Build the expertise to guide organisations towards sustainable practices that create long term value for society and the natural environment.
Why study postgraduate Sustainable Business?
Businesses are being called on to rethink how they operate, and skilled professionals who understand sustainability are now in demand across many industries.
Studying Sustainable Business at postgraduate level allows you to explore one of the defining challenges of our time. How can organisations succeed while also protecting the environment and contributing positively to society? At Otago, you will investigate the social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of business decisions and develop the insight needed to guide organisations toward responsible strategy and operations.
You will engage with emerging research and interdisciplinary perspectives that connect business with environmental systems, policy, and community wellbeing. This deeper understanding helps you see how sustainable thinking influences everything from supply chains to leadership and innovation.
The result is a powerful skill set that organisations increasingly need. As sustainability becomes central to business practice in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, graduates with this expertise are well placed to help organisations navigate change and build long term value for people and the planet.
Career opportunities
Organisations across the public and private sectors are increasingly seeking professionals who can integrate sustainability into business strategy and operations. Graduates may pursue careers such as:
- Sustainability manager
- Sustainable business consultant
- Sustainability adviser
- Business analyst with sustainability expertise
- Policy or strategy adviser in sustainability
What it’s like to study at this level
Studying Sustainable Business at Otago is an interactive and research informed experience that connects theory with real organisational challenges.
You will learn from academics who are actively researching sustainable enterprise, meaning your coursework reflects the latest thinking and real world developments in the field.
Classes encourage discussion, collaboration, and critical thinking as you explore topics such as organisational sustainability, governance, innovation, and leadership. You will analyse contemporary sustainability issues and examine how organisations can create strategies that balance social outcomes with environmental responsibility.
Your learning may also include applied projects or research components where you investigate real sustainability challenges and develop practical recommendations for organisations. Through this process, you will strengthen your ability to think strategically and lead meaningful change in complex business environments.
This is for you if ...
Students who are interested in sustainability, ethical decision making, and the relationship between business and society are well suited to this subject. A background in business or another discipline, combined with curiosity about environmental and social challenges, can provide a strong foundation for postgraduate study.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Sustainable Business as an undergraduate at Otago.
Rethinking business for a sustainable future
Sustainable business at Otago connects leading research with the real challenges organisations face as they respond to environmental and social change.
Our teaching draws on expertise from across the University, linking business with fields such as environmental science, policy, and social impact. This interdisciplinary perspective helps you understand how sustainability shapes strategy, leadership, and organisational decision-making.
You will explore emerging ideas about responsible enterprise, ethical leadership, and long-term value creation. Through discussion, research-informed teaching, and collaboration with other students, you will examine how organisations can respond to complex sustainability challenges.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Certificate in Business (PGCertBus)
A coursework programme, typically consisting of three papers, that can be completed with full-time study (half year) or part-time study (full year)
Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus)
A two-semester (at full-time), coursework programme, offering specialisation in a variety of subjects and a possible entry pathway into the MBus
Master of Sustainable Business (MSusBus)
A one-year programme (two-years part-time) with the options: coursework-only, coursework and a project, or coursework and a dissertation
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Contacts
Department of Management
Otago Business School
Email sustainablebusiness@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/management
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