Start Date: September 2025 

Mode of Delivery: Blended learning (Full-Time) / Online, Web-based E-learning (Part-Time) 

MA Duration: 1 Year (Full-time) / 2 Years (Part-time)  

Language: English 

This programme is ideal for: 

• Professionals in Complex Settings: Enhance your ability to lead and manage sustainability solutions in international, regional, governmental, or non-governmental organizations. Benefit from advanced skills that allow you to effectively navigate and resolve complex sustainability challenges.
• UN System and International Organization Employees: Specifically designed for employees within the UN system and other international entities, this program enhances your capacity to spearhead sustainability initiatives and make strategic decisions that impact global frameworks.
• Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs: As current or aspiring leaders in the business world, integrating sustainable practices into your strategic operations not only advances your career but also drives your company's sustainability agenda forward. Learn to implement cutting-edge sustainable solutions that increase operational efficiency, improve your company’s bottom line, and enhance its reputation in corporate responsibility.
• Graduate Students and Researchers: Expand your academic horizons and apply your skills in high-level discussions and practical applications of sustainability and leadership. The program prepares you for challenges in both academia and real-world settings, enhancing your qualifications for high-impact roles. 

Benefits to Individuals 

• Career Advancement: Equip yourself with the leadership skills and credentials to assume higher roles within any organization or sector. This course increases your marketability and prepares you for significant roles in sustainability.
• Skill Enhancement: Acquire a comprehensive understanding of sustainable practices, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that set you apart in the professional world.
• Network Growth: Connect with a global community of professionals, experts, and leaders through the UNITAR partnership, expanding your professional network and opportunities for collaboration. 

Benefits to Organizations 

• Develop Leaders: Encourage a culture of innovation and proactive problem-solving as employees apply fresh sustainability insights and strategies learned from this course.
• Operational Efficiency: Implement state-of-the-art sustainability practices that enhance operational efficiency and sustainability, reducing costs and boosting your company's performance.
• Enhanced Reputation: Train your team to lead in sustainability, supporting compliance with global standards and boosting your organization's reputation as a leader in corporate responsibility. 

Graduates of the MA in Global Sustainability Leadership will be able to: 

• Drive Sustainability Across Sectors: Apply sustainability principles to influence policy and corporate strategies, enhancing environmental, social, and economic outcomes.
• Lead in Sustainability and Conflict Resolution: Take on leadership roles requiring complex problem-solving in peacebuilding and conflict management, promoting sustainable development.
• Champion the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Integrate and promote the SDGs within various organizational frameworks to achieve targeted global impacts.
• Develop Critical Thinking and Collaborative Skills: Enhance analytical and collaborative skills to address sustainability challenges effectively and foster stakeholder consensus.
• Evaluate Organizational Sustainability Practices: Critically assess and improve organizational sustainability practices and strategies.
• Implement Ethical Leadership: Lead with integrity, making decisions that align with ethical standards and sustainability goals. 

The MA in Global Sustainability Leadership is a 90 ECTS programme designed to equip students with a deep understanding of sustainability, leadership, and innovation. 

Full-Time (1 Year) / Part-Time (2 Years) 

• Full-time learners complete the curriculum in one academic year, engaging in an intensive study schedule with higher course loads per semester.
• Part-Time learners spread their coursework over two years, offering greater flexibility for working professionals. 

Semester 1 (Full-Time) / Year 1, Semester 1 (Part-Time) 

• Sustainable Economic Development (Mandatory)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking for Cultural Transformation & Power Balance (Elective)
• Innovation, Change, and Value Creation (Elective)
• Sustainability Leadership (Elective) 

Semester 2 (Full-Time) / Year 1, Semester 2 (Part-Time) 

• Critical Thinking, Creativity, Imagination & Perspectives (Mandatory)
• Entrepreneurship in Conflict & Peace (Mandatory)
• Virtual Peacebuilding (Elective)
• Responsible Innovation & Climate Activism (Elective) 

Semester 3 (Full-Time) / Year 2, Semester 1 (Part-Time) 

• Systems Thinking and Behavioural Change (Mandatory)
• Analytics for Decision-Making and Impact (Mandatory)
• Applied Research Project (Mandatory)
• Research Methods (Mandatory)
• Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Elective)
• Geopolitics and the Global Economy (Elective) 

Semester 4 (Full-Time) / Year 2, Semester 2 (Part-Time) 

• Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health & Wellbeing for Leadership (Mandatory)
• Professional and Personal Development & Reflection (Mandatory)
• Applied Research Project (Mandatory)
• Research Methods (Mandatory)
• Digital Entrepreneurship & Transformation (Elective)
• Leadership for Resolution, Peacebuilding & Sustainability (Elective) 
  

