Finance (Sustainable Finance) with Year Abroad

Finance with a specialisation in sustainable finance is a programme for the era of climate change and environmental, social, and governance investment. Sustainable finance refers to financial decision-making that takes environmental and social considerations alongside financial returns into account, and it has moved from a niche concern to a central preoccupation of the financial services industry as investors, regulators, and the public demand that capital allocation better reflects the risks and responsibilities of a world facing planetary limits. Finance professionals who understand both conventional financial analysis and the specific frameworks, instruments, and risks of sustainable investment are increasingly sought across banks, asset managers, development finance institutions, and corporate treasury teams.

At the University of Reading, this four-year programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study finance and sustainability in another country, which is particularly valuable in a field that is being shaped by regulatory and market developments across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. Reading's Henley Business School has strengths in finance and its programme reflects the growing integration of sustainability into mainstream financial practice. You will study core finance content, including corporate finance, investment and portfolio management, financial markets, and quantitative methods, alongside the frameworks specific to sustainable finance: ESG analysis, green and social bonds, climate risk and scenario analysis, and the regulatory landscape for sustainable investment.

Graduates move into roles in investment management, banking, corporate finance, risk management, and the growing number of positions specifically concerned with ESG analysis, sustainable investment, and climate-related financial disclosure. Development finance institutions, impact investing funds, green infrastructure finance, and the sustainable debt market are all sectors with growing demand for graduates with this profile. Regulatory and advisory roles with financial authorities and consultancies working on sustainable finance are further destinations.

Postgraduate study in sustainable finance, environmental economics, or financial risk management is an option for those who wish to develop deeper expertise.