MSc Sustainable and Ethical Business Management Block Delivery

Overview

The highlights

• Designed specifically for the global corporate market, this master’s degree is for mid-level to senior business professionals. It’s a seminar-led programme which combines know-how from business experts with leading-edge research from across many disciplines
• Become a Sustainability leader in your organisation. Learn how to manage your entire operation through an integrated sustainability, ethical and responsible lens
• This is not about greenwashing or tokenism. We’ll look at all key aspects of your business — strategy, leadership, the workforce, operations, marketing, finance and accounting, — so that you learn how to realign all aspects of your business in response to the environmental, social and economic global crises
• You will apply everything to your own organisation through work-based learning, and you will also be challenged to look critically at your own behaviours, development and lifestyle
• This course is aligned to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a United Nations-supported initiative. This means it equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a responsible leader, capable of balancing economic and sustainability goals — specifically, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Change how the world does business

This master’s in Sustainable and Ethical Business Management is your opportunity to play a part in changing the way the world does business, forever. We need people who believe in putting purpose and deeper values at the heart of business; people who want to lead businesses and teams that create environmental and social value, as well as economic value.

We’re looking for senior professionals with the mandate to lead on change within their company — you might head up the sustainability agenda, be a business owner or director, or you might manage a specific function such as operations, HR, finance or marketing. Ethics and sustainability are global issues which require global solutions, so this programme has been designed to suit learners from any country.

Derby is the first UK city to sign up to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their Global Compact Cities Programme, so by studying here you will be surrounded by sustainability pioneers.

The urgent need for this programme

There is now widespread consensus that we are approaching a converging global crisis in terms of climate change, reduction of biological diversity and habitat destruction. 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 keep the planet’s average surface temperature from rising beyond 1.5–2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Governments, businesses and individuals 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.

In addition to the environmental crisis we are facing, the ethics of some business practices has been called into question regularly over the last two decades — think of the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, and the recent furore over poor working conditions and pay in Boohoo’s factories, to name just a few.

High profile cases such as these have led to corporate governance becoming a key strategic issue in the last 20 years and to new legislation being created, such as the Modern Day Slavery Act 2015.

Most recently, the Coronavirus pandemic has further exposed the huge inequalities in our society, and forced us all to reassess our priorities. It’s led to mass behaviour change at a scale and speed that hasn’t been seen before, proving just what is possible when governments and communities put their minds to it.

Key areas of content

What is unique about this programme is that it looks at the core aspects of managing an ethical business in a way that is socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. So you will learn how for example to reposition your business to take into account environmental and social considerations such as reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and integrating the UN SDGs within your business strategy.

You will look closely at specific topics, such as:

• the case for sustainable and ethical business practices
• purpose and value-driven organisations
• sustainable business models and responsible strategy
• what makes a responsible leader and how to strengthen your personal leadership
• tools for driving sustainable and ethical systems change
• ethical and sustainable operations and marketing
• green innovation and design
• carbon reduction methodologies and carbon literacy
• ethical consumerism and responsible consumption
• greener financial management
• triple bottom line reporting and beyond
• managing your workforce and employees’ wellbeing more sustainably
• strategies to embed CSR and wellbeing management within your organisation.

You will also consider some of the psychological barriers we need to overcome to move towards more sustainable and ethical business, such as:

• How can you legitimately address global environmental and social values while maintaining a viable business?
• How do you shift from fear and survival thinking into creative thinking in the face of crisis?
• How do you make long-term decisions in short-term crises?
• Where do you draw strength from as a leader when advocating and leading on responsible change?

You’ll emerge from the programme with a sustainability mindset, a clear understanding of the concept of being a global citizen, and the skills and knowledge to persuade and lead others to make a significant change.

The programme structure is comprised of the following modules:

The course will typically involve around four to five days of face-to-face teaching per 20-credit module, which will be delivered in blocks.

