Sustainable Finance MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Study level: Postgraduate
two females in a room looking at a tablet

Sustainable Finance MSc gives you the opportunity to learn how to evaluate financial problems in ways that address sustainable concerns. The course is concerned with financial decision-making that has implications for the environment and society, and the way firms operate.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time (UK only)

Course code

FBLT143

Start date

September 2025

The information on this page is for 2024-25 entry and should be used as guidance for 2025-26 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.


Course overview

This MSc in Sustainable Finance provides the opportunity for you to learn and develop skills to enable you to resolve financial problems in ways that mitigate harm to the environment and society.

  • The course will enhance your career by helping you develop analytical and quantitative tools to resolve financial problems that relate to Sustainable Finance
  • The course is of interest to those concerned with mitigating the harm of economic activity on the environment and society
  • The course is interdisciplinary and draws on environmental economics, governance, finance and risk management, law and regulation and carbon accounting.
Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

A hand clicks a button with a person on

Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Icon of person sharing information with three others

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

  • The full course allows you to pursue one of two Pathways for more in-depth study
  • It aims to provide you with the skills needed to understand and help resolve some of the problems facing the national and global economy in meeting sustainable development goals
  • You can register for: i) the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Finance; ii) the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Finance; or, iii) the full MSc in Sustainable Finance
  • The course can be taken part-time or full-time to suit your employment situation.

What you'll study

The adverse effects of human activity on the climate and society are now matters of grave concern. There is also the recognition that graduates are insufficiently trained to meet the challenges of mitigating the harmful effects of economic activities.

This new MSc in Sustainable Finance aims to help you develop the financial and analytical tools to bridge the gap between the traditional approaches to financial decision-making and the concept of financial sustainability, where Sustainable Finance is the main pillar of the course.

The course is interdisciplinary and draws on environmental economics, governance, finance and risk management, law and regulation and carbon accounting. It aims to provide you with the skills needed to understand and help resolve some of the problems facing the national and global economy in meeting sustainable development goals. The course is flexible depending on which classification you wish to take, such that you can enrol for the Certificate, Diploma or the full MSc degree.

If you pursue the full MSc, you will be able to choose one of two distinct Pathways that emphasises: i) Socially Responsible Investment and Carbon Reporting (Pathway A); and ii) Islamic Portfolio Management and Islamic Sustainable Finance (Pathway B). You will also be able to undertake your dissertation in Sustainable Finance at The Institute of Responsible Business Economics and Society, under the supervision of established academic researchers at the Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity. The aims of the course are in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Semester 1 introduces you to the core areas of Sustainable Finance. You will also cover material on qualitative and quantitative Research Methods, to help you understand the techniques used to evaluate financial problems relating to Sustainable Finance.

Semester 2 covers more advanced material on Sustainable Risk Management, and Law, Ethics and Sustainability, in addition to material on Social Responsible Investment and Carbon Accounting, or Islamic Portfolio Management and Islamic Sustainable Finance, depending on your choice of Pathways. Together, both semesters will prepare you for your Dissertation in Semester 3.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

While details vary somewhat from module to module, the learning and teaching strategy involves a series of lectures and seminars/workshops/tutorials.

Lectures chart the main theories, concepts controversies and empirical findings on a particular topic. You will be encouraged to have done the required readings and actively engage in the discussions during the lectures. The seminars/workshops/tutorials are generally interactive. In some cases, the sessions can be focused on case studies and literature that you are expected to engage beforehand and deliberate on in-class in various formats.

In others, the sessions provide you with the opportunity to raise, discuss and clarify issues raised in lectures and/or associated with their own research plans. Often the workshops will take the form of blended learning, combining expository online content with in-class discussion.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis for home students only. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.


Teaching contact hours

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the taught terms.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 12 hours a week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Formal examinations
  • Phase tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Exams
  • Individual Assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

A minimum of a second-class honours undergraduate degree (minimum of 2:2) or equivalent with an appropriate business or finance background.

Appropriate work experience in the financial sector together with relevant professional qualification(s). Where necessary, applicants are interviewed, especially those that do not appear to meet the standard admission criteria. Where deemed appropriate, a written exercise may be administered to establish suitability.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours undergraduate degree (minimum of 2:2) or equivalent with an appropriate business or finance background.

Appropriate work experience in the financial sector together with relevant professional qualifications. Where necessary, applicants are interviewed, especially those that do not appear to meet standard admission criteria. Where deemed appropriate, a written exercise may be administered to establish suitability.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 7 overall, with no component lower than 6.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £15,400  
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £15,400 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£20,050 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£20,050  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

We have a range of facilities4 available to support you in putting the theories you are taught into practice, such as:

A student using a computer at a desk wearing glasses next to a tutor pointing at the screen

The Trading Floor

The Trading Floor is an invaluable facility that allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Featuring contemporary dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, the facility can add a dynamic practical element to your course.

 

People at the Talent team fair on the balcony and on the ground floor

Talent Team

Employability is at the forefront of all our finance courses. You will have access to our dedicated employability service, the Talent Team, from the first day of your course, to graduation and beyond.

 

 

A female student sat at a desk holding a pen and looking at a laptop.

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is housed in our Lanchester Library, and offers maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions and bookable appointments, the ideal place to help you navigate any issues you might have while studying an accounting and finance degree.


Careers and opportunities

This master’s course aims to provide you with the skill and knowledge needed to pursue a career in sustainable finance.

Upon completion of this course, you are expected to:

  • Develop analytical and quantitative tools to resolve financial problems.
  • Understand the social and environmental pressures facing the current financial system and explores how sustainable financial strategies can create long-term value for business and society.
  • Understand how law and ethics interacts with sustainable finance, having developed your understanding of financial crime.

The course is suitable for those wishing to pursue a career in Sustainable Finance where decision-making and the allocation of resources have implications for sustainability and society. The course will enhance your prospects if you wish to pursue a career in commercial firms, national governments, local authorities, international organisations, and non-for-profit making organisations.

Further study

This is an advanced course in Sustainable Finance and will be suitable for doctoral studies.


How to apply