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Business at UEA
Find out more about studying Business at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Sustainable Business Management with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Top 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Sustainability was once treated separately, but future organisational success depends on embedding it at the heart of business decisions.
Our MSc Sustainable Business Management with a Placement Year combines expertise from Norwich Business School and the School of Environmental Sciences to prepare you for sustainability careers.
You’ll learn how businesses can integrate sustainability into strategy, operations, and decision-making to deliver long-term environmental and economic value. By combining environmental science with management and organisational decision-making, the course equips you to address sustainability challenges across sectors. You’ll explore how organisations respond to climate change, resource pressures, and social responsibility while remaining competitive and resilient.
Building on UEA’s international reputation for sustainability, the programme applies theory to real world challenges through case studies and applied projects. You’ll develop practical skills in sustainable strategy, responsible leadership, and organisational change, preparing you for impactful professional roles.
Our graduates go on to successful careers in sustainability consulting, corporate sustainability leadership, green finance, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
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Placement Year
Gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your Master's degree. Your placement year forms a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in your second year.
During the first semester of year two, you'll continue your employability development programme while focusing on securing an industry placement.
You'll typically complete an eight to ten-month placement with a UK organisation. Throughout the process, you'll receive tailored support from the University and our award-winning specialist placement partner, helping you maximise your chances of securing a paid role.
You'll receive comprehensive support throughout your studies to secure an industry placement in a relevant sector. To maximise your chances of success, you'll need to engage fully with your academic programme and make the most of the guidance provided by our specialist placement partner.
If you're unable to secure an industry placement, or don't meet the academic requirements for the placement route, you're guaranteed the opportunity to complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations through one of UEA's placement partners. These projects provide valuable real-world experience, allowing you to tackle live business challenges and apply your learning in a professional setting. Project opportunities are available in different formats to suit your preferences.
Whichever pathway you follow, you'll graduate with valuable, career-focused experience that strengthens your CV and prepares you for your future career.
Find out more about the Placement Year.
Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Sustainability Director or Senior Manager: embedding sustainability into organisational strategy and operations.
- Sustainability Consultant: advising businesses on climate strategy, responsible practices, and long-term resilience.
- Corporate Sustainability Manager: guiding organisations in responsible and ethical business practices.
- Green Finance Specialist: supporting sustainable investment and responsible financial decision-making.
- Sustainability Entrepreneur: launching ventures that address environmental and social challenges.
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
Graduates go on to succeed in diverse careers, including sustainability consulting, corporate sustainability leadership, green finance, and sustainable entrepreneurship. Some progress to PhD study and academic research.
You’ll continue to receive support from UEA’s Career Central team for up to three years after graduation. You can access one-to-one advice, attend careers events, and explore live vacancies, including paid graduate internships through the UEA Internship Programme.
Career Central also offers tailored support for disabled students who may need adjustments during recruitment or in the workplace.
Throughout the course, employability is a key focus, helping you build the skills, experience, and professional networks needed to launch your career.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll build a strong foundation in both business and sustainability.
You’ll then choose optional modules to tailor your studies towards environmental or business-focused topics, depending on your interests.
Optional topics include data analytics, environmental economics, responsible financial management, human resource management, and strategies for reaching net zero.
You’ll explore key themes such as responsible wealth creation and the sustainability challenges facing modern business leaders. You’ll also develop the skills needed to lead organisations in a rapidly changing and sustainability-focused global economy.
You’ll then choose either a dissertation or an industry-sponsored project. The dissertation allows you to investigate a sustainable business research topic in depth. The industry-sponsored project lets you work with a real organisation and address a practical sustainability challenge.
To prepare for your placement year, you'll complete a year-long Employability Skills module that equips you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in the UK workplace. Through CV and LinkedIn workshops, interview preparation, one-to-one coaching and mock interviews, you'll be supported at every stage of your placement journey.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis. To progress to your placement year, you'll need to attend at least 75% of the sessions and successfully complete the module.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you'll have the opportunity to complete an industry placement aligned with your area of study. During the first semester, you'll focus on securing your placement, supported by dedicated guidance from our specialist placement partner and six in-person workshops at UEA. If you're unable to secure an industry placement, you'll complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations, ensuring you still graduate with valuable practical experience.
At the end of your placement, you'll submit an assessment comprising a portfolio of your placement search activities and a reflective report on your placement experience. This gives you the opportunity to showcase the skills you've developed, reflect on your professional growth, and identify your future career goals. The assessment is completed on a pass/fail basis.
By the end of your placement year, you'll have built your career confidence, strengthened your CV and professional network, and gained valuable experience to support your next steps, whether you choose to build your career in the UK or internationally.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partners at UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,500
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International Students: £25,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.