Do you have a sense of foresight and risk management? Are you interested in the processes of the supply chain? If so, this is the course for you.
This programme is also available with an Internationally Incorporated Masters (IIM) specifically designed for the needs of international students.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management is the process of managing a product from creation to transportation. It involves processing orders, storing, moving and delivering goods, but also predicting the future needs of your customers.
On this detail-driven CILT and CIPS-accredited MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course, our in-house academic experts teach you the vital theory, modes and systems to succeed in this area. You’ll graduate with the ability to plan, predict and perform in an ever-important field. Also available with an optional Industrial Placement.
You’ll learn vital topics of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, such as planning, modelling and analytics, operations management and digital transformation alongside the imperative topics of sustainable procurement, warehouse and global transportation management. You will finish your master's with a detailed report with the support of a dedicated expert supervisor.
“The different modules gave me the tools to solve real logistics and supply chain problems.”
~ Maria de la Luz Lino, MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 2020
A minimum of a second-class UK degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in a range of academic subjects will be accepted. Quantitative experience desirable.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and those without an honours degree may also be considered on the basis of work experience, professional qualifications and the relevance of the programme to their current professional role.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Today's increasingly complex global operations and new digital technologies are giving rise to a sea of data and increased need for modelling supply chain environments with the objective of measuring the performance of various strategies, methods and technologies. Supply chain modelling and analytics skills are in high demand and are a must-have for supply chain management career success. This module will cover the following indicative topics:
1. Supply chain modelling: This part aims to formulate key activities of the supply chain while emphasizing both the need for formulation and implementation. These include Networks and Routing Transportation models, Resource Allocation and Production Scheduling models, Inventory management models, Quality control models, and Project Management.
2. Spreadsheet Modelling: This part will cover the use of basic and advanced spreadsheet tools and functions (e.g., sorting, ranges, look-up tables, formatting, plotting graphs, optimisation tools, statistical functions).
3. Analytics Techniques: This part demonstrate how analytics techniques, such as Forecasting, Regression, Descriptive analytics, Probability and Decision Analysis and Optimisation, can be applied to improve supply chains’ efficiency and effectiveness by enabling data-driven decisions at strategic, operational and tactical levels.
transportation centres and the different modes of transport have on the logistic and supply chain systems. It will also provide the student with an understanding of the warehouse management such as picking strategies and warehouse layout, packaging, etc. Students will be able to appreciate the use of appropriate methods that are used in practice and their impact in generating the company competitive advantage.
Indicative topics are as follows:
• Warehousing/Storage (the warehouse location, layout problem, storage equipment, picking strategies, packaging, labelling, etc)
• Inventory management (how much you need to stock to minimise your cost and retain your competitive advantage)
• Distribution & Global Transportation
o Global transportation and techniques adopted in practice (air, sea, railroads, trucks, motorbikes/bicycles, pipelines, others)
o Transport/road technology including software and hardware (trucking devices, software used, etc)
o Transport modelling and its impact on the environment and safety.
The module will be subject to continual refinement to ensure the content is kept relevant to logistic industry and CILT requirements.
Procurement is often the most significant source of immediate and long-term value creation available to any organisation. This module explores the trends and challenges of procurement and discusses its strategic role in supply chain management in today's global and digital environment. The module will also discuss the importance of sustainable procurement in creating new sales opportunities, reducing supply chain risks and providing cost savings. The module will cover the following indicative aspects of procurement:
- Procurement strategy, tactics and operations: the dynamics of make-or-buy decisions, ways of building sourcing competences and capabilities, strategical selection of suppliers and the effective management of their relationship, the ways technology enables access to data on cost structures, supply availability, lead times, financial and operational risks, and service and quality metrics.
- Key procurement issues: pitfalls in outsourcing and protectionism and de-globalisation trends, pressures for time compression, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Procurement 4.0 as an innovation catalyst and competitive advantage.
- Procurement applications: case studies in projects, services, manufacturing and retail operations from both private and public sectors.
Weekly seminars will utilise contemporary case studies and students will be encouraged to present and explore different procurement strategies in practice.
Employers are in search for individuals who possess logical thinking, analytical capability, leadership, communication and the ability to work under pressure. This module develops the necessary research knowledge and skills for students to be able to successfully complete a piece of research in industry or consultancy contexts or academia.
Indicative topics are:
• Choosing the topic of interest and literature review
• Research process and Ethics in in business research
• Choosing your research design
• Preparing the research proposal
• Communicating the Research
The operations management function has always been of vital importance in a wide variety of organisations and industries whether manufacturing- or service-oriented, public or private, small or large. With the rise of Industry 4.0, managers are expected to continuously optimise operations to enable even faster, more flexible, and more efficient processes to create and deliver higher-quality goods and services at reduced costs. This digital revolution means that operations managers need to be prepared to face extraordinary levels of complexity and competitive pressures. Indicative topics include:
1. Provide with fundamental knowledge in operations management and understanding of how operations are being transformed by digital technologies, such as Blockchain, IoT, Big data, Cloud computing, driverless vehicles and 3D printing.
2. Inform and debate how operations management can deliver real competitive advantage by managing and leading digital transformation in businesses
3. Discuss the challenges of operations management to leverage the principles of Industry 4.0 to drive efficiency into the creation and delivery of products and services
The aim of the module is to give students hands-on experience in using industry-standard simulation modelling software in order to structure and solve complex and large-scale managerial decision problems.
The module will cover the following indicative topics.
• Queuing theory: Students will be introduced to the basic underpinnings of queuing theory, including key assumptions, benefits, and limitations.
• Discrete-event simulation: Core theory of discrete-event simulation will be covered, including a review of simulation mechanics, how to incorporate randomness into a simulation, and the systematic analysis of simulation model results. This will be supplemented with practical training in how to build and run simulation models using commercial software. Example applications will be drawn from a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing/production, transportation, healthcare, and other service industries (e.g. banking, retail, customer service).
This module will cover the design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities, such as supplier relationship, production, inventory, transportation and demand management. Strategic questions regarding efficiency versus responsiveness will be addressed with the objective of creating net value, building competitive strategies, leveraging worldwide logistics and synchronizing supply with demand. The module will equip students with appropriate methods that are adopted in practice.
The module will be given in two parts with indicative topics to include:
- An overview of logistic systems and supply chain management, the various activities involved, the main supply chain drivers, responsiveness vs. efficiency, pull versus push strategies and global supply chain management strategies.
- Appropriate techniques to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of supply chain activities, including the distribution design and planning (e.g., where to locate facilities and how to transport goods), the inventory control (to guarantee high customer service levels) and the forecasting activity (to plan operations capacity levels).
This module will cover the following topics:
• Investment appraisal techniques and decisions
• Stock market efficiency – capital market behaviour
• Portfolio theory
• The Capital Asset Pricing Model
• Sources of finance
• Capital Structure
In this module, students will learn about the fundamentals of machine learning and forecasting techniques and gain hands-on experience with analysing and solving a variety of problems encountered in business and management.
Three indicative areas of the module could include:
- Machine learning: The introduction of modern machine learning techniques used in business data analysis, including both supervised learning (e.g. regression, classification, and artificial neural networks) and unsupervised learning (e.g. association rule discovery and cluster analysis).
- Forecasting: Students will learn about various forecasting methods, including exponential smoothing methods and the Box-Jenkins method (i.e. the ARIMA model and variants).
- Data analysis report writing. Students will systematically carry out a data analysis project and write a data analysis report.
The data analysis packages such as R, SPSS, and Weka may be used in this module.
This module introduces students to the area of global value chain (GVC) and its implications for different types of business enterprises (multinational enterprises (MNEs), suppliers, small, large), with a special focus on key theoretical and empirical academic publications as well as available datasets. GVCs are transforming the nature of trade, and it has brought both opportunities and challenges for business enterprises around the world. Such an understanding of GVCs is vital for managers to develop optimal relationships with their value chains partners, adapt to changing business circumstances, and make responsible decisions.
This module aims to introduce students to the power of big data analytics and data visualisation techniques in contributing to business value creation. The module will also enable students to solve a variety of complex data centred business problems using computer software tools like Apache Spark and Python.
The module covers two main themes as follows.
1. Theoretical understanding of big data analytics: This part involves learning about the theoretical foundations of big data analytics, text mining, and social media data mining. It also introduces the effective use of data visualisation and database management concepts and their links with big data analytics. Example applications of big data analytics and visualisation techniques discussed within the module will focus on addressing contemporary challenges faced by industry.
2. Building practical skills and managerial insights: In this part of the module, students will learn how to interact with both SQL and NoSQL databases and how to solve business problems using advanced functions within the Apache Spark and Python software platforms. Students will be guided through demonstrations involving a variety of exercises that will prepare them to be data-driven managers and executives capable of utilising big data analytics for business value creation.
In today's competitive and global economy, companies are turning to project management to consistently deliver business results. Increased number of international and complex projects brings with it a growing demand for project management specialists, according to Project Management Institute (PMI). This module introduces the principles and practice of project management in a global context. The module aims to:
• Equip you with project management tools, techniques and management issues, focusing on key challenges that arise from managing complex projects, such as with regards to project time, quality and cost, resource constraints, stakeholder analysis, cultural diversity and teamwork.
• Analyse contemporary project management issues and employ a range of established and innovative methodologies for adequate project plan, execution and control;
• Critically analyse risks in projects, develop sustainable contingency plans and demonstrate ability to set reasonable and achievable deadlines and milestones across different project tasks with due consideration to economic, social, and environmental aspects surrounding