Rotterdam School of Management | Erasmus University
Online MSc in Sustainability Management
Rotterdam, Netherlands
MSc
DURATION
24 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
23 Jan 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,500 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* Scholarships & incentives now available for applicants! Up to €2000 off tuition fees
Key Summary
Advance your career with a master's in Sustainability Management. This master equips learners with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to lead sustainable transformations.
This online programme has been tailored for talented sustainability-minded professionals, like you, who want to undertake a master's degree from one of Europe’s top business schools and advance their careers without the need for travel – while still benefitting from an international classroom and engaging with leading faculty members.
Scholarships available
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), is dedicated to empowering learners globally. Through scholarships they provide financial support to help applicants pursue their educational and career goals.
RSM now offers 4 different scholarships for those applying to the Online Master programmes, which can range from €500 to €2000 off tuition fees. The scholarships are available to EU and non-EU applicants.
Explore the available scholarships and discover how RSM can support your next step. Clck here.
Why choose this online master?
This master is the right fit for professionals who are aiming to upskill, switch careers, or accelerate career progression in sustainability management, all without putting work or personal life on hold.
RSM is consistently ranked among the best business schools in Europe. With this master, which is taught fully online in English over 24 months, learners can have the benefits of studying flexibly online, but with the same qualification and quality of learning as an on-campus student.
Participants will gain the skills to think critically, creatively and analytically about the most defining issues in sustainability management. They will study theoretical foundations, which will then be applied to solve real-world problems and obstacles. Each module is taught by an expert in that field who additionally are active researchers in sustainability management.
The online learning experience incorporates a big element of human touch. As the classroom is a global one, interaction with diverse cohorts from all over the world is also part of the experience. Online students also have access to many support services such as dedicated study advisors, the online library, online events and networking opportunities.
The online programme offers the same academic excellence Erasmus University Rotterdam is known for, and have added benefits, such as:
- Students can learn from anywhere in the world.
- The courses are more inclusive and accessible.
- Learners can keep their jobs while learning.
- Students can be a part of a global classroom.
Flexible & interactive
Designed to fit around your life, taught through a blended online learning approach to ensure flexibility as well as engagement.
Career growth for professionals
Upskill, switch careers, or accelerate career progression in the in-demand field of data and AI – all without putting work or personal life on hold.
Fully accredited MSc, 100% online
Gain a Master of Science degree, access high-quality education and connect with top academic faculty regardless of location.
Delivered in English
The online masters programmes are designed with international careers in mind, making you eligible for positions in organisations worldwide.
Explore our scholarships opportunities, ranging from €500 to €2000 off tuition fees
What do you learn?
Over the course of two semesters, and 6 modules, theoretical foundations will firstly be studied, and then learners must apply the knowledge to real-world challenges. Learners will be challenged to think critically about business strategies to be able to develop new sustainable business solutions for sustainability.
Curriculum
The online MSc Sustainability Management is a two-year programme consisting of six courses. You will study the theoretical foundations of sustainability management, which will then be applied to solve real-world problems and obstacles.
At the end of your study, you will have to complete your final project, where you will apply the knowledge you gained during the programme to overcome a real challenge that an organisation is facing.
Year 1
- Business and systems change
- Implementing sustainability strategies
- Corporate governance for sustainability
- Business ethics and responsible leadership
Year 2
- Tackling social issues
- Tackling environmental issues
- Final project
Learning objectives
Knowledge
Learn how to:
- Analyse business sustainability from various perspectives.
- Determine how business is implicated in regard to sustainability issues.
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks that sustainability issues create for businesses and organisations.
- Consider the almost limitless ways in which organisations can become more sustainable.
Skills
Become confident in:
- Planning effective corporate responses to sustainability issues.
- Effectively and confidently communicating your sustainability initiatives to stakeholders.
- Advanced problem-solving, communication and collaboration.
Analytic ability
Gain hands-on experience in:
- Using data to develop solutions.
- Critically assessing whether sustainability initiatives produce the intended effects.
Career prospects
Build a future-proof career in an in-demand profession. According to the Global Green Skills Report 2023, it is expected that millions of new jobs, driven by new climate policies and commitments, will be created globally in the next decade.
The report also mentions that the top green skills required by employers include sustainability, climate comprehension, renewable energy and corporate social responsibility.
Career goals
- More mobility in the Sustainability field.
- Potential promotion to a senior management role.
- Can integrate sustainable practices into core business strategies.
- Updated and deepened knowledge of global sustainability standards and practices.
- Can advise on sustainable development and environmental compliance in a consulting role.
- Enhanced expertise in sustainable management practices.
- Become a thought leader in the field of sustainability.
This MSc Sustainability Management programme is delivered fully online through the online campus by RSM via Erasmus University Rotterdam.
A blended learning approach is used, that comprises both live learning sessions and independent study, and which ensures flexibility as well as engagement. This blend empowers participants to engage with the content and peers in a manner that suits individual circumstances, while still fostering a sense of community within your own cohort.
The programme follows a structured and logical sequence of modules that enhance overall focus and group cohesion, and it develops and maintains a strong cohort dynamic. Students can participate effectively regardless of geographical location or time constraints, because of the flexibility provided with the diverse learning materials and formats.
Live sessions
Learners can participate in real time and connect with peers and faculty. Examples: live sessions with teacher and peers, lectures, panel discussions, networking sessions, Q&A sessions, masterclasses.
Independent study
Learners can gain more flexibility than with traditional in‑person programmes through indepent study. Examples: online materials such as recorded lectures, discussion forums, case studies, written assignments and essays, and online workbooks.
Virtual one-to-one sessions
Participants can receive group and personal sessions with professors and study advisors. Examples: feedback and discussion sessions with your professors, reflection time to understand important aspects of the course, live sessions at the end of each module, and peer-to-peer discussions and exercises to prepare for the course assessment.
Support services
Online students have access to many support services such as dedicated study advisors, the online library, online events and networking opportunities.
About the learning platform
RSM’s online MSc learning materials are accessed through the virtual learning environment (VLE), Canvas, the world's number one teaching and learning software. You can access Canvas from your desktop, laptop and mobile devices.