Finance (Sustainable Finance) with Placement Year

Finance with a focus on sustainable finance addresses one of the most important and rapidly growing areas of the financial sector. Sustainable finance is concerned with how capital is allocated in ways that take environmental, social, and governance factors into account, alongside traditional risk and return considerations. As the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation become more visible, and as regulators, investors, and civil society demand greater accountability from financial institutions, sustainable finance has moved from a niche concern to a central feature of how global capital markets operate.

At the University of Reading, this four-year programme combines a thorough grounding in finance with a specialist focus on sustainability. You will study financial theory, portfolio management, corporate finance, and financial markets alongside topics specific to sustainable finance, including environmental economics, ESG analysis, green bonds and sustainable investment products, and the regulatory frameworks that govern disclosure and reporting on climate and sustainability risks. The programme includes a placement year, which is one of its most valuable features, giving you the opportunity to spend a substantial period working within a financial organisation, sustainability team, or related professional context before completing your studies.

Reading's business school has strong connections with financial institutions and corporate finance practitioners, and the sustainability specialism reflects the university's commitment to research and teaching at the intersection of business and environmental responsibility.

Graduates move into roles in investment management, banking, corporate finance, sustainability consulting, risk analysis, and the growing field of ESG research and reporting. Financial employers across the asset management, insurance, banking, and advisory sectors are actively seeking graduates who combine technical financial knowledge with genuine understanding of sustainability risks and frameworks. Postgraduate study in finance, sustainable business, or environmental economics is a further option for graduates wishing to specialise.