In addition, each module will require 10 weeks of directed study, during which you can get support from your tutor as needed, as well as a range of online materials, including professional journals and e-books.

Work-based learning is also a key aspect of this programme, so you will undertake real work-based projects and be asked to apply what you are learning to your own organisation and role.

Although you will learn online, there will still be a strong focus on collaborative learning including group work. Think of your fellow students as co-developers of knowledge!

You will also have opportunities to get involved in virtual events run by our research centres and networks such as the Low Carbon Business Network and PRME network.

You will be assessed by coursework, which could take various forms, such as:

• Practical projects focused on workplaces issues
• Research investigations into practice
• Management and technical reports
• Annotated presentations
• Reflective portfolios or collections of work completed through the course of the programme
• Assessment based on simulations and case studies
• Problem solving and scenario tasks
• Varied writing tasks and oral assessment
• Practical assessment of professional competence
• Professional discussions.

In the final stage of the course, you will need to complete an independent study worth 60 credits (a third of the total number of credits). This gives you two options, firstly an Independent Study to address a sustainable leadership or responsible management problem or secondly to prepare a Journal Article on a particular aspect of ethical or sustainable business.

Please note: the course is majority online but there may be options for residentials in Derby.

Powering your potential, wherever you’re starting from.

We partner with the University of Derby because of their strong track record in delivering career-focused education underpinned by real-world impact. Like us, Derby believes education should transform lives and meet the changing needs of students, professionals, and industries alike.

The University of Derby is a modern, career-focused university located in the heart of England. Known for its supportive community, cutting-edge research, and real-world teaching, Derby has earned a reputation for delivering education that makes a difference.

Why choose Derby?

• Top 5 in the UK for Employability – Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025
• Top 5 for Course Quality – Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025
• Top 15 UK University – Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025
• 96% of Graduates in Work or Further Study – Latest HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey
• Top 25 in the UK for Overall Student Satisfaction – Complete University Guide 2025

Postgraduate excellence

A postgraduate qualification from Derby is more than a degree – it’s an investment in your potential. With flexible study options, including online and block delivery, you can shape your learning to fit your life. You’ll benefit from:

• Top 10 in the UK for Postgraduate Study – Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024
• Top 15 for Teaching and Skills Development – Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024
• World-leading academics driving research in critical areas such as sustainability, AI, and zero carbon
• Strong industry links and professional body accreditations
• Real-world projects and practical learning

A welcoming, student-friendly city

Derby is a vibrant, diverse, and safe city, officially recognised with Purple Flag status. Rich in history and full of places to relax, explore and connect, it’s a place where you’ll quickly feel at home.

International community

Join over 2,000 international students from more than 100 countries who have chosen Derby as their academic home.

Your story starts here. Apply today, and let Derby be the launchpad for your next chapter.

You should normally have a good honours degree (minimum 2:2) in any discipline, or an equivalent level qualification, together with a minimum of three years’ work experience in a mid-level or senior management role that is relevant to the outcomes of the programme.

However, we will also consider your application if you have:

• A minimum of three years’ work experience in a mid-level or senior management role that enables you to engage at the required level.

You must be able to demonstrate you have effective communication and learning skills and the motivation to succeed.

If English is not your first language, we will need to see that you have English language capability of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

The Programme Leader, supported by a panel of staff, will review all applicants. Typically, we will review what relevant qualifications and/or work experience you have, the applicability of the programme to your job role, or career development opportunities and access to appropriate learning opportunities within your organisation. To help us conduct this review, you will be asked to attend a virtual interview and provide a letter of endorsement from your employer.

When submitting your application, please ensure it is complete, with all the relevant documents requested in the application form. Please send your CV to the Illuminare Executive Education team who will be able to guide you through the application and enrolment process: clientservices@illuminare-executiveeducation.com

To enquire and apply please complete the form and upload your CV (preferably as a PDF). Our application team will then check your eligibility for this course.