From classroom to boardroom: lead in sustainable business.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsThe planet is currently facing unprecedented social, economic, and environmental challenges. Business is an important agent for change towards sustainability. It can be the start of innovation and lead to solutions for pressing problems of our time.
This degree is split between the universities of Maastricht and York. You'll spend semester one studying at Maastricht in the Netherlands and semester two studying in York. By studying for a dual degree, you'll get to experience life in another country, exposure to a different culture, and access to expertise in two internationally-recognised universities.
During the course, you'll learn how to lead sustainability initiatives in a business setting. You'll develop the skills to work with local communities and gain expertise in independent and critical thinking. With opportunities to work with external organisations, you'll apply your skills to real-world problems.
On graduation, you'll be well-placed for roles in internationally oriented companies, public institutions and organisations that strive for sustainability.
If you would like to study a similar high quality programme in a single location at the University of York and at lower cost, we encourage you to apply for the Sustainable Business: Leadership, Innovation and Management (MSc).
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).
Explore ideas of sustainability and sustainable development and develop skills and understanding to present creative solutions to current problems.
Our curriculum considers sustainability, management, leadership, and innovation to address current environmental challenges. During your studies, you'll learn about organisational theories, social and environmental justice, and the role of business in building sustainable futures.
You'll gain project management experience, and assess the risks and opportunities associated with sustainable change.
We'll help you expand your knowledge and appreciation of the scientific principles behind key environmental, economic, and social sustainability challenges.
Through our teaching, you'll develop skills in independent thinking and critical analysis. You'll also get hands-on experience working with external organizations, applying your knowledge to current issues.
Semester one
Core modules:
Optional modules
You will also study two option modules. Examples may include:
Semester two
Core modules:
Optional modules
You will also study two option modules. Examples may include:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll have the opportunity to work with experts from two prestigious departments on a research project. The project is framed as an academic article, allowing you to submit it for potential publication.
York: Dissertation
York: Dissertation with Placement
Maastricht: Maastricht: Thesis Research and Writing
You will complete a dissertation or dissertation with placement where you will apply skills gained from taught modules to the identification and solution of problems of sustainable business. You'll gain experience in conducting a piece of independent research with advice and guidance from an experienced researcher in the department, as well as external partner in the case of a placement.
Some of the recent topics of projects include the following:
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.
from the elements of this course based in Maastricht:
from the elements of this course based in York:
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 2025/26 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.
You’ll work with worldâleading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
The course is taught through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars alongside client meetings.
During your first semester at Maastricht you'll have access to the Tapijn Building; a former army barracks that has been recently restored to provide space for education and research as well as the 15th-century Nieuwenhof monastery, both of which house the School for Business and Economics. Maastricht is a multicultural city, rich in history with a thriving student community. Everything can be reached by bike. The city also has great transport links to get you to Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris in a short time.
During your second semester in York, you'll have access to the Department of Environment and Geography's Environment building containing purpose-built labs, lecture theatre and seminar rooms.
You'll also have access to the £1.3m Environmental Sustainability Academy at York (ESAY). ESAY brings together the environmental sustainability community at York which hosts a wide range of seminars and events aimed at furthering sustainability knowledge and understanding.
During your first semester you'll be studying at Maastricht university. During your second semester you'll be studying on our York campus.
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.
The programme incorporates a range of non-standard summative assessment types comprising of Change Management Plans, Participation and Contribution and Teamworking and Group Project Proposal. A Change Management Plan is a report explaining the implementation process surrounding a specific (in this case sustainability) change combining both academic and reflective prose. Participation and Contribution measures student engagement in seminars. Teamworking comprises a written summary of their input alongside their peers in the "Group Sustainable Business Project" module. The Group Project Proposal is a co-written proposal that frames the client project undertaken as part of the Group Sustainable Business Project.
As well as summative assessments you will also be assessed through report writing, exams, participation and engagement, and a final dissertation.
Dedicated placement support means you'll be able to make the most of the opportunities open to you. Upon completion of the program, you'll be ready for leadership roles in internationally oriented companies, public institutions or (non-governmental) organisations that strive for sustainability. On graduation, you will be prepared to make informed decisions to maximise societal and environmental benefits. Our careers and employability support extends after graduation, helping you to shape your career.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | High 2:1 or equivalent in any discipline or with relevant professional experience. Evidence of a completed thesis or dissertation is a requirement. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in Writing and no less than 6.5 in all other components |
| Cambridge CEFR | C1 Advanced: 185, with a minimum of 185 in Writing and no less than 176 in all other components |
| Oxford ELLT | 8, minimum of 8 in writing and no less than 7 in all other components |
| Duolingo | 130, minimum 130 in Production and 120 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | C1: 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 75 with a minimum of 75 in Writing and no less than 70 in all other components |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 495-526, with 495-526 in writing and 459-494 in all other components |
| Skills for English | C1: Pass overall, with Pass in each component |
| PTE Academic | 67, with a minimum of 67 in Writing and no less than 61 in all other components |
| TOEFL | 96 with a minimum of 24 in Writing and no less than 23 in all other components |
| Trinity ISE III | Level 3 with Distinction in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
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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