International Sustainable Business

Course Outline

The MSc International Sustainable Business is a new innovative course, offered by the College of Business & Law at UCC. This unique course will equip business and non-business graduates with in-depth, practical knowledge of global business disciplines, combining managerial and strategic skills to influence and lead sustainable global businesses. We envisage that graduates of our International Sustainable Business programme will be future drivers of positive change.



As an MSc student, you will learn the tools, knowledge, and frameworks to carefully reflect on, and better manage, the tensions between profit, people, and planet for decision-making within international businesses. You will do this through your choice of a focussed pathway either Sustainable International Management and Strategy or Sustainable Business.



In this course, you will assess business cases within complex and multidimensional global business markets and environments learning how to help businesses develop strategic responses across a range of activities and markets.



Our modules are designed to equip you with the skills to be a positive force within business and society to contribute to a resilient and inclusive future for all and to align business strategies with ethical responsibilities, including Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We achieve this by examining, formulating, and shaping global business solutions for a sustainable future.



The MSc course is designed in the context of UCC’s Connected Curriculum. Opportunities for leadership, industry engagement, and professional development are integrated within the curriculum. This is an excellent opportunity for those of you who want to complement your degree with business skills, broadening your skillset in a way that adds value to global organisations, and who are interested in developing innovative strategies and business models that answer our global sustainability challenges.



Exit award: Postgraduate Diploma in International Sustainable Business. (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)



Students who pass taught modules to the value of 60 credits in Part I, may opt to exit the course and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in International Sustainable Business.

Modules

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I (60 credits)

• BU6012 Business Professional Skills (5 credits)

• BU6013 Responsible Leadership for a Global World (5 credits)

• BU6014 Global Markets and Trade (5 credits)

• BU6015 Research Methods Module (5 credits)

• BU6016 Quantitative Research Methods (5 credits)

• FE6305 Contemporary Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues (5 credits)

• EC6621 Strategy for Global Business (5 credits)





Elective Modules

Choose 20 credits from either the Responsible International Management and Strategy pathway or the Sustainable Business pathway:



Responsible International Management and Strategy Pathway (20 credits)

• MG6833 International Market Entry Strategies (5 credits)

• MG6834 International Business and Strategy (5 credits)

• MG6337 International Human Resources Management (5 credits)

• MG6835 Corporate Social Responsibility (5)



Sustainable Business Pathway (20 credits)

• EC6077 Ecological Economics and Sustainability Policies (5 credits)

• EC6078 Business Practices for a Circular Economies (5 credits)

• EC6079 Green Investment Strategies (5 credits)

• EC6080 Environmental Regulation and Compliance Management (5 credits)



Part II (30 credits)

• BU6017 International Sustainable Business Report (ISBR) (30 credits)

Applicants must normally have a Second Class Honours Grade 1 (GPA 3.25 out of 4.0) in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline or equivalent.



Applicants who achieve a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) but meet all other requirements will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on a case-by-case basis.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date: 8 September 2025

Skills and Careers Information

MSc International Sustainable Business embraces the importance of sustainability, responsibility, and an ethical approach to international business.



The skills developed on the MSc course include:

• Leadership, organisational, interpersonal, team-working and strategic decision-making skills

• Competencies in sustainable business practices

• Working to deadlines producing analyses, reports, and presentations to professional standards

• Ability to interpret and analyse data

• Application of frameworks and concepts to the global business world

• Research project design, implementation and management



Examples of jobs our graduates are expected to gain employment in include Global Business Strategists, Business Consultants, Sustainability Managers, CSR managers, ESG Analysts, Regulators, and Policymakers.