The course schedule is structured to provide flexibility and engagement, catering to the diverse needs of our global student body. Here’s how we ensure that our delivery aligns with your professional and personal commitments:  

• Blended Delivery to Increase Flexibility: Our programme is delivered using a blended approach which provides the best of both worlds; the flexibility of online and the enhanced personal connections of face to face. UNITAR lectures are delivered entirely online, designed to fit your schedule. You can access course materials, including lectures, readings, and assignments, whenever it suits you best, making it ideal for professionals managing career and family responsibilities. TU Dublin lectures are delivered in person on our City Campus, allowing you to connect with fellow students and lecturers face to face, and providing opportunities to build and strengthen your networks.
• Interactive Learning Platforms: Using our advanced Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Brightspace, we offer a blend of high-quality pre-recorded lecture videos and live sessions. This mix ensures that you receive an educational experience that is both flexible and engaging.
• Live and On-Demand Access: Choose to attend live seminars and guest lectures for real-time interaction or utilize the recorded versions for later review. This flexibility ensures that you can engage with the course content actively or passively, depending on your availability.
• Rich Interactive Components: Our course includes moderated discussion forums where you can engage with peers and instructors. These forums are designed to foster a vibrant learning community, enabling you to share insights, ask questions, and discuss real-world applications of course concepts.
• Scheduled Reviews and Assessments: Each semester includes a structured timeline that integrates teaching weeks and assessment periods. Lectures run from Week 1 to Week 12, with a reading week in Week 7 to provide you with time to reflect and catch up. Assessments are carefully scheduled to give you ample time to prepare, ensuring that you can perform to the best of your abilities. 

By enrolling in our program, you join a community of learners who are flexible, engaged, and committed to making a significant impact in the fields of sustainability and leadership. The schedule is crafted to allow you to learn at your own pace while staying connected with a global network of professionals. 

The tuition fee for the full programme is: 

• Full-Time (1 Year): €10,000.
• Part-Time (2 Years): €15,000. 

For more information on the costs, payments, or any related questions please check the following pages on TU Dublin’s website. 

• About Fees and Founding
• Paying Fees Online 
  

Applications for 2025 are now open. All applicants must apply online via the links below: 

Full-Time (1 Year)  

• Apply Now - EU Applicants (Full-Time) 

Part-Time (2 Years) 

• Apply Now – EU Applicants
• Apply Now – Non-EU Applicants 

For further information on the application process, please visit How To Apply. 

The programme coordinator is available to help students during the application process. Learners are encouraged to email any questions to  elearning.ptp@unitar.org . 

Application Requirements 

• Students must have completed an undergraduate degree: Candidates applying for the Postgraduate Certificate must hold a minimum second-class honors degree (2.2) or higher or equivalent third level qualification in any discipline.
• Proficiency in English: Applicants whose first language is not English must attach a certified qualification of proficiency in English as the programme is conducted through the medium of English. International students who have studied their undergraduate programme entirely through the medium of English may be exempt from the minimum English Proficiency requirement when applying for postgraduate programmes at TU Dublin. However, this is dependent on the International Student Office receiving certified documentation confirming that the undergraduate programme was studied through the medium of English. This certified documentation should be from the third level Institution where the applicant graduated with his/her undergraduate degree. However, TU Dublin may request that the applicant present an English Proficiency qualification if the International Student Officer is not satisfied with the applicant's level of English. 

Applicants not meeting the normal entry requirements but with relevant prior experiential learning may be proposed by the Programme Coordinator for exceptional entry by submitting an Exceptional Entry application to the sub-committee of Faculty Board. 

Non-EU Students 

Non-EU students, not resident in Ireland, may only apply for part-time programs that are exclusively offered online, applications for courses that require on-campus attendance will not be processed and the application fee will not be refunded.  Applications for exclusively online courses can be made under the following guidelines: 

• Standard Part-Time Rate: Non-EU students can apply and pay tuition fees at the standard part-time rate for the chosen program.
• No Student Visa Required: Non-EU students applying for 100% online part-time courses do not require a student visa for Ireland.
• No Residency Status Needed: Applicants do not need to possess any residency status in Ireland to be eligible for online programs as there is no requirement to travel to Ireland. 

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) 

Av. de la Paix 7 bis, 1202 Genève, Switzerland 

Online Learning and Education, MGSL 

E-mail: elearning.ptp@unitar.org 

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) 

https://www.tudublin.ie/study/postgraduate/courses/global-sustainability-leadership-tu350-full-time/ 

Aungier St, Dublin 2, D02 HW71, Ireland 

Dr Emma Howard 

Programme Chair 
Lecturer, Sustainable Economic Development 

E-mail: emma.howard@tudublin.ie