MSc Sustainable Finance and Accounting University of Sussex Business School

Key information

• Duration: 1 year full-time
• Start date: September 2023
• Apply by: 1 August (International), 1 September (UK)

Environmental, social and governance issues are now major factors in investment. This creates rapid growth in accounting and finance careers with a specific focus on sustainability.

This MSc is designed in line with recommendations by major professional bodies, including the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI). On this course, you’ll:

• expand your skills in environmental accounting, corporate governance, and climate and green finance
• explore the role of accounting and finance in the growing integration of sustainability and accountability practices
• develop valuable skills, including breaking down complex problems, decision-making under uncertainty, intercultural communication and awareness of the business context.

You’ll be taught by world-class researchers and enthusiastic teachers in the University of Sussex Business School. Our research strengths are:

• corporate reporting and sustainability, governance and social responsibility
• climate finance
• energy policy.

Benefitting from the expertise at our SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore policies on sustainable development in the corporate world.

Accreditation

The University of Sussex Business School is accredited by EQUIS, the most comprehensive institutional accreditation system for business and management schools. Accreditation ensures rigorous quality control, benchmarking against international standards and is acknowledged worldwide.

The vision of our Business School is to drive innovation for social progress, supported by distinctive strengths in the areas of sustainability and climate change. PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education) accreditation has also been achieved by the School.

The course looks at the global nature of sustainability in the context of accounting and finance.

You’ll understand the role of accounting and finance in meeting the key challenges surrounding sustainability development goals, climate finance, environmental reporting and corporate governance. You’ll be prepared for rewarding and socially beneficial employment in sustainability-related accounting and finance roles.

As a graduate, you can pursue careers in a wide range of sectors. This could include roles in local and national government, NGOs, global organisations, business and industry, such as:

• ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) analyst, or transparency and ESG reporting manage
• sustainability reporting manager
• sustainable debt analyst or sustainable innovation associate.

This degree can also be helpful to get into research roles in climate finance or early career roles in sustainability management.

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

• Autumn teaching
• Accounting, Organisations and Society
• Global Business Environment
• Sustainability Accounting and Reporting
• Sustainable Development
• Spring teaching
• Accountability and Ethics
• Climate Finance
• Research Methods
• Summer teaching
• Research Project (Accounting and Finance)

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests.

• Business Finance
• Corporate Governance
• Ethics and Organisation: Responsibility and Justice
• Energy, Policy and Sustainability

• 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022)
• 1st in the UK for annual research income in 2020/21 (Chartered Association of Business Schools)
• 13th in the UK for Business and Economics (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022)