Prepare to lead business in tackling current and future sustainability challenges and help create a sustainable and just future.
Year of entry: 2024 (September)
Show year of entry: 2023
Applications open 25 September 2023.
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Upcoming eventsBusiness is a crucial agent for change. Instead of the origin of sustainability problems, it can be the initiator of innovation and lead on solutions to the pressing problems of our time.
The planet is currently facing unprecedented social, economic and environmental challenges. It is clear that 'business as usual' is no longer an option if we want to move onto a more sustainable and resilient path. Business is an important agent for change towards sustainability. Instead of the origin of sustainability problems, it can become the initiator and leader of sustainability innovations and solutions in order to help facilitate a sustainable and just future. This programme, from a prestigious Russell Group University, has been developed to ensure graduates are equipped to meet a growing demand for employees and researchers who can successfully take on the challenge of leading sustainability initiatives in a business setting and work with societal actors, local communities and the government to achieve positive societal and environmental outcomes.
Our solutions and problem-based learning (PBL) and research-led approaches to teaching mean you'll develop expertise in independent and critical thinking. Opportunities to undertake projects with external organisations allow you to apply your skills to real-world problems. Dedicated placement, employability and careers support will be available with this degree to facilitate these opportunities and provide ongoing careers guidance.
On graduation, you'll be well-placed for roles in internationally oriented companies, public institutions or (non-governmental) organisations that are committed to international agreements and strive for sustainability.
This course is taught in English at our campus in York.
The course runs on semesters from 18 September 2023 to 6 September 2024.
Modern, dynamic learning that ensures you experience and understand concepts in practical, social and theoretical contexts
We believe that universities should have a positive impact at a local, national and global level
We've improved our ranking to become a top 15 research department, and our research is ranked joint second in the UK for impact, according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
The course structure will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake an independent academic or applied sustainable business project. You'll gain multidisciplinary knowledge, including business functions and theories of organisational, sustainability (environmental, social and economic) and justice (social, environmental).
You'll develop skills in project design and implementation. You'll learn how to design and implement effective change management strategies including how to assess, improve and monitor the sustainability of an organisation. Through the group project you'll gain the experience of collaboration with an external organisation committed to sustainable business.
The programme has four streams or specialist pathways which allow you to tailor your degree to your personal or employment interests. Students have the choice of following one of these streams by undertaking the corresponding optional modules or conversely selecting modules from different streams if they so wish. The four streams are:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
In the Summer Term you'll initiate, design, and implement a substantial research project. You'll have three to four months to complete a dissertation based on your original research.
You can choose to focus your research on any topic related to sustainability that interests you. It could be a chance to explore a previous topic in greater depth, or investigate an organisational challenge in an industry close to your heart.
You'll work under the guidance of a personal supervisor with expertise in the subject you're studying. Your supervisor will help you develop research questions and identify methods and theories to investigate and analyse your topic.
You have the option to undertake your project through placement with an external organisation in the UK or further afield. If you choose a placement, you will be supported by a dedicated Industry Liaison Officer (ILO).
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
If you are interested in the exchange option, you should consider the implications for:
Travel and accommodation for the conference will be covered.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Throughout the course, there is a strong focus on project work and developing your change management skills.
The two semesters are taken up by taught modules. Programme teaching comprises a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops taught face to face as well as independent group work and private study.
At the start of the group project, you'll select a broad project idea from a list compiled in collaboration with business partners.
To support project development and implementation, you'll have two-hour workshops in the first two weeks of the module and 2-hr group meetings with staff alongside separate 1-hour weekly meetings with business partners.
For your independent project, you'll have regular one-hour meetings with the academic supervisor and business partner (if undertaken as placement).
Our state-of-the-art building contains purpose-built labs, lecture theatre and seminar rooms.
You will be based in the Department of Environment and Geography on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
All the modules you take will be assessed, and we employ a variety of forms of assessment, including:
Your individual project will be assessed on a dissertation based on an assessed Dissertation Proposal completed in Semester 2.
On graduation, you'll be well-placed for roles in internationally oriented companies, public institutions or (non-governmental) organisations that are committed to international agreements and strive for sustainability.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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