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Postgraduate Taught

MSc Sustainable Finance and Climate Change

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 1 year full time
Entry year September 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Finance
Contact
Typical offer

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2:2 with honours in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Maths, Business, Quantitative degrees, Commerce, Management, Social/Natural Science or related discipline from a recognised university. 

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Develop financial decision-making and commercial awareness in environmental sustainability with practical application to real-world sustainability challenges 
  • Gain a well-balanced understanding across the principles of finance and investment and the frontiers of climate change science 
  • Enjoy access to our 24/7 finance lab hosting major databases including Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters 
  • Boost your employability with advanced communication and technical skills, team-working and independent research, project-management and the very latest specialist knowledge  
  • Prepare for rewarding careers in various sectors, including financial institutions, green investment firms, consulting firms, and sustainability-focused organisations. 
Apply for Sept 2025 entry

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View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

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Contact

Programme Director: Professor Angela Christidis

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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Partner and member of GRASFI

The Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment

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Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

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Ranked 4th in the UK for overall satisfaction

Financial Times Global Masters in Finance rankings 2023 

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Learn from experts in the field of sustainable and responsible finance management

Seedling icon

Partner and member of GRASFI

The Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment

Rosette with tick in icon

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

Rosette icon

Ranked 4th in the UK for overall satisfaction

Financial Times Global Masters in Finance rankings 2023 

Icon of group of people

Learn from experts in the field of sustainable and responsible finance management

Entry requirements

2:2 with honours in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Maths, Business, Quantitative degrees, Commerce, Management, Social/Natural Science (e.g. Environmental Science, Climate Science etc) 

Evidence of mathematical/quantitative* ability is essential. We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study, significant relevant work experience or professional qualifications such as CFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS and CIMA. Other professional certificates issued by CFA, CISI, CBI, CII in Green and Sustainable Finance, Climate Finance, Climate Risk, ESG Investing etc are also acceptable.

*Mathematics modules may include, for example, Algebra, Calculus, Econometrics, Statistics, Probability or Optimisation.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

MSc Sustainable Finance and Climate Change aims to develop graduates with financial decision-making and commercial awareness in environmental sustainability through practical application to real-world sustainability challenges. 

This programme crosses discipline boundaries and is designed so you will develop an understanding and awareness of global climate challenges, tackle shared problems, and propose sustainable and responsible finance solutions that deliver tangible and sustainable social and ecological benefits. You will develop a well-balanced understanding across the principles of finance and investment and the frontiers of climate change science. You will learn to address the challenges of the financial industry’s adaptation to climate change and engage with sustainability debates in real-world contexts. Graduates will be well-positioned to pursue careers in finance, investment management, sustainable development and corporate sustainability.  

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
BEAM032 Investment Analysis 1 15
BEAM047 Fundamentals of Financial Management 15
BEAM104 Sustainable and Responsible Finance 15
MTHM054 Climate Change Science and Solutions 15
BEAM052 Corporate Governance and Finance 15
BEAM103 Climate Finance and Investments 15
BEAM101 Sustainable Finance Project 30

Optional modules

a At the discretion of the programme director you may choose either BEAM007 or BEAM079, you cannot choose both

CodeModule Credits
MSc Sustainable Finance and Climate Change opt modules 24/25 [See note a above]
GEOM145 Theory for Sustainable Transitions 15
GEOM141 Global Challenges 15
GEOM143 Global Systems Thinking 15
BEAM031 Financial Instruments 15
BEAM102 Financial Institutions' Risk Management 15
BEAM033 Banking and Financial Services 15
BEAM035 Derivatives Pricing 15
BEAM036 Domestic and International Portfolio Management 15
BEAM038 Investment Analysis 2 15
BEAM042 International Financial Management 15
BEAM046 Financial Modelling 15
BEAM050 Advanced Corporate Finance 15
BEAM052 Corporate Governance and Finance 15
BEAM065 Bank Management 15
BEAM007 Investment Analysis Dissertation 30
BEAM079 Coding Analytics for Accounting and Finance 30
BEAM053 Mergers, Management Buyouts and Other Corporate Reorganisations 15

Fees

2025/26 entry

UK fees per year:

£19,900 full-time

International fees per year:

£32,300 full-time

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Teaching and research

Our postgraduate taught programmes utilise a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars and tutorials. 

