Management (Sustainable Leadership) MSc
About this course
Our Masters in Management courses will help you shape your leadership and management skills to become an effective manager, able to operate in dynamic and complex organisational environments. You will gain an excellent understanding of the core subjects, enabling you to put to theory and contemporary thinking into practice.
The MSc Management (Sustainable Leadership) award prepares you for a specialist management role in sustainability, for example: social value, carbon management, business development, environmental advisory, and community liaison, through the study of sustainability transitions, climate solutions for net zero, social value and environmental and social governance, and contemporary management studies.
Throughout this course you will apply your learning into real world practice. With the opportunity to use your skills in a real-world setting, you can choose from completing a consultancy experience project, an in-company experience project or a business research project.
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This degree is for aspiring leaders without a business background or for those with qualifications seeking career advancement. -
Each student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NBS. -
NBS is part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to have EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditation. -
At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want.
What you’ll study
At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want. At any one time, two core modules will be delivered in parallel over a four week period, with teaching delivered in three weeks and the fourth week left clear for assessment work. This allows time for preparation and assessment work. In addition, you will study Professional Practice (in term one) and Responsible and Sustainable Management (in term two) over seven to ten weeks. This enables you to focus on the core subjects, whilst building your ongoing personal and professional development portfolio.
Semester one modules
- Managing Organisations and Organisational Behaviour
- Operations Management Fundamentals
- Finance for Managers
- Marketing Fundamentals
- Strategic Management
- Data and Decision Making for Managers
Semester two modules
- Sustainability Transitions
- Climate Solutions for a Net Zero Future
- Social Value and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance
- Contemporary Management Studies
- Responsible and Sustainable Management
- Understanding Business in the Global Context
- Managing People in a Global Context
Semester three modules
Your choice of final semester project. Experiential projects include:
- Consultancy Experience Project; or
- Business Research Project
Module for those undertaking the 2 year course
- Placement Diploma in Industrial Experience
Semester one
Managing organisations and organisational behaviour - 10 credits
This module takes a multi-disciplinary approach to developing knowledge, insights, and skills relevant to managing organisations and organisational behaviour. The purpose of the module is to introduce you to the foundations of management, developing an understanding of the role of management and leadership in the 21st century and considerations of different approaches to management and leadership in organisations. The module will offer an introduction to the core concepts of organisational behaviour, emphasising importance of equality, diversity and inclusion and working in teams in the contemporary workplace together with key conceptual frameworks such as the psychological contract, which helps explore worker motivation and commitment.
Operations Management Fundamentals - 10 credits
This module helps you to gain conceptual, analytical, and practical insights into the effective management of operations in both the manufacturing and the service industries. The module will provide a foundation for understanding the key principles and practices of operations management and how they apply to real-world business situations. There are case studies and real-world examples throughout the module to help with the application of theoretical concepts to practical situations.
Finance for Managers - 10 credits
This module is designed to support you in critically evaluating internal and external financial information and to use this to appraise corporate performance and strategy. Specifically, you will gain a general understanding of financial theories, concepts, tools and techniques that help and support financial decision making; and, demonstrate an understanding of, and the specialised skills to enable you to carry out, corporate analyses.
Marketing Fundamentals - 10 credits
This module offers an introduction to the fundamentals and key principles of marketing. The module focuses on reflecting critically on the nature of marketing and its role in understanding, responding to and creating customer needs; fostering a heightened critical awareness of both the extent of marketing’s scope and key contemporary marketing issues; to explore the complexity of the marketing environment and develop knowledge and understanding of the implications of external and internal factors on marketing decision making; and, to apply appropriate academic theories, frameworks, models and tools in order to develop suitable marketing responses to organisational problems.
Strategic Management - 10 credits
The challenge of strategic management is to be able to understand the complex issues facing organisations and then develop the capability for long-term organisational success. The module aims to develop an understanding of what strategy is, why it is needed, and the analysis organisations use to try to put strategy into practice; and to identify and analyse the factors that influence, and indeed may determine, an organisation’s strategic position and direction.
Data and Decision Making for Managers - 10 credits
The purpose of this module is to introduce the way that digitalisation impacts and is impacted by management in the 21st century. The module helps to develop an understanding of the scope and depth of the use of technology as part of the management function, whilst exploring its creative possibilities in supporting managers make better informed decisions and supporting leaders in identifying and realising organisational goals. It will include an introduction to the way that technology is used to support decisions making, new developments in technology and the ethical dimensions of information use in organisations.
