Overview
This interdisciplinary MSc programme explores how sustainability, entrepreneurship and design can be combined to address global environmental challenges and support organisational and societal change. It is designed for students who want to develop the knowledge and practical capabilities needed to work across sustainable innovation, business transformation, policy, enterprise and design-led problem solving.
The programme combines perspectives from science, design, engineering and business. Through taught modules, practice-led workshops and an independent project, you will examine sustainable development, environmental decision-making, innovation processes, and the tools and methods used to develop more sustainable products, services and organisations.
You may also choose to extend your degree through an optional Professional Development period. This extension provides an opportunity to apply academic learning in a professional context and to build experience relevant to careers in sustainability, consulting, enterprise, design and innovation.
Why choose this programme
Key features of the programme include:
- an interdisciplinary curriculum spanning sustainability, entrepreneurship, business and design
- teaching informed by expertise from across multiple colleges of the university
- a dissertation that may take the form of research, a business plan, or a design- and innovation-focused project
- opportunities to engage with external organisations in the UK and internationally
- an optional Professional Development period with pathways in consultancy, business transformation and design for sustainability
- connection to the university’s Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, offering an enriched academic environment through seminars, interdisciplinary exchange and opportunities for student engagement beyond the classroom.
- Opportunities to engage with Brunel’s Entrepreneurship Hub through workshops and events that help translate theory into practice and develop enterprise, communication and career-ready skills.
The programme is also approved by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), supporting students' professional development in sustainability.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The programme begins in September and combines taught study with a dissertation. The curriculum provides a shared foundation in sustainability, innovation and enterprise while allowing students to explore areas aligned with their academic interests and career goals.
Students develop understanding across scientific, social, design and business dimensions of sustainability. Learning emphasises systems thinking, problem solving, collaboration and the application of theory to real environmental and organisational challenges.
At the end of the taught part of the programme, students complete a dissertation in the form of an independent student-led project. Depending on your interests, this may be developed as a research study, pre-business plan, design proposal, or innovation-focused project, sometimes in collaboration with external organisations.
If you complete the optional Professional Development period, you will graduate with the award MSc Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design (with Professional Development).
Professional Development
Students may choose to extend the MSc through an additional Professional Development period, normally lasting 6 months full-time equivalent. This period is designed to support progression from academic study into professional practice.
Students follow one of three broad pathways:
- Sustainable Innovation Consultancy - contributing to sustainability strategy, circular economy, ESG, impact assessment or innovation projects within organisations
- Entrepreneurship and Business Transformation - supporting sustainability-led change within established organisations, SMEs or public-sector bodies
- Design for Sustainability - developing sustainable products, services or experiences through design methods, prototyping and innovation practice
Professional Development is supported by mentoring, workshops and opportunities to present or showcase outcomes.
Compulsory
- MG5590 - Business Planning
This module is designed to foster a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and potential of business planning through practical application. It guides students through the business planning journey and supports them in developing and pitching a viable business plan. This involves synthesising the key aspects of business planning, including market analysis, strategic analysis, business model development, and financial planning, into a cohesive and integrated framework.
- MG5633 - Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
This module is designed to provide you with an understanding of evaluating opportunity recognition, the entrepreneurial process, and venture growth through maturity. You will develop knowledge of start up fundamentals and life cycle challenges, while critically analysing the skills, attributes, and resources required at each venture stage. The module also examines diverse firm types, including family businesses, high tech ventures, and social enterprises, evaluating their unique management issues and contextual demands. Through practical cases, you will build a comprehensive, nuanced understanding of how entrepreneurial firms are conceived, sustained, and scaled in dynamic environments.
- DM5702 - Professional Design Studio
This module expands and deepens students’ knowledge of the design process. The module encourages students to: form strong, educated opinions about the broader social, environmental, economic and technological role of design in society and to be able to communicate and argue their opinions confidently; develop an awareness of current and emerging methodological and theoretical approaches to design practice; to apply higher level design process skills and related research methods to a specific contemporary or emerging design context and produce designed deliverables in response to this context. Studio design projects include both academic and live projects offered by industry partners.
- DM5533 - Sustainable Design
This module provides an understanding of the concepts of sustainability and circular economy and focuses on how to design products to reduce their environmental impact and foster resource circularity. The module enables students to: use streamlined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and qualitative methods to assess the environmental sustainability performance of products; apply product ecodesign and circular product design principles, methods and tools to ideate and develop promising product concepts; and consider the design of products as part of more articulated product-service systems that require the integration of products and services with business model and value chain design.
