University of Cambridge
Business Sustainability Management
- Curriculum: Learn how to integrate sustainable practices in your organisation. Includes environmental, social, and more.
- Fully Online: Includes interactive videos, module notes, assignments, quizzes, and more.
- Faculty and Alumni: Learn from top practitioners and industry experts. Receive 1:1 support. Access the CISL Alumni Network.
Start date
22 July 2026
96%
Cohort-based learning
Group learning, expert guidance
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
English
Access resources from start date
8–12 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
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Course overview
The course provided a solid foundation in sustainability requirements for any business or industry, with online learning that was flexible and easy to integrate into a busy schedule.
Aarti B. | Sustainability Expert, Heidelberg Materials
This course has been a truly transformative journey, offering unparalleled depth and relevance in its exploration of sustainability. The content was meticulously crafted, combining robust theoretical foundations with actionable insights, making it highly applicable to real-world challenges.
Adarsh G. | Technology Project Manager, SLB
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, runaway consumption and inequality continue to grow, businesses and governments face increasing pressures in their operations and accountability for their contributions to social and environmental sustainability.
To address these challenges, the recently updated Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) equips you with contemporary knowledge and skills to promote sustainability in your organisation or sphere of influence. You'll develop a plan to integrate sustainable practices into your organisation, while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities unique to your context.
This course empowers you to overcome public and private sector challenges, leverage sustainability opportunities and lead positive change. With a shifting business landscape being shaped by growing global concerns, we can all play a vital role in transforming business sustainability.
Is the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course for you?
This online short course has been designed for professionals looking to enhance their current job performance, change career direction or address new business needs while remaining competitive in a rapidly changing business environment. The course equips you with the knowledge and skills to place sustainability at the core of your operations, implement sustainable business practices and secure a sustainable future for your organisation. The course also benefits entrepreneurs seeking to identify sustainable social, economic and environmental opportunities by enhancing their understanding of sustainability's role and significance in their business.
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our online business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at CISL’s bundles. Sustainable Business and Finance is a two-course bundle that will teach you how to embrace sustainable finance as a catalyst for long-term viability and amplify your business's impact on society and the environment. Sustainable Business Operations is a two-course bundle that will help you create an action plan to enhance sustainability along your supply chains. Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy is a three-course bundle that will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate a sustainable action plan in marketing and communication to drive positive change across the business ecosystem and society.
This Business Sustainability Management online short course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 54 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, runaway consumption and inequality continue to grow, businesses and governments face increasing pressures in their operations and accountability for their contributions to social and environmental sustainability.
To address these challenges, the recently updated Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) equips you with contemporary knowledge and skills to promote sustainability in your organisation or sphere of influence. You'll develop a plan to integrate sustainable practices into your organisation, while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities unique to your context.
This course empowers you to overcome public and private sector challenges, leverage sustainability opportunities and lead positive change. With a shifting business landscape being shaped by growing global concerns, we can all play a vital role in transforming business sustainability.
Is the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course for you?
This online short course has been designed for professionals looking to enhance their current job performance, change career direction or address new business needs while remaining competitive in a rapidly changing business environment. The course equips you with the knowledge and skills to place sustainability at the core of your operations, implement sustainable business practices and secure a sustainable future for your organisation. The course also benefits entrepreneurs seeking to identify sustainable social, economic and environmental opportunities by enhancing their understanding of sustainability's role and significance in their business.
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our online business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at CISL’s bundles. Sustainable Business and Finance is a two-course bundle that will teach you how to embrace sustainable finance as a catalyst for long-term viability and amplify your business's impact on society and the environment. Sustainable Business Operations is a two-course bundle that will help you create an action plan to enhance sustainability along your supply chains. Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy is a three-course bundle that will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate a sustainable action plan in marketing and communication to drive positive change across the business ecosystem and society.
This Business Sustainability Management online short course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 54 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
An understanding of the potential for design, technology and innovation to accelerate sustainable outcomes.
The ability to engage, communicate and collaborate with your key stakeholders to create long-term value.
The principles, practices and strategies you can use to lead change at various levels within an organisation.
A practical action plan to deliver a sustainable outcome in your organisation, sector or sphere of influence.
A broader network and meaningful peer relationships that strengthen your connection with the wider Cambridge sustainability community.Course curriculum
Orientation Module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
System forces and sustainability challenges shaping business today
Module 2
Business, purpose and leadership for a sustainable future
Module 3
Navigating the regulatory and policy environment
Module 4
Rethinking production and consumption
Module 5
Reimagining business through design, technology and innovation
Module 6
Stakeholder engagement and communication
Module 7
Individual and collective leadership for change
Module 8
Planning for personal impact
What past students
think
Alan M.
Principal Consultant, WolfMeadow
The course content was broad and deep, covering the key elements relevant to sustainability practitioners. The content will challenge participants to review their strategic approaches to sustainability and will inform their work back in the office. I would highly recommend this course for its quality content, networking opportunities, and practical nature.
Course Convenor
Bruce Haase
Senior Associate of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Enrol in the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management online short course and obtain a certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get more information
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an enrollment specialist, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your enrollment specialist who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our enrollment specialists before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
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