (15 credits)
- Financial Resource Management (15 credits)
- Marketing and Sales in the Future Economy (15 credits)
- Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation (15 credits)
- Responsibility for Sustainable Development (30 credits)
- Assessing Sustainable Development (30 credits)
- Business Consultancy Project (30 credits)
Year 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Work Based Project (60 credits)
About the course team
You will be taught and supported by an experienced teaching team from across the Executive Business Centre and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), bringing deep, practice-based expertise across business, sustainability, and policy. The team combines academic rigour with real-world insight, ensuring learning is informed by current industry practice and global sustainability challenges.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
An undergraduate (honours) degree at 2:2, or above.
Applicants without a degree that have a minimum of five years' relevant professional experience may be considered.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
Professional qualifications deemed to be of equivalent standing will be considered on an individual basis.
How you will learn
Teaching
The programme uses a blended, flipped-classroom approach to maximise flexibility, engagement, and practical learning. Core theories and frameworks are delivered through online mini-lectures, allowing students to learn at their own pace. These foundations are applied in small-group sessions using case studies, debates, and simulations, where students tackle real-world sustainability challenges and build practical leadership skills.
Class sizes
As a new programme - running for the first time from September 2026 - we are not able to indicate the likely class size at this stage.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you will need to dedicate time to self-study to prepare for coursework, presentations and exams. Our Stockwell Street library and online resources will support your further reading and research.
You can also join a range of student societies and engage with the United Nations PRME initiative at Greenwich
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of contact hours (lectures, seminars, etc), independent learning, and assessments. For full-time students, the workload should be roughly equivalent to a full-time job.
Assessment
Assessments on the MBA Sustainable Business Futures programme are designed to be engaging, rigorous, and closely aligned with real-world practice. Students are evaluated through a balanced mix of analytical essays and a wide range of practice-based, decision-making assessments that reflect the challenges faced by contemporary business leaders such as (but not limited to):
- Examinations
- Business Plan
- Development
- Life Cycle Assessments
- Supply Chain Analysis
- Practice Based Consultancy Projects
Feedback summary
University policy is to give feedback on assignments within 15 days.
Examination results will be available within 15 days.
Dates and timetables
Academic year:
- The academic year runs from September to June
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | £19,350 | N/A | N/A |
| International | £22,875 | N/A | N/A |
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
International Scholarship Award
International students who hold an offer to study at the University of Greenwich could receive a tuition fee discount worth up to £2,500 in their first year, for students from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria or Ghana.
International Scholarship Award
Greenwich Progression Bursary
£3,000 bursary for home fee paying University of Greenwich final year undergraduate students and Alumni.
EU Bursary
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, we are supporting new EU students by offering a substantial fee-reduction for studying.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Further costs may include (but are not limited to):
- Resources: you may need to purchase books for your studies. Our Stockwell Street library offers an extensive range of books for loan, as well as access to journals and digital resources.
- Software: computers on campus have access to software which is paid for by the university. However, students may wish to purchase a personal copy of any particular software they wish to use off-site.
- Memberships: applying for membership of a professional body may incur further costs. Find application costs on their websites.
- Field trips: you may need to contribute towards any trips required for your course.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
On this degree you will undertake, in your second year, a placement. The University will help as much as possible before and during your placement to ensure you make the most of this valuable experience but it is your responsibility to find - and secure - your placement.
The placement should help you to put into practice skills developed in communication, numeracy and problem-solving within a professional context, and to build your sense of business values and integrity.
How long is my placement?
Work placements are a minimum of 40 weeks and a maximum of 46 weeks of full-time paid work.
What are the financial arrangements?
Placements are usually paid at competitive rates for entry level roles in your chosen industry. The University will promote paid opportunities to you.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
The MBA Sustainable Business Futures is designed to position its graduates to pursue leadership and specialist roles across the private, public, and third sectors, including sustainability and ESG management, strategy and transformation, sustainability consulting, impact analysis, policy advisory roles, and social or sustainable entrepreneurship.
Do you provide employability services?
Our Business School Employability team is committed to supporting your journey towards a rewarding graduate destination. We provide a professional service to empower you to achieve your potential and offer support for two years after graduation. Services include:
- CV, cover letter, and application tips
- Interviews support
- Careers fairs
- Mentoring.
More about our careers services.
Accommodation
Greenwich
Living in halls of residence is a great way to make new friends and get into the social side of university life. With four great locations, all minutes away from the campus and the centre of historic Greenwich , you will be at the heart of one of the most beautiful university settings in the UK.
Rooms start at £146.30/wk and include Wi-Fi, utility bills, access to our on-campus gym and 24-hour security - and just a 10-minute train journey to central London. Students based at our Greenwich campus can also choose to live the Student Village at Avery Hill, which is only a short ride on our free shuttle bus.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
Access study skills support through your academic tutor, our subject librarians and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need support to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
We also offer a range of activities to support you throughout your studies, which include several workshops that support our students and provide useful information.
All students will also be assigned an academic tutor as the first point of contact for any academic queries.
Support from the department
At Greenwich Business School, you can access comprehensive support through our dedicated teams. The GBS Student Support team handles course-related matters via the Digital Student Centre.
Our Faculty Student Advisors (FSAs) provide pastoral and welfare support to first-year students.
Interested in starting your own business? Our Generator Team helps students start and grow businesses, The Generator also runs the Enterprise Challenge and #GreHacks competition annually.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate courses or check our related courses below.....
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