Business Sustainability

UCD Smurfit School and Bord Bia will be seeking applications from ambitious executives with a minimum of 4 years experience who come from a broad range of specialist areas and who want to hone their skills in the area of business sustainability for the 2025 intake at the end of 2024.



You will undertake overseas placements with some of the world’s leading global brands, while gaining an internationally recognised Masters. Although a majority of markets will be English-spoken, some of the overseas placements will require a sufficient working-level fluency in Italian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch or Chinese.



We have assembled the world’s best food industry educators from business schools including Harvard, IMD, NYU Stern and UCD Smurfit School.



This is a full scholarship programme. All tuition fees are paid and, in addition, you receive a tax free bursary of €32,100 per 12 months (subject to confirmation)



Placements are overseas, at the headquarters of the world’s leading brand-owning firms. These have included: Starbucks, Nestle, Danone, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Subway, Ahold, Costco, Sainsbury’s, Five Guys, Diageo, Marks & Spencer, Mars, Tesco, Alibaba, Sodexo, Bidvest, Bunge, Pepsico, among others



Programme Structure

Overseas placements with the world’s leading global brands

Academic block release and professional skills training in Ireland

Internationally-recognised Masters with UCD Smurfit Business School - MSc Business Sustainability

Full tuition fees paid and bursary towards living expenses awarded

Applications welcome from graduates with a minimum of 4 years’ experience

Outstanding career prospects and professional development



The MSc in Business Sustainability is a 22 month, full-time programme. With a strong emphasis on professional and career development throughout, the initial months involve in-class modules, field trips and participation at industry and sustainability events. Participants then complete overseas placements with leading international firms. Particpants return to Dublin for block release to complete academic modules, skills training and other activities.

The programme delivery model is underpinned by experiential learning opportunities and is built around in-class modules, professional & career development, and placements with leading international food firms.



Led by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, the programme includes faculty from Harvard Business School, INSEAD, and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Each faculty member is a world-renowned expert in the field of sustainability, food and agri-business who delivers the latest thinking and practice in the area of sustainability.



In-class modules include:

Business Sustainability

Supply Chain Engagement for Sustainability

Sustainable Agribusiness Supply Chains

Sustainability as a Business Development Vehicle

Innovation & Marketing in the Organisation

Project Management & Negotiation

Environmental Policy

Leadership Themes in Food & Agribusiness



International Placement

This element of the programme is designed specifically for participants to learn alongside global firms in the area of sustainability. We partner with leading international food companies to provide participants first-hand experience of solving challenges and implementing sustainability programmes.



Placements are overseas, at the headquarters of the world’s leading brand-owning firms. These have included: Starbucks, Nestle, Danone, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Subway, Ahold, Costco, Sainsbury’s, Five Guys, Diageo, Marks & Spencer, Mars, Tesco, Alibaba, Sodexo, Bidvest, Bunge, Pepsico, among others



IN-MARKET PRACTICE

Over the course of the programme participants will complete placements in a Bord Bia export market where they learn how to build awareness of Irish sustainability initiatives in the market specifically with B2B customers, government and non-government agencies.

Who is it for?

The MSc Business Sustainability is designed for individuals who come from a broad range of specialist areas and who want to develop their expertise in business sustainability in the global food & drink industry. This full-time, highly intensive programme will challenge participants to learn and develop leadership and management competencies. We look for participants who have four/five years work experience and can demonstrate an ability to manage academic requirements along with the flexibility to relocate internationally and a passion for pursuing a career in the food, drink and horticulture industry.



In particular, this programme is suitable for:



High achievers with the potential to be effective industry leaders

Candidates with a genuine interest in sustainability and the food/agribusiness sector

Experienced functional or technical specialists in transition to a change management role

Participants with key technical skills and experience in areas such as food, agricultural, environmental, social responsibility, sustainability, science, energy, among other areas.

A strong passion for pursuing a career in the food, drink and horticulture industry.

Working-level fluency in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch or Chinese.



Additional requirements

It is a requirement that the participants are willing/able to live in a foreign country, and travel in-market at relatively short notice

23 months Full Time

Next Intake: September 2025