- ES5630 - Sustainability, Policy, and Governance
This module explores how policy, governance and decision-making shape sustainability outcomes at local, national and global scales. You will learn how governments, businesses and communities respond to complex environmental and societal challenges, and examine the role of policy, regulation, institutions and stakeholder engagement in driving sustainable transitions. Through real-world case studies, you will develop the knowledge and critical skills to design and evaluate governance approaches that balance environmental protection, social equity and economic development.
- PP5708 - Political Economy of the Changing World Order
This module introduces students to political economy, in particular international political economy (IPE), and to geopolitics. It explores the evolution of world orders, with a focus on the current period. It examines relationships between economic forces and state strategies (economic and geopolitical) on the international stage. It will familiarise students with key concepts and topics in IPE.
- ES5634 - Dissertation
This module is the capstone of your MSc, allowing you to tackle a real sustainability challenge through an independent research project, pre-business plan, design proposal, or innovation-focused project. Guided by an academic supervisor and with opportunities to engage with external organisations in the UK and internationally, you will apply interdisciplinary knowledge from sustainability, entrepreneurship and design to develop evidence-based, impactful solutions, drawing on primary or secondary data. The project showcases your creativity, critical thinking and professional expertise, which reflects your ambition, originality, and interdisciplinary expertise, preparing you to drive sustainable change in industry, policy, consultancy or further research.
- ES5605 - Portfolio (programme with the optional 6-month work placement)
The Professional Development Portfolio enables you to critically reflect on your professional experience period and demonstrate how you have applied your academic learning in practice. Drawing on your work-based activities, you will demonstrate how you have applied interdisciplinary knowledge, innovation and systems thinking to real-world challenges, and showcase the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities developed throughout the programme, evidencing your readiness to lead and contribute to sustainability, innovation and organisational change.
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This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
The programme prepares graduates for careers at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, enterprise and design. Its interdisciplinary structure supports progression into roles that span organisational strategy, policy, product and service development, equipping students to work across a wide range of environmental and societal challenges.
It is approved by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), which entitles students to a FREE student membership for the duration of the course, and on successful completion, graduates will qualify for GradISEP.
Graduate membership is a launchpad for future leaders within environment and sustainability and offers a range of benefits to support you throughout your career. You can then "Fast track" to Practitioner Membership (PISEP) following successful completion of the work-based assessment of competence.
Free student membership of ISEP further supports career development through access to professional resources and guidance on sustainability career pathways.
Possible destinations include:
- sustainability and environmental strategy roles in private, public and third-sector organisations
- innovation and transformation roles within established organisations
- consulting roles related to sustainable business, circular economy and impact assessment
- enterprise and start-up development
- policy, governance and advisory work
- further academic research
UK entry requirements
2026/7 entry
- Applicants should normally hold a minimum of 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification. We welcome applications from a wide range of academic backgrounds including Environmental Science, Design, Social Sciences, Engineering, Management, Business, Law, Economics or a related subject.
- Applicants with a third-class Honours degree, or other qualifications may also be considered where they can demonstrate relevant work experience and a science A-level (or equivalent). An interview may be required.
Your personal statement should demonstrate a clear interest in Sustainability and the relationship between Entrepreneurship, Business and Design.
International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- TOEFL: 5 (min 4.5 in all subscores)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2026/27 entry
UK
£12,125 full-time
International
£22,320 full-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, practical sessions, webinars and problem-based learning activities. Students are also expected to undertake guided independent study.
The programme places particular emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, inquiry-based learning and applied problem solving. Most teaching takes place on campus, with some supplementary online activity where appropriate. Digital resources, including recordings, learning materials and recommended reading, are provided through the university's virtual learning environment.
The programme also draws on expertise from multiple colleges across the university, enabling students to learn across sustainability, engineering, design, business and policy perspectives.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
The programme brings together expertise from the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, and the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences.
You will study within an interdisciplinary postgraduate environment, with opportunities to engage with students and staff from a range of academic and professional backgrounds.
Non-academic support is available through the university's student support and welfare services.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment takes a range of forms across the programme, including written examinations, coursework, practical assessments, individual and group assignments, presentations, and project-based work.
The independent project forms a substantial part of the final assessment. Students who complete the optional Professional Development period are also assessed through an additional reflective portfolio.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.