About the programme

It is estimated that achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will require investments of $5-7 trillion annually across both the public and private sector. The estimated $2.5 trillion investment gap every year in the developing world is a significant challenge but also an opportunity for policy makers, investors and businesses alike.

In this respect, the course will advance your understanding of finance theory and the application of sustainability factors to financial markets. The course also features a strong low-carbon energy component and aims to equip students with creative and analytical approaches to problem-solving in the sustainable finance context as well as enhance the students’ interpersonal and leadership skills. Additionally, students are prepared with the skills necessary in today’s world, such as coding and building green portfolios.

This MSc in Sustainable Finance is suitable for graduates with backgrounds not only in business, finance and economics, but in fields such as environmental science, physics, engineering, and math, who are keen to pursue a career in the sustainable business and finance industry.

The programme can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. The part-time option enables current professionals with the relevant background to combine working life with study, however this is dependent on students’ employment commitments. Note that this is not a dedicated part-time programme and that part-time students will be required to attend lectures, tutorials and complete group assignments in conjunction with the full-time cohort, for whom the schedule is primarily during working hours for a block of hours on several days a week. Modules in the autumn trimester will be delivered in a compressed format, meaning that modules are taught intensively over two 6 week periods, requiring additional attendance at lectures and tutorials. Employer support is therefore essential.

CFA Certificate in ESG Investing
UCD Smurfit School has been accepted into the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing Recognition Programme with the School’s MSc in Sustainable Finance programme. The recognition confirms that UCD Smurfit School’s MSc in Sustainable Finance recognises essential topics from the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing and acknowledges ESG in finance as a global priority. The CFA Certificate in ESG Investing gives holders the ability to incorporate ESG factors (environmental, social, and governance) into their investment decision-making process– capabilities that are increasingly sought after.

GARP Academic Partner
The MSc in Sustainable Finance is partnered with the GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate. GARP® is the world’s leading professional association for risk managers, dedicated to the advancement of the risk profession through education, research, and the promotion of best practices. The GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate Programme builds a framework for navigating the complexities of climate-driven risk, sustainability, and relevant regulatory policies.

Career opportunities:

The MSc in Sustainable Finance (formerly called the MSc in Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance) from UCD Smurfit School is highly esteemed across the sustainable development, energy, and renewables sectors. Our graduates go on to occupy positions in both the public and private sectors.

• Potential careers for our graduates include:
• ESG Analyst
• Project Financing
• Energy Trading
• Business Development
• Commodity Broker/Trader
• Planning Officer
• Research Analyst
• Industrial Engineer
• Consultant
• Policy Research

Courses modules include:

• Financial Econometrics
• Financial Theory
• Financial Analysis
• Capital Markets and Instruments
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Applied Derivative Securities
• Energy Economics and Policy
• Portfolio and Risk Management
• Renewable Energy Finance
• Sustainable Finance
• Ethics in Financial Services
• Green Data Science

Student Testimonial