Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course structure

This course is designed for graduates of any subject with or without work experience. Case studies, company visits and the option of paid work experience help prepare you for a career in the supply chain. 

Core modules will give you practical knowledge in a variety of logistics and supply areas as well as key business skills such as financial analysis. In term 3 you will be able to tailor your course through a choice of a final project or work placement.

Teaching takes place over three terms, from late September to early June, with breaks after assessments in mid-December to early January and late March to mid-April.  

At the end of the course, you have a choice between a final year project or a work experience-based report. These are completed after teaching finishes in the summer.

Field trip to Shepherd Neame – Britain's oldest brewer

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Career prospects 

Supply chain management is a broad term which includes many roles and functional areas. With the increasing move to e-commerce new roles are emerging for logistics and supply chain experts, including analysts with good modelling and forecasting skills. 

Many job advertisements state that it is highly desirable to have SAP enterprise planning experience and/or a professional qualification. This course fulfils both requirements as it is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). 

Today's jobs market is highly competitive and a postgraduate degree can command a premium with employers. A survey of destinations six months after graduation carried out by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) found that postgraduates were more likely to have found employment and be working in a professional role than those with only a first degree.

This course has strong links to a number of local companies with significant supply chain operations. Industry-based projects provide valuable experience. 

This course has been designed for people wanting to start careers in: 

• supply chain design and planning
• consulting and e-business
• inventory management and production
• procurement and supply chain management
• distribution network design and
• planning sales and operations planning.

The majority of organisations will have roles or functions related to supply chain management, such as: 

• procurement divisions of companies
• third-party distribution companies 
• the retail industry 
• logistics and distribution divisions of manufacturers 
• manufacturing logistics 
• freight forwarders 
• parcel delivery services 
• local and central government consultants 
• road freight hauliers 
• supply chain consultancies
• the Armed Forces 
• the health services charities.