MBA in Sustainability Management is a 2-year professional management degree with the objective of providing expertise on the management of business administrative functions in the sustainable development sector.
Admission to MBA in Sustainability Management course is based on entrance exams such as CAT, GMAT, CMAT, XAT and personal assessment rounds of GD+PI. A 50% minimum aggregate in an undergraduate degree (10+2+3 pattern) is the eligibility criteria for admission to the course. A 5% relaxation is given to candidates in SC/ST/OBC category. The average fee for an MBA in Sustainability Management is INR 65,000 – 8.3 LPA.
Table of Contents
| Degree | Masters |
| Full Form | Master of Business Administration in Sustainability Management |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | There is no age limit. |
| Entrance Exam | CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, KMAT, etc. |
| Subjects Required | Any subjects in Undergraduate Degree |
| Minimum Percentage | Minimum 50% aggregate in UG degree or as specified by University for general category students, 5% relaxations for reserved categories |
| Average Fees | ₹50K – 5 LPA |
| Average Salary | INR 2.6 – 8 LPA (Source: AmbitionBox) |
| Employment Roles | Sustainability Consultant, R&D Manager, Natural Science Manager, and Research Analyst. |
| Top Recruiters | Tata Power, Vedanta, PWC, Larsen & Toubro, Aditya Birla |
MBA in Sustainability Management is a management professional degree that stands for Masters of Business Administration in Sustainability Management. It is typically a 2-year postgraduate course that merges aspects of people, sustainability, and businesses to attain organizational goals. MBA in Sustainability Management is one of the specialization courses in an MBA course.
XIM University, Pune University, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Prestige University, Nalanda University, and Amity University are some of the prominent colleges that offer a comprehensive degree in MBA in Sustainability Management. Post completion of the course, a myriad of job opportunities become available to graduates such as Sustainability Consultant, R&D Manager, Business Operations Manager, Natural Science Manager, etc. The average salary for a fresh graduate may range from INR 2.6 – 8 LPA [Source: AmbitionBox].
Admission to MBA in Sustainability Management courses is based on various eligibility requirements plus qualifying the minimum cut-off in entrance examinations. Students attempting admission into MBA in Sustainability Management course must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
MBA in Sustainability Management degree is a rewarding course that prepares students for upcoming trends and teaches the need for sustainability systems in businesses. The NRDC (National Research & Development Corporation) noted the need for clean-energy jobs in India increased 5x from 2014 to 2019. This statistic builds on the fact that the need for Sustainability measures and communities is increasing with time.
Aspirants for MBA in Sustainability Management Admissions must be mindful of some critical factors:
The Admissions Process for most management courses requires candidates to qualify through management entrance exams or college-specific entrance exams.
The MBA in Sustainability Management admission process is listed below for clarity:
Management colleges for MBA in Sustainability Management admit students based on students’ entrance exam scores and whether they meet minimum eligibility. The syllabus entrance examinations for MBA in Sustainability Management are based on Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude. These topics need to be prepared well in advance, with sample papers and coaching classes as suitable aids for students.
Some important MBA in Sustainability Management entrance exams are mentioned below for the student’s convenience. The table below also mentions registration dates and colleges that accept these exams:
| Entrance Exams | Tentative Registration Dates | Accepting Colleges |
| CAT | Aug 2 – Sep 13, 2023 | Prestige University, TERI |
| MAT | Aug 17 – Sep 14, 2023 | Amity University, Nalanda University |
| XAT | Jul 15 – Nov 30, 2023 | XIM |
| CMAT | February 2024 | TERI |
For MBA in Sustainability Management, students have options to choose from with regard to the infrastructure, facilities, locations, career exposure, offered by colleges.
The course fee structure for MBA in Sustainability Management largely depends on the type of college. A private institution such as Amity University may have higher fees than Pune University which is a government-run institution. The average course fee for an MBA in Sustainability Management ranges from INR 65,000 to 8.3 LPA.
