MSc Global Business & Sustainability

Climate change, social inequality and environmental degradation are among the most important grand societal challenges of our time. Business is heavily impacted, but it is also uniquely positioned: it can invest in solutions, implement innovations and scale up enterprises, all while seeking the right partnerships with NGOs and governments. This master programme places you in the middle of this crucial endeavour, and further empowers you as a young professional that can positively impact the state of the world.

Along with other sustainability-minded students, and with educators from a range of disciplines you will investigate how to successfully embed sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. We will challenge you to use transformational paradigms and leading academic insights aimed at creating companies that are regenerative, circular, resilient and fit for the future. You will gain analytical skills to unlock complex social and environmental challenges, and create business solutions that address root causes of grand challenges and achieve net-positive success.

  • 181 average number of students in cohort
  • 40% international students in programme
  • 79% of graduates employed within 3 months after graduation
  • Examples of industries where graduates work: sustainability, consulting, energy
  • Examples of graduates’ job titles: sustainability manager, ESG analyst, sustainability consultant

Programme highlights

  • Real business challenges in class and in-company

    Engage with organisations seeking to develop innovative strategies and sustainable business models to address today’s grand societal challenges. You’ll bring theory from top research into practice as you combine and research new knowledge and ideas to advise organisations on sustainable, ethical and responsible solutions.

  • Core transferable skills

    Learn not only strong analytical and problem-solving skills, but also personal development skills through dynamic in-class discussions, small seminar groups, open-ended assignments and running business cases and simulations, so you can further grow into an impact-focused young sustainability professional.

  • Top-ranked for sustainability

    We are grateful to have been ranked – since 2019 – as number 1 in the only global CSR master ranking of its kind. RSM and GBS are also consistently top-rated for ground-breaking education and research in university rankings, including the Financial Times, the Shanghai ranking, and national student satisfaction surveys.

  • Unique, sustainability-minded community

    Our students tend to be open-minded, critical, progressive, empathic, passionate people, poised to join our large alumni network of change makers in companies, governments and NGOs. Our active study association and teachers dedicated to educating tomorrow’s sustainability leaders contribute to a strong sense of community.

More about the programme

Hear from our current students

It can be difficult for organisations to do business without harming the environment or society at large. RSM stands for high-quality education which will challenge you from time to time, but you will also get rewarded for all your hard work. This master – which is not offered by many universities – gives you an advantage compared to other graduates because of the combination of knowledge and skills in business and sustainability. Future employers are really looking for people like this to help their company thrive and become resilient for the future.

Jaimy Adriaanse (MSc Global Business & Sustainability 2020)

Jaimy Adriaanse

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