Lectures

The aim of lectures is to give you information on ideas that are central to the module and to help you in developing your understanding of complex ideas. Many of the teaching materials for lectures are made available to you electronically to accompany the notes you take during the lecture. Lectures are given by a range of staff members, including leading professors, who integrate their latest research findings into the teaching that you receive. Guest lecturers, including members of industry, also contribute to some modules. 

Seminars and tutorials

Seminars and tutorials involve an in-depth exploration of the issues covered in lectures as well as giving you the opportunity to discuss various concepts and theories and receive feedback on your written assignments. 

Research-led teaching

Our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

We are a research intensive faculty and cover a wide range of themes which inform our teaching. Our research is driven by the understanding that accounting and finance continues to play a fundamental role in organisations and society. As a result, many of our inspiring academics are regularly invited to advise policy-makers at institutions including H.M Revenue and Customs, International Accounting Standards Board, Financial Reporting Council, the Pensions Regulator, and the Bank of England. 

Taught by leading experts

You will be taught by internationally respected academics who are at the forefront of their research. We draw upon disciplines across the social sciences and give emphasis to the dynamic nature of enterprise, global connectivity and the management and leadership of the global challenges that lie ahead. We are now a partner and member of The Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI), promoting rigorous and highly impactful academic research on sustainable finance and investment. 

The Business School is home to the following research centres

The Geography Department is home to the Global Systems Institute

The Global Systems Institute is thought-leading in understanding global changes, solving global challenges and helping create a flourishing future world together, through transformative research, education and impact.

 

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Careers

student wearing mortar board on graduation

Preparing you for success

This Masters degree is designed to prepare you for a successful career, wherever in the world you plan to work. We’ll prepare you for your career by teaching you advanced communication and technical skills, team-working and independent research, project-management and the very latest specialist knowledge. 

Develop skills that employers value 

Our MSc Sustainable Finance and Climate Change will enable you to develop the professional and financial skills and subject expertise that makes you a valuable asset from day one of your career. Climate change is humanity's foremost challenge. Governments, businesses, and the finance industry must act now to cut carbon emissions, mitigate global warming, and build resilient, sustainable societies and economies. Sustainable Finance knowledge is becoming an increasingly sought after expertise.  

Developing applied quantitative analytical skills through using Bloomberg, S&P capital IQ, WRDS Datastream and other financial databases and software systems as part of your modules, you will also have the latest technical know-how to kick-start your career.  

Select modules to suit your future career 

By carefully selecting your optional modules such as global challenges, investment analysis, financial modelling, bank management, corporate finance and domestic and international portfolio management.  

Potential employers  

  • Investment management companies where analysts provide information to in-house fund managers  
  • Stockbrokers and investment banks, where the analysts' research assists clients of their company, usually fund managers but sometimes also company executives and directors  
  • Wealth management divisions of investment banks  
  • Institutional investors, such as large charities, pension funds and life assurance companies  
  • Hedge funds  
  • Government or public organisations  
  • SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)  

Graduate training routes  

Multi-nationals such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, HSBC, Vanguard Asset Management, Credit Suisse, Citibank, Amundi and Deutsche Bank have graduate training routes in many countries in which they are based. Country-specific banks like China Construction Bank and Bank of China (Hong Kong) and smaller organisations across the world also offer graduate training routes and employment opportunities with specific recruitment cycles appropriate to their local employment market. 

Developing your skills and career prospects

The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. Visit our Business School careers service web page for more information.

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