Semester two
Sustainability transitions - 10 credits
This module is designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the complexities of sustainability transitions, their implications for management practice, and an insight into the policies and strategies made by multiple stakeholders within their ecosystems. The focus is on examining the actions and interactions of key stakeholders through the theoretical lenses of multi-stakeholder ecosystems, complex adaptive systems, networks, and organisational fields. The aim of the module is to develop an understanding of the changes taking place in the global economy in light of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and support future decision-makers to formulate strategies and implement the necessary changes required to achieve transitions to sustainability.
Climate Solutions for a Net Zero Future - 10 credits
This module builds on the ever-increasing awareness of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to control climate change (i.e. reduce global warming) and to transition to a low-carbon society. The main aim of this module is to develop climate literacy and climate leadership, and improve understanding of how to embed high-impact climate solutions in organisations.
Social Value and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance - 10 credits
This module develops knowledge, skills and understanding of the key concepts and practical tools relevant for co-creation and analysis of (i) Social Value, and (ii) Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG). The module aims are to develop and share critical knowledge and understanding of theories and conceptual frameworks relevant to social value and ESG nationally and internationally; and to develop skills to critically evaluate data on social value and ESG within different types of organisations through practising the application of different frameworks, tools and techniques to inform managerial decision-making in considering, co-creating, and reporting on social value and ESG.
Contemporary Management Studies - 10 credits
This module considers a range of contemporary issues and introduces different academic lenses to critique what management is about, and what it is to be a manager. At the core of the module is Systems Theory which aims to provide a rich and thoughtful framework to explore the different aspects of management.
Responsible and Sustainable Management - 10 credits
The purpose of this module is to develop the insights, capacities and skills to create and maintain responsible and sustainable business practices. The main aims of the module are to create sustainable mind-sets; develop an understanding of the interface between ethics, CSR corporate governance and integrated sustainability; foster a critical understanding of values, ethical decision making and responsible stakeholder management; and, cultivate a multidisciplinary insights into the requirements of socially responsible business operations across the value chain.
Understanding Business in the Global Context - 10 credits
You will understand how businesses operate internationally by undertaking a UK-based study incorporating company visits, or virtually using a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) approach with students from an international host institution. The module aims to develop a critical understanding of the complexity of operating as a contemporary manager in a global context. The international focus of this module will support an appreciation of the challenges different environments generate to business, individuals and societies.
Managing People in a Global Context - 10 credits
This module takes a multi-disciplinary approach to develop knowledge, insights, and skills relevant to the management and leadership of people in a global context. At the heart of the module sits ideas around cross-cultural working, facilitated by modern technology and virtual teamwork, and hence the module helps you to develop digital skills as well as soft skills required for managing people in the contemporary workplace. The module takes a practice based approach, thus facilitating learning in a real world context.
Semester three
In your final semester you'll take on a experiential project, giving you a fantastic opportunity to use the theories and knowledge you've gained to produce a challenging, meaningful piece of work. Projects include:
Consultancy Experience Project (40 credits)
Working as part of a team, you will undertake focused research, developing your professional skills, applying theory and skills you have learnt during your course to manage a complex project and deliver results in a real business situation. You will learn and apply valuable project management tools and concepts whilst exploring the requirements of an effective consultancy team and assessment expectations.
At the end of the project, you will present your findings to the client and will be required to reflect on your personal development. This is undertaken in the form of secondary research around a focused topic.
Business Research Project (40 credits)
This project is a more traditional piece of independent research, creating an academic research paper, presentation and methodological reflection. Because we believe experiential learning is so important, this project is only available to students with significant prior work experience or a desire to progress to a PhD. For more information about semester three options please visit our Experiential Projects page.
Ongoing learning
Throughout the year you will also study the following modules which will help you understand how to manage your own continuous personal and professional development (PPD).
Professional Practice (10 credits)
The purpose of the module is to increase your understanding of your own personal and professional development needs to enhance your business acumen and improve your employability. The module utilises a series of taught sessions to help you explore the human side of enterprise and deploys a series of diagnostics tests to help you evaluate yourself and develop an individual action plan. It will combine teaching with individual and group mentoring to help you execute your plan.
The module also promotes engagement with internal and external workshops, lectures, experiential learning opportunities and extra-curricular events to help you expand your knowledge and skills, whilst challenging your attitudes and behaviours. You will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of continuous professional development from the perspective of relevant professional bodies.
Professional Development
Beyond your core curriculum and comprehensive career support, you'll have access to a vibrant CPD programme. This includes your Personal Development Week, Global Responsibility Week, and events and workshops including our Business Leaders’ Lecture Series. You'll also have the chance to participate in national and international business challenges, industry talks, field trips, and company visits. We encourage you to get involved in sports, clubs, societies, volunteering, and apply for roles like course rep or student ambassador. These opportunities are designed to enhance your experience, help you thrive in the job market, and support your personal growth.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
Teaching and Learning
Nottingham Business School adopts a distinctive approach to learning, integrating theory, practice, and reflection. The curriculum provides opportunities to apply theories in practical settings, fostering a deep understanding of business through direct experience and reflection. This approach aims to enhance the quality of your learning.
Academic Mentors
Every postgraduate student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NTU. They will support you in developing and enhancing the qualities and transferrable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development.
Assessments
The course utilizes diverse assessment methods, including examinations, group presentations, essays, reports, financial analyses, literature reviews, and research projects. Interactive sessions provide feedback before formal assessments, with increased use of eLearning to support the feedback process.
In-sessional English language support
In-sessional English language classes are offered to international students at no extra cost. The classes aim to provide focused support in the skills you need in order to develop your English in your subject area.
Further information please contact the Nottingham Language Centre based in the Djanogly building on City Campus:
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 6156 | Email: englishsupport@ntu.ac.uk | Website: www.ntu.ac.uk/nlc
Personalisation
Acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of our postgraduate students, NBS is committed to fostering their individual strengths. We encourage critical reflection skills and the application of learning to academic studies and real-world challenges. Through tailored academic mentorship and a mix of curricular and extracurricular activities, NBS provides opportunities for postgraduate students to excel in a competitive global environment.
Careers and employability
At Nottingham Business School, we’re focused on your employability from the start of your postgraduate degree. We provide you with a learning experience that integrates theory and practice.
Graduates from this course are expected to go onto roles within the public, private and third sector, undertaking positions such as:
- social value
- carbon management
- business development
- environmental advisory
- community liaison
- management consultant
Employability Team
We have a dedicated Employability Team who not only help you during your time with us but also following graduation, they’ll continue to support you by providing a number of services that will help kick-start your career.
Our Employability Team offer a wide range of support from one-to-one appointments with our specially trained consultants, to arranging recruitment fairs and skill building workshops.
Services they provide include:
- Finding placements, internships and part-time work
- Helping you to pursue self-employment
- Advice on taking gap years and time out
- Information and help on getting into volunteering
- Providing advice on further study.
As a student you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you will be able to get in touch with our Employability team for CV support, application, interview and job hunting advice, career ideas and employer videos.
You can visit the Employability Team on your local campus every day during term time. They are also open outside of term time too, except on University closure days. So drop in, say hello, and get help with quick enquiries or book an appointment with a careers consultant from your school.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in our brand-new Postgraduate Centre, at the heart of our vibrant City Campus. Designed to support collaborative study, there’s a range of accessible teaching spaces, state-of-the-art technology, breakout areas, quiet work booths and a communal café. You can access dedicated market research reporting platforms and digital resources (e.g. Mintel, Passport, SPSS, and Adobe Creative Cloud) and a room equipped with Bloomberg terminals, which enables you to delve into industry-leading data, news and analytics.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our superb Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets catering to every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and so much more!
If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham — one of the UK’s top 10 student cities, and one of the top 25 in all of Europe. It’s a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night. For more details, why not take a Virtual Tour?
Entry requirements
UK students
One year course: You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above).
Two years with placement: You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above).
Additional requirements for UK students
- All applicants will be required to demonstrate a commitment to the subject they wish to study and should demonstrate how their chosen programme of study will benefit them in their future career.
- One academic reference is required.
If you’re considering submitting an application for this course, but you have more than three years of relevant work experience, why not consider applying for our Master of Business Administration (MBA) course? Find out more about our MBA here.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
One year course: You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above).
Two years with placement: You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above) containing some evidence of quantitative ability.
We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
- All applicants will be required to demonstrate a commitment to the subject they wish to study and should demonstrate how their chosen programme of study will benefit them in their future career.
- One academic reference is required.
If you’re considering submitting an application for this course, but you have more than three years of relevant work experience, why not consider applying for our Master of Business Administration (MBA) course? Find out more about our MBA here.
Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Pre-Masters course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
