Frequently Asked Questions

Our sustainability courses have been developed to help you gain practical skills and the expertise you need to achieve your organisation’s sustainability goals. From understanding and implementing your very first sustainability plan to marketing and communicating your positive actions, we provide the complete know-how.

If you are a business leader looking to integrate sustainability into your operations, a sustainability professional looking to broaden your skill set and boost your career in sustainability, or you would like to be more active in your organisation’s sustainability initiatives or be more involved in clients’ sustainability projects, the Diploma in Business Sustainability is for you.

The course modules are accessible round-the-clock on an online learning platform called Thinkific. This allows for complete freedom for you to learn at your own pace and time. Apart from the course materials, Diploma course participants will also be a part of the course community where they can interact with their peers and get their queries answered. Additionally, participants can also attend live masterclasses conducted by sustainability experts, to gain additional insights into the latest in business sustainability. 

This means that you will have full control over your learning pace, allowing you to progress at your preferred speed through the modules. To foster a sense of collective learning and stimulate peer discussions within the course community, you’ll receive guidance to smoothly transition from one module to the next, ensuring you maximise your learning experience.

It is not essential to have any experience in sustainability to undertake our Diploma. Many of your peers would have had very little knowledge of sustainability prior to the commencement of the course.

We have partnered with Stripe, one of the most respected and secure payment systems available, to make your Credit Card purchasing experience as seamless as possible. We also use PayPal if you prefer that option. Lastly, we can send you an invoice and you can pay using a bank transfer. Lastly, we offer payment plans. Speak to our course advisor to avail any of these options.

You will receive 24/7 access to all course materials and masterclasses of the Diploma course for 12 months and the Certificate course for 1 month. This time frame encourages you to stay focused on completing your course to receive your Diploma/Certificate. Plus, you will have access to our alumni and faculty to clarify your queries, discuss sustainability topics and grow your network.

The Diploma course fee is €2,450/ £2,150/ $2,500.

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Upon completion of the Diploma in Business Sustainability, you will be issued a Diploma, jointly awarded by the Institute of Sustainability Studies and the Glasgow Caledonian University, our credit-rating partner. The Diploma is recognised at Level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and Level 5 on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The Diploma in Business Sustainability has also been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to Continuing Professional Development principles. The Diploma course qualifies to roughly 36 CPD hours.

There is a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) based assessment that every participant undertakes at the end of the Diploma. Participants are allocated a Pass, Merit, or Distinction, depending on the assessment results. Participants will be tested on the learning outcomes from each module, with 10 questions allocated to each module for a total of 120 MCQs.

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it. Integrating sustainability principles into every aspect of how we live and work is key to creating the systemic change needed to create a sustainable future. Everyone, no matter what their role, needs to understand and become aware of the challenges we face and how you and your organisation can be a driving force to help combat these challenges.

The Institute of Sustainability Studies’ faculty members curated our courses. Our faculty is composed of world-class industry experts, practitioners, and researchers, who are at the forefront of practical and tangible sustainability projects across the globe. Our online course is based on the most cutting-edge information and global sustainability best practices. We continually update our material on a regular basis allowing participants to access updated information and stay current with the latest trends and best practices.
See our faculty page to learn more.

Our past participants have come from a range of industries and sectors including – retail, hospitality, finance, construction, food, and more. Individuals undertake this course to enhance their career while some organisations send a group of employees to upskill in business sustainability. The courses have been designed to be relevant to organisations of all sizes and capacities. The case studies and examples used throughout the modules are interlaced with references to large, medium, and small-sized organisations to facilitate wholesome learning. 

Absolutely! We’ve had teams join our courses from varying sectors and industries, and it is a great way to embed sustainability within your organisation. If you’re interested in participating in teams of five or more, email learning@instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com.

We use Thinkific, our course platform and primary communication tool throughout our courses to share resources, materials, tools, and templates. The Community Channel on the platform also enables you to engage with your peers and faculty members in discussions and stay connected post-graduation.

The Diploma in Business Sustainability course is credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University, a highly-rated UK university. The Diploma will be recognised at Level 7 on the Scottish Curriculum and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). On completion of our Diploma, you will be awarded 24 SCQF credits which is equivalent to 12 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System or ECTS credits. ECTS enables the transfer of credit taken at one institution to be counted towards a qualification studied for at another, promoting greater student mobility.