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Lead credible climate and ESG transformation
Online or on campus
Sustainability leadership requires scientific literacy, rigorous measurement and organisational change skill. This MSc develops executives and analysts who can set material ESG strategies, build credible reporting and disclosure systems, and implement transitions without greenwashing. You will cover climate and planetary systems for decision-makers, ESG reporting standards, sustainable finance, circular supply chains and just transition issues. Capstones produce board-ready ESG strategies with data, governance and assurance plans. MSc Sustainability & ESG Management is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 18 months, and the credit total is 36. Students move from Climate Science, Planetary Boundaries & Systems through Climate Science, Planetary Boundaries & Systems; ESG Strategy, Materiality & Stakeholder Governance; Sustainability Accounting & Reporting Standards; Research Methods for Sustainability Projects; Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing & Transition Risk; Circular Economy, Supply Chains & Scope 3, and finish on MSc ESG Capstone Strategy Project. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses. Reading is a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. The artefact a marker expects is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Set materiality-based ESG strategies linked to enterprise value Prepare sustainability disclosures with assurance readiness Assess transition and physical climate risk for decisions Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Complements the MSc Renewable Energy Engineering for students focused on corporate strategy rather than pure energy engineering. References ISSB, GRI, CSRD-style disclosure expectations and transition risk concepts used by investors.
Faculty spotlight
Environmental economics and climate policy faculty co-teach with practitioners from sustainability consulting and corporate ESG offices.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study.
On-campus study
Prefer to learn at our Edinburgh campus? Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged. The published campus price is on each programme page.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| ESG501 | Climate Science, Planetary Boundaries & Systems Climate Science, Planetary Boundaries & Systems (ESG501) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Climate Science, Planetary Boundaries & Systems as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG502 | ESG Strategy, Materiality & Stakeholder Governance ESG Strategy, Materiality & Stakeholder Governance (ESG502) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using ESG Strategy, Materiality & Stakeholder Governance as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG503 | Sustainability Accounting & Reporting Standards Sustainability Accounting & Reporting Standards (ESG503) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Sustainability Accounting & Reporting Standards as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG504 | Research Methods for Sustainability Projects Research Methods for Sustainability Projects (ESG504) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Research Methods for Sustainability Projects as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| ESG505 | Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing & Transition Risk Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing & Transition Risk (ESG505) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing & Transition Risk as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG506 | Circular Economy, Supply Chains & Scope 3 Circular Economy, Supply Chains & Scope 3 (ESG506) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Circular Economy, Supply Chains & Scope 3 as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG507 | Environmental Law, Regulation & Global Policy Environmental Law, Regulation & Global Policy (ESG507) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Environmental Law, Regulation & Global Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG508 | Social Sustainability, Human Rights & Just Transition Social Sustainability, Human Rights & Just Transition (ESG508) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Social Sustainability, Human Rights & Just Transition as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| ESG601 | Change Leadership for Net-Zero Transitions Change Leadership for Net-Zero Transitions (ESG601) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Change Leadership for Net-Zero Transitions as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG602 | ESG Data, Assurance & Greenwashing Risk ESG Data, Assurance & Greenwashing Risk (ESG602) is a 3-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can map one named system, write a threat model, and specify the controls that would stop the most likely path, using ESG Data, Assurance & Greenwashing Risk as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses control catalogues, incident write-ups, and a short technical standard. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a defensive design with a test plan and a statement of residual risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 3 · 30 h |
| ESG603 | MSc ESG Capstone Strategy Project MSc ESG Capstone Strategy Project (ESG603) is a 6-credit course on MSc Sustainability & ESG Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using MSc ESG Capstone Strategy Project as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.
| 6 · 60 h |
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 18 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Brigant. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. University of Brigant publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@brigant.uk.
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