Transitioning to a more sustainable way of life is key to our future. This MSc will provide you with the knowledge and skills to drive forward change in the management of global supply chains. You will focus on ethics, social responsibility and sustainability and how to implement them into supply chains.

Duration
MSc September start: 1 year (full-time) or 2 years (part-time) plus optional year-long placement (FT only)
PGDip: 8 months (full-time)
PGCert: 4 months (full-time)
MSc January start: 15 months (full-time)
Number of Credits
MSc: 180 credits at Level 7
PGDip: 120 credits at Level 7
PGCert: 60 credits at Level 7
Start date
January 2024
September 2024
January 2025
Degree Type
MSc/PGDip/PGCert
Modules
September 2023 intake
Your on-campus teaching will take place across a maximum of two days a week.
The MSc with placement offers students the opportunity to complete a placement year (30 weeks) during Year 2. The aim of the placement experience is to provide a route for students to develop genuine and practical problem-solving skills in a professional context, to apply learned concepts into practice within their fields of specialism, and to enable students to gain a better understanding of your own abilities and employment potential.
If you are an international student on a visa, your CAS will have a course duration of two years, subject to meeting the UKVI’s standard requirements.
Please be aware that placements:
- are not guaranteed;
- are typically unpaid;
- include a programme of support to assist students in researching, applying for, and finding an appropriate placement;
- must be verified and approved prior to commencement; and
- will be monitored for quality and attendance.
Placement preparation & support
- As part of Postgraduate degrees with placement, students are enrolled in a compulsory Placement Preparation Module (which include a series of workshops) that take place in Term 1 of Year 1. The workshops and activities in this module are designed to help students find and secure a placement and develop key employability skills and knowledge to succeed in the world of work.
- Attendance on the Placement Preparation Module is compulsory with a requirement that the student attends 80% of the timetabled workshops and fully engages with the module requirements and with the Careers and Placement teams.
- The Careers and Placement teams will support students by providing advice on topics such as exploring career paths, CVs, Cover Letters, and interview skills.
Placement Year
- During the placement year, students will undertake a placement with an employer and complete a 40P credit Placement Module.
- To be eligible for the Placement Module, students must have successfully passed taught modules (students do not have to have completed the Consultancy Project (RBP040L052) or the Dissertation (RBP040L051) before the commencement of the placement), met the requirements of the Placement Preparation Module, and secured an approved placement.
- A placement is not guaranteed. The University will offer guidance and support and recommend students to interested organisations; however, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to secure a placement.
- The placement can be full-time or part-time (a minimum of 3 working days, 21-24 hours per week) and can be carried out in-person or remotely, and through work-based projects.
- The placement will ideally be tailored to your interests and aspirations but ultimately meets the needs of employers and must provide relevant experience in line with the learning outcomes of your academic programme. Whereas the roles offered may vary, the emphasis should be on securing a placement within promising growth areas of your discipline and, on both applying and developing existing knowledge and skills in the work place as well as gaining new knowledge and skills.
Why this course
Focus on ethics, social responsibility and sustainability and how to implement them into supply chains.
There is an option to undertake a 12-month industry placement (FT MSc only).
You can study flexibly with the option to take stand-alone qualifications (PGCert/ PGDip) or complete the full MSc.
This programme is CIPS accredited. As a student registered on a CIPS Accredited programme, you will be entitled to complimentary CIPS Affiliate membership.
Skills

Supply chains draw together all of the activities required to deliver goods or services to a consumer, from sourcing raw materials to production, marketing and delivery, and are a fundamental element of all businesses. On this degree you will learn how to manage this process.
You will develop an understanding of all of these processes and of the different roles people in the chain play and how these work to deliver the product or service.
You will explore the use of accounting, budgetary and other information systems in planning, decision-making and control, and how to apply appropriate analytical tools and techniques to optimise organisation performance.
You will also examine how sustainability practices and concepts influence international business policy, stakeholder relationships and strategy design and process.
An accredited programme
This course is a CIPS accredited programme. As a student registered on a CIPS Accredited programme, you will be entitled to complimentary CIPS Affiliate membership.
A CIPS accredited programme also provides fast-track to MCIPS. To apply for MCIPS designation, you will need to submit your application to CIPS within 5 years of graduating and you must have 3 years experience within a role of responsibility within the procurement and supply sector.
How you'll learn
The academic staff you will be taught by have a wealth of experience in supply chains across different industries including maritime, food, health, manufacturing and service.
They have published high-quality journal articles that are linked to real-life case studies, and you will be able to critically evaluate and appreciate cutting edge research in logistics and SCM and its applications to business practice.
There is the option of taking a placement year where you can put your skills and knowledge into practice as well as develop professional contacts within the industry.

Upcoming Events:
Career options
Global supply chains are facing a skills shortage, particularly in countries such as China, India, and South Africa, and across the African continent, and many companies now realise the impact a good supply chain can have on their success. This degree will equip you to work in management positions such as operations, logistics or supply chain management areas in both national and international organisations.

How our careers service supports you
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. We will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers.
Application Info
How to apply
Postgraduate programmes
- January 2024 entry: apply using our direct application form
Apply now for January 2024 entry
- September 2024 entry: apply using our direct application form
Apply now for September 2024 entry
International students
Please note that most international applicants have to pay a deposit before securing their place.
- See our finance pages for more details
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Tuition fees and funding
January 2024 entry tuition fees
2023/24 entry funding
September 2024 entry tuition fees
Validation and curriculum review
What is validation?
Validation is a formal process through which the University approves a programme (content, teaching, learning and assessment) as being of appropriate standard and quality. This is a normal process used throughout the university sector.
The University expects to publish details of the validated programme in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.
What is curriculum review?
Curriculum review is the regular and systematic monitoring and reviewing of programmes. It is a normal process in the sector and it is the way by which the university ensures that your course remains up-to-date and relevant. The process may result in changes to the content, structure and/or assessment of the programme.
The University expects to publish details of the re-validated programme by 31 March in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.