Sustainable Finance and Accounting (with a professional placement year) (Taught)

1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

Top 20 in the UK for Finance (Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025)

Top 20 in the UK for Business and Economics (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

Environmental, social and governance issues are now a major factor in investment. This creates rapid growth in accounting and finance careers with a specific focus on sustainability.

This MSc is designed in line with recommendations by major professional bodies, including Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI). On this course, you’ll:

• expand your skills in environmental accounting, corporate governance, and climate and green finance

• explore the role of accounting and finance in the growing integration of sustainability and accountability practices

• develop valuable skills, including breaking down complex problems, decision-making under uncertainty, intercultural communication and awareness of the business context.

You’ll be taught by world-class researchers and enthusiastic teachers in the University of Sussex Business School. Our research strengths are:

• corporate reporting and sustainability, governance and social responsibility

• climate finance

• energy policy.

Benefitting from the expertise at our SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore policies on sustainability development in the corporate world.

Guaranteed internship
Give your career a head start and gain real-world experience with our Guaranteed Internship Scheme.

Accreditation
You’ll join the EQUIS and AMBA-accredited University of Sussex Business School. Learn more about all of our course accreditations here. Find out more

To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. This can be a fantastic opportunity to gain real-life insight into industry as well as skills valued by employers. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can help you:

• find an employer

• draft an application

• prepare for interviews.

Don’t worry if you’re not successful, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Please check our website for the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.