Tabulated below are important colleges offering MBA in Sustainability Management courses in India:
| S. No. | Name of Institute | Average Annual Fee (INR) |
| 1 | XIM | 6.9 LPA |
| 2 | Pune University | 65,000 PA |
| 3 | TERI School of Advanced Studies | 5.5 LPA |
| 4 | Amity University | 1.62 LPA |
| 5 | Nalanda University | 1.11 LPA |
| 6 | Nicmar, Pune | 3.07 LPA |
| 7 | Prestige University | 8.3 LPA |
The MBA in Sustainability Management admissions are based on the cut-off scores each college sets. The cut-off scores are largely dependent on the number of applicants for the exam, and the overall entrance exam marks of the candidates. Mentioned below are some important entrance exams with their cumulative general category cut-off for colleges:
| Entrance Exam | Expected Cut-off Percentile (2023) |
| XAT | 91+ Percentile |
| MAT | 70+ Percentile |
| CAT | 90+ Percentile |
| CMAT | 95+ Percentile |
| MAH CET | 99+ Percentile |
| CUET | 85+ Percentile |
With global environmental crises happening every day, the need to protect ecosystems through sustainability measures has increased exponentially. Businesses have started Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and need strong champions to manage these programs. Hence, colleges have begun making MBA in Sustainability Management courses available over different modes.
The different types of MBA in Sustainability Management courses are:
| Type | Eligibility Criteria | Colleges Offering | Duration of Course |
| MBA in Sustainability Management Full-time | Candidate must have complete UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks + Entrance Exam | XIM, TERI, Pune University, NICMAR, Nalanda University, Prestige University | 2 Years |
| Executive MBA in Sustainability Management | Candidate must have completed UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks + Entrance Exam + 3 years of work experience | Amity University | 12-18 months |
The syllabus for the 2-year MBA in Sustainability Management course consists of two types of subjects – core and elective subjects that are taught over 4 semesters. The MBA in Sustainability Management syllabus focuses on sustainability aspects such as Business & Environmental Legislation, Sustainable Development, Green Marketing and Environmental Product Design, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, etc.
Some core and elective MBA Sustainability Management subjects have been dissected below with details:
| MBA in Sustainability Management Subjects | Topics Covered |
| Principles & Concepts of Sustainability | Introduction to Sustainable Development, Strategies for Sustainable Development, Sustainability & Climate Change: Carbon Footprint, Protecting Bio-Diversity, Sustainable Agri-Practices, Sustainability & Business Ethics: CSR, ESG, Social Accountability Standards, International Contribution |
| Sustainability Operations & Processes | Operational Sustainability, Fish Bank Simulation Strategy, Systems Dynamic Modelling, Corporate Sustainability Initiatives, Product Stewardship, Design for Environment, Green Environment, Carbon Offset, Waste Management & Natural Resources, Case Study and Situational Analysis for Operations and Processes in Sustainability |
| Environmental Economics & Sustainable Development | Environmental Economics, Market Failure, Economics of Sustainable Development: Strategies & Measurement, Economics of International Environmental Problems, Models of Sustainable Development: Balancing Economic Growth, HUman Development & Environmental Sustainability, Economics of Climate Change |
| Global Framework for Sustainability | Global Framework: Meaning, Concept, Nature, Global Framework for Managing Change, Global Framework Agreement: Labour Union, Labour Code, Labour Laws, Global Framework & Sustainable Development, Contemporary Issues & Global Framework |
| Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) | CSR: Components, Definition, Strategic Advantages, Historical Development, Sustainability Management, CSR & Regulatory Framework in India, CSR and Governance: USO Fund, SEBI Guidelines, Role of Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| Legal Framework for Governance of Sustainable Management | Corporate Governance, Business Environment, National E-Governance Plan, Sustainable Development & Environmental Protection, Sustainable Development in Indian Law: First, Second, Third, and Fourth Phase |
With natural resource depletion and the ongoing climate crisis, opportunities to manage sustainability measures and build sustainable practices have burgeoned, and with it, the need for competent managers who can manage these practices. The average salary for such managers with an MBA in Sustainability Management graduate is around INR 2.6 – 8 LPA. [Source: AmbitionBox]As candidates get more practical experience and exposure, they will get higher positions and earn higher salary slabs.
| Job Roles | Average Annual Entry-Level Salary (in INR) |
| R&D Manager | INR 5.9 LPA |
| Natural Science Manager | INR 8 LPA |
| Sustainability Consultant | INR 4.4 LPA |
| Business Operations Manager | INR 4 LPA |
| Sustainability Manager | INR 6 LPA |
| Research Analyst | INR 2.6 LPA |
| CSR Manager | INR 4 LPA |
[Source: AmbitionBox]
Since the scope for MBA in Sustainability Management is increasing day by day, higher education options are becoming more accessible. Higher education leads to the exchange of knowledge and skills through interaction with college peers, faculty mentors, and field experts. Here are some of the best higher education opportunities for an MBA in Sustainability Management:
MBA in Sustainability Management career options are innumerable in various public and private organizations. The ILO (International Labour Organization) predicted 3 million jobs in the Indian Sustainable Development sector by the year 2030. Companies are constantly seeking graduates with a knowledge backing of management skills interwoven with sustainable strategy development in the corporate, manufacturing, policy-making, and research domains.
Here are some career options for MBA in Sustainability Management graduates:
| Employment Roles | Job Description | Top Recruiters |
| R&D Manager | Responsible for analyzing gaps, and developing project goals, piloting strategies for sustainable practices. Also works hand-in-hand with other sustainability experts. | IBM, Amazon, TCS, Reliance Industries, PwC |
| Natural Science Manager | Tasked with screening, recruiting an organization’s staff of scientists, lab technicians, etc. Responsible for managing projects and evaluating employee performance, and evaluating any training needs required by the staff. | Vedanta |
| Sustainability Consultant | Tasked with planning, organizing, and coordinating strategies for sustainability practices. Optimizing waste management processes, planning green building designs, improving facilities, and instilling sustainable purchasing practices in an organization. | EY, Deloitte, Arcadis, Jacobs |
| Sustainability Manager | Duties involve implementing sustainable strategies, analyzing the environmental impact of materials utilized, and adhering to economical and eco-friendly practices in a construction project. | Deloitte, Jabroyd, dss+, Coats Group |
| Research Analyst | Responsible for identifying areas of improvement and writing reports with recommendations and follow-up actions. Also has to communicate environmental impact assessment to internal and external stakeholders. | Crisil, Deloitte, TCS, S&P Global, Larsen & Toubro |
| Business Operations Manager | Responsible for analyzing organizational data of functional teams, identifying gaps, and creating strategies to roll out POAs that align organizational and employee goals together. | Accenture, Amazon, ZS Associates, Dell |
| CSR Manager | Formulating organizational social responsibility goals, designing strategies, and implementing them to develop organizations’ CSR objectives. | Reliance, Tata, Infosys, HDFC Bank, Aditya Birla |
MBA in Sustainability Management courses require some critical skills from graduates to strategize, implement, and maintain sustainability practices in an organization. Some of these important skills are:
MBA Sustainability Management syllabus focuses on principles and concepts of sustainability, climate change and development, sustainability reporting, etc. Semester-wise MBA in Sustainability Management subjects are given below:
The first-year MBA in Sustainability Management syllabus deals with basic management principles and an introduction to sustainability management concepts. Given below is the semester-wise MBA in Sustainability Management syllabus:
| Semester I | Semester II |
| Principles and concepts of sustainability | Legal Aspects of Business |
| Management Concepts and Organisational Behaviour | Macroeconomics |
| Human Resource Management | Energy Policy and Management |
| Social Responsibility | Research Methodology |
| Business Communication | Climate Change and Development |
| Accounting for Managerial Decisions | Management Information Systems |
| Managerial Economics | Corporate Social Responsibility |
MBA in Sustainability Management course syllabus for the second year imparts knowledge on concepts like social entrepreneurship, consumer behavior in sustainability, etc. Students will do a major project in their fourth semester. Given below is the detailed MBA Sustainability Management syllabus for the second year:
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Accounting and Finance for Sustainability | Environmental Management Systems |
| Business, Natural Ecosystems and Community | Integrated Marketing and Communication |
| Rural Banking | Infrastructure Project Financing and Management |
| Supply Chain Management | Consumer Behaviour |
| Business and Society | Project Work |
| Entrepreneurship | – |
| Project Design and Management for Sustainable Development Practice | – |
Subjects in MBA in Sustainability Management are classified into two parts: core and elective subjects. Students must do internships and complete projects by the end of the MBA in Sustainability Management course.
The following are the core MBA in Sustainability Management subjects that all students must study:
