Great Degrees for Sustainability Managers

Sustainability management is a thriving career pathway, offering aspiring professionals a chance to build a sustainable future and design environmentally sound strategies that support this mission.

Students who want to pursue a career in sustainability management will learn topics such as sustainable practices, economic, financial, and corporate sustainability, and more.

At LIS, we help students gain interdisciplinary skills to launch their sustainability management careers. Instead of learning specific skills for these job roles, students will gain an in-depth understanding of critical concepts, allowing them to transfer their expertise to various professions.

This guide will explore excellent degrees for sustainability managers, the job outlook for this career, and how to choose the right degree for you. 

Table of Contents

• Do You Need A Degree to Become a Sustainability Manager? 
• What Do Professionals in Sustainability Management Do?
• Excellent Degrees for Aspiring Sustainability Managers
• Do You Need to Complete Sustainability Management Courses?
• Planning Your Sustainability Management Career Path
• How to Choose the Right Sustainability Management Degree Program?

Yes, you do need a degree to become a sustainability manager. Sustainability degree programs equip students with specific skills to launch careers in this industry. 

While experience is a significant factor in how quickly you can land a job, a degree program can help you break into the industry. Some professionals also opt to complete a master's program to expand their knowledge and secure higher-level positions.  

A bachelor's degree program in sustainability management will cover these core skills:

• Sustainable business practices and development
• Environmental policy
• Environmental impact
• Creating sustainable solutions
• Corporate sustainability 
• Finance and economics
• Data management

Achieving a degree certification will help you develop and apply these skills to real-world problems that make an impact. 

A sustainability manager covers a wide range of areas. They primarily research, design and oversee the implementation of sustainability strategies, which can focus on an individual project or on general business operations and practices. 

These professionals ensure a business adheres to environmental policies and supports a sustainable future.

While the exact responsibilities of sustainability managers vary between jobs, these are typical duties:

• Design and communicate clear sustainability strategies.
• Engage with various internal and external stakeholders and understand their needs and priorities.
• Develop and publish transparent sustainability reports.
• Identify and explore innovative opportunities to promote sustainability. 
• Educate stakeholders and teams on the importance of sustainability and its impacts.

Do you need help deciding the right degree to help you become a sustainability manager? This choice can be tricky, but we've made it easier.

Here's a comprehensive overview of some fantastic bachelor's degrees for sustainability managers, the topics they cover, how much they cost and what to expect. 

Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods (BASc) – The London Interdisciplinary School 

The BASc degree at The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) is ideal for students who want to learn critical skills in various valuable disciplines. This interdisciplinary program equips students with the core knowledge to excel as sustainability managers and progress into other fields in the future. Students will develop practical skills in scientific and critical thinking, sustainability and data management.

LIS helps students gain hands-on experience through summer internships for eligible students. They can work alongside industry experts and companies to solve real-world problems and establish long-lasting networks.

LIS also delivers training from diverse professionals and offers wellbeing and career support programs to help students break into the workforce quickly. 

Curriculum:

• Problems 1B Sustainability: Focusing on global environmental change, students work in groups to research a specific eco and/or climate-related problem. 
• Quantitative Methods 1A – Thinking Like a Scientist: Foundational module that covers numerical and quantitative thinking. 
• Quantitative Methods 1B – Thinking Through Data: Learn to analyse, summarise and plot data, and think through probability and uncertainty in evidence. ‍
• Capstone Project: Initiative and implement an extended interdisciplinary research project you're passionate about.

Fees:

• £9,000 / a year for home students
• £15,000 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Hardship grants: Eligible students who experience sudden financial hardship can apply for one of these grants. 
• Income from internships: To receive this financial assistance, eligible students must have joined an internship that pays at least the London Living Wage. 
• Financial support bursary: Qualifying students can apply for bursaries between £1,000 and £7,000. LIS awards this financial support based on severe economic circumstances. 

Key Takeaways:

• The tuition costs are much more affordable than other sustainability management degrees.
• Eligible students can complete summer internships and gain real-world experience, helping them develop a portfolio.
• As this degree program focuses on interdisciplinary skills, students have the flexibility to transfer their knowledge to many fields if they decide to change careers in the future.

Sustainability and Environmental Management BSc – University of Leeds

The University of Leeds offers a BSc in Sustainability and Environmental Management covering core sustainable practices. Over three years of full-time study, students will understand why unsustainable practices develop and how to apply strategies and critical thinking to address these problems.

