Sustainability graduates are in hot demand

As the business world prepares for a greener future, an increasing number of young people in the UK are choosing to study subjects that will land them graduate jobs in the low-carbon arena.

In support of this, more universities and business schools are offering masters courses in this field.

One of the first was the MSc in sustainability and management at the Centre for Research Into Sustainability at the University of London.

The deputy director of the course, Dr Mary Dengler, said more businesses had been spending on long-term environmental issues over the past couple of years.

Dr Diane Holt, programme co-ordinator for the MSc in sustainability and corporate social responsibility at Queen's University Management School in Belfast, agrees. 

"There is a growing need for people who know about sustainability to enter the workforce. There are a larger number of jobs for graduates in this area, and it's important that our graduates are able to work in whatever comes up. 

"We're getting people who have studied geography, history, philosophy or law. And people who graduated 10 years ago, as well as new graduates. What it doesn't attract is those doing it because they can't think of anything else to do. The people have real commitment," she told the Independent.