A flexible opportunity to gain degree-level qualifications and skills to support a chosen career path or business.
START: 13/4/2026 END: 12/6/2026 DAY: TBC
Sustainability in Business: Principles of Sustainability (Higher Education Short Course) Online
Awarding body
Course overview
Application codes
Course Code
5FDBUHAP2R
Date, fees & location
Start date
June 2026
Location
Online
Fees
£425
Timetable
Duration
8 weeks
Study mode
Part-Time
Days of week
TBC (Eve)
Delivery
Online
Award
Course award
Through these degree-level qualifications you’ll be able to enrich your CV and skillset.
Description & Modules
This short higher education course in Sustainability in Business: Principles of Sustainability is taken from the Pearson HNC in Sustainable Business Management qualification. It will help you develop as a professional, self-reflecting individual, able to meet the demands of employers in the business sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. This is an ideal course for those looking to add to their CV, develop or change their career.
The course is delivered entirely online by our teachers through our Virtual Learning Environment. When you study with Activate Learning, you will belong to a group of higher education students and have regular one-to-ones, group interactions and taught sessions with a team of highly qualified and experienced teachers with experience of sustainability in contemporary organisations.
We understand the unique needs of students studying online; we appreciate that they may be juggling work, family, and other commitments, and at Activate Learning, we are experienced in supporting people in those situations. We have a dedicated team of Higher Education Study Support Tutors who are on hand if you need additional help.
The course offers a solid foundation in Principles of Sustainability and is aimed at students who would like a broad knowledge of this important subject. This is ideal for students interested in sustainability and its application in business.
Through the course, you will explore the essential principles of sustainability in business that organisations are increasingly making a priority and adhering to. You will consider the impact of sustainable business on communities, and the steps necessary to develop sustainability strategies within organisations. You will also have the opportunity to investigate in more detail the role of sustainability practitioners, who are responsible for leading projects and working closely with a variety of stakeholders and partners. On successful completion of this course, you will be able to understand economic theories of sustainable development in organisations and make use of the different tools available to identify sustainable themes/partners for developing relevant strategies. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to progress into roles in the sector and/or higher levels of study.
This course is made available under HN Flex.
Please note: the closing date for applications is 30 March 2026.
‘Live’ sessions will take place in the evening, on a day to be confirmed.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching and assessment
This course is delivered online and will consist of ‘live’ (synchronous) workshops and seminars (approximately 2 hours each week) along with learning materials which you will be guided through and able to complete at a time convenient to you. This is likely to take you between 8 and 10 hours to complete each week.
You will learn through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. By participating in vocational activities, you will develop key behaviours and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, research, and analysis. Plus, you’ll be taught by a friendly, committed, and qualified team of lecturers who have both professional and teaching experience.
You will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, group assessment, peer assessment, portfolio assessment and practice-related coursework. You will also be supported with a wide range of learning resources made available via Activate Learning’s Online Learning Environment (ALO), including access to textbooks, articles, and multimedia content.
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
Entry Requirements
The standard eligibility criteria for this course are 4 GCSE/O Levels at grade C/4 or above to include English and maths, along with either of the following:
- BTEC/Edexcel Advanced GNVQ
- an A Level
- National Certificate Diploma in a related discipline
- relevant Access to HE Diploma course
- Or other qualifications which are considered to be equivalent to the above
At Activate Learning however, we value relevant industry experience just as highly as academic qualifications. So, if you don’t have an academic background, don’t worry – your industry experience is considered on merit, and we encourage you to apply.
If you are thinking of returning to education but do not possess all the formal entry qualifications, your application may be considered through our Recognition of Prior Experience/Learning procedure. You will need GCSE English and maths or equivalent. In addition, you should be able to demonstrate experience and achievement in a range of business-related activities. We would also look for evidence of continuous professional development and learning. You should provide details of your experience and any courses you have completed, along with your reasons for wanting to pursue this course of study in the Personal Statement section of the application.
If you want to find out more about our recognition of prior learning procedure or have any questions about the course, please do talk to us.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable by achieving a score in a recognised test such as:
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B
- PTE Academic 51, or
- IELTS 5.5 (reading and writing must be at 5.5)
Careers
On successful completion of this course, you can progress to our HNC in Sustainable Business Management (top-up) and complete another 7 units. We offer excellent progression, so once you have achieved your HND, you can continue your studies and ‘Top Up’ to a BA (Hons) degree (subject to meeting entry requirements).
Career opportunities could include becoming a Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Environmental Social Governance Officer or responsible business officer, to name a few.
Fees
Fee Breakdown
Tuition Fees
Fees in the academic year 2025/6 are £425.
Additional costs
You will need access to a laptop or PC along with a reliable internet connection.
You can borrow ebooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists from our Learning Resource Centres, either physically on campus, or in the majority of cases online. If you choose to purchase textbooks, they may cost up to c£60 each.