This degree offers a placement and work abroad year. If students opt for these opportunities, they will have another year added to their program. You can also gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and independent projects. 

Curriculum:

• Sustainable Development
• Environmental Science for Sustainability
• Research in the Environmental Social Sciences
• Adaptation and Mitigation

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £29,250 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Scholarships for personal circumstances: These scholarships are available for eligible students with household incomes less than  £42,875 a year. 
• Scholarships for academic achievement: Qualifying students with excellent academic performance can apply for one of these limited scholarships. 
• Leeds Bursary: Based on their household income, eligible students can apply for up to £3000 toward their tuition fees. 
• Sanctuary Scholarship: The University of Leeds offers scholarships for displaced people in the UK. This scholarship covers the total cost of tuition plus £10,000 a year toward study expenses.

Key Takeaways:

• An extensive range of scholarships and bursaries are available to help students fund their programs without taking out loans.
• Students will learn how to apply sustainability strategies through fieldwork.
• The tuition fees for this bachelor's degree are cost-effective compared to many others. 

Sustainability Management, BA Hons – University of Greenwich 

The Sustainability Management, BA Hons degree from the University of Greenwich can help students break into the industry quickly. This program offers three years of full-time study, or four years, including a work placement. Students will learn critical skills in developing a sustainable future, corporate sustainability, and overcoming environmental issues.

Led by industry experts and specialists, this degree focuses on sustainability in HR, marketing, finance, and operations. It emphasises practical skills, as students will solve real-world problems and have the opportunity to complete a work placement year.  

Curriculum:

• International Business Environment
• Personal and Professional Development
• Sustainable Supply Chain Management
• Global Governance and Sustainability

Fees:

• To be confirmed by the University of Greenwich 

Financial Aid:

• Greenwich Hardship Fund: Eligible students who have experienced sudden financial hardship can apply for financial support for their program.  
• Commuter Bursary: Qualifying students from low-income households can apply for 50% of their commuting costs for their first year of studies, up to £1,000. 
• Care Leaver Bursary: Undergraduate students who join this university directly from local authority care can apply for £1,500 per year toward their program.
• International Hardship Fund: Qualifying EU students without a maintenance loan and international students who have experienced sudden short-term costs can apply for this financial aid.  

Key Takeaways:

• There are ample financial aid solutions for local and international students.
• Students can complete a work placement year, gain real-world skills, and establish industry connections.
• The broad sustainability management curriculum equips students with skills in critical business disciplines. 

BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability – University of Reading

Aspiring sustainability managers can complete the BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability degree program at the University of Reading. This three-year full-time program prepares students to address scientific and socio-economic issues in environmental management.

Students will learn sustainable business practices, environmental regulations and critical topics to help them achieve their career goals. This program covers fieldwork in various settings, and students will complete a one-week placement to apply their skills in the workforce.

Curriculum:

• Ecology and Environmental Management
• Environmental Management and Sustainability in Practice 
• Data Skills
• Tools for Environmental Management and Sustainability  

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £29,250 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• The Reading Bursary: This bursary provides financial support up to £1,100 in cash or tuition cost reduction. Only eligible students from specific cities can apply for this bursary. 
• Vice Chancellor Global Scholarship: The University of Reading offers 100 scholarships of £4,000 each to qualifying international students. 
• IFP Ambassador Scholarships: Non-sponsored international students can apply for tuition discounts and scholarships from the IFP Ambassador program. 

Key Takeaways:

• Students can study abroad for two weeks, a semester or a year.
• This degree has a significant practical element; students will gain real-world skills and work alongside industry professionals.
• Completing a work placement helps students network and build experience. 

Business Management (Sustainability) – University of Staffordshire

The Business Management (Sustainability) degree by the University of Staffordshire is designed for students who want to gain all the skills they need for corporate sustainability. This program requires three years of full-time study, with an optional work placement year between the second and final years.

The primary topics in this program include business development, governance, climate change, and leadership. In this degree, students develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability practices and what it takes to become a successful leader.

Curriculum:

• Global Visitor Economy
• Operations Management
• Management Accounting
• Data and Decision Making 

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £16,750 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Disabled Students Allowance: Qualifying students who incur costs due to a disability can apply for financial assistance. 
• University of Staffordshire cost of living scholarship: Students with household incomes lower than £25,000 can apply for this financial aid. 
• Smart Scholarship: Qualifying international fee-paying students can apply for a £3,000 reduction in tuition costs. 
• Care leavers and estranged students: Foster care applicants can apply for £2,000 toward their tuition costs, paid in instalments. 

Key Takeaways:

• A diverse range of financial support is available, making this program accessible to students from all backgrounds.
• The tuition costs for international students are highly competitive.
• This program significantly focuses on leadership development, giving students the skills to launch their businesses after graduation. 

You don't need to complete sustainable development and management courses to launch a career in this field. However, courses can help you broaden your expertise and practical experience while showing potential employers that you are committed to this field. Completing a sustainability management program and courses is a surefire way to secure a lucrative career. 

At LIS, we provide short courses to help students gain a competitive edge in the job market. Like our bachelor's degree program, these courses don't specialise in a field or topic and instead equip students with core skills to transfer to various careers. 

Here are our courses and what they cover:

• Risk and Reputation: Students can learn to become leaders by acquiring the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills necessary to understand and leverage the power of online communities in today's media-driven world. 
• Systems Thinking for Sustainability: This short course explores systems thinking and how it addresses interconnected environmental and social challenges.
• Cross-functional leadership:  Students will gain critical interdisciplinary skills to lead teams across diverse departments. 

We provide all our students with access to valuable resources for successful careers. After graduating from your bachelor's program, you can also achieve your master's degree with us.

Planning your career as a sustainability manager takes time and careful consideration. To help you get started, here are the top skills employers look for, the average salary and the job outlook. 

What Skills Do Employers Look for?

After completing your sustainability program and earning your bachelor's degree, it's imperative to highlight in-demand skills on your resume. Here are the top skills employers look for.

• Leadership: Sustainability managers must have superb leadership skills and inspire and motivate their teams to understand the importance of a sustainable future. 
• Communication: Professionals must constructively express their perspectives, ideas, research and views. These managers work with stakeholders across multiple departments, making interpersonal skills vital. 
• Analytical Reasoning: Sustainability managers will have to make many critical decisions. They should be able to assess strategies, risks, and performance to help organisations make informed decisions. 
• Financial Literacy: Economic sustainability is a significant aspect of sustainability management. Professionals must have in-depth finance and economic knowledge to develop budgets and expenditure plans and conduct financial analysis. 
• Environmental Compliance: Professionals must know the environmental policy and ensure their organisation adheres to these standards. 

How Much Do Sustainability Managers Earn?

The average annual salary for sustainability managers in the UK is £52,585. The highest-earning professionals can earn around £64,000, while lower-end jobs pay £44,000 per annum. 

Professionals can increase their earning potential by achieving a master's degree or expanding their practical experience.

Will the Sustainability Management Job Market Grow? 

According to recent data, sustainability job listings within the UK have increased by 68% since 2023. 

As more corporate companies seek sustainable solutions and experienced professionals to implement these strategies, aspiring sustainability managers can rely on rapid job growth. 

Selecting the right sustainability management degree can be tricky. Use these tips to help you get started:

• Eligibility Requirements: Before opting for a sustainability management degree, consider the eligibility requirements. If you don't meet those standards, some programs offer a foundation year to help you gain the required background, 
• Tuition Costs: Whether you're a local or international student, consider degree programs that are affordable in the long run. Specify all your costs, including accommodation and similar studying expenses, to accurately estimate what you can afford. 
• Financial Aid: It's not ideal to rack up student debt. So, opt for a program that offers financial support, such as scholarships and bursaries. Even if you don't need them now, it's best to have access to them if you do. 
• Resources: Your bachelor's degree program must provide valuable resources to help you launch your career. For example, it should offer career support, networking opportunities, and well-being services. 
• Curriculum: Your chosen degree must focus on topics aligned with your career goals. Check what topics the curriculum covers and ensure it satisfies your interests to keep you engaged throughout your program.  
• Practical Training: Sustainability management degrees must significantly emphasise practical training. Your program should expose you to practical skills through projects, work placements and fieldwork. 

Study with LIS and Become a Sustainability Manager Today

Sustainability management jobs offer loads of opportunities for aspiring professionals looking to make an impact. Achieving a bachelor’s degree will equip you with all the skills you need to launch a successful career in this industry.

At LIS, our bachelor’s degree is the ultimate choice to help students break into sustainability management. Our program covers core interdisciplinary skills, allowing students to change careers. We also provide career support, wellbeing programs, and summer internships to get you started. 

Ready to become a sustainability manager? Contact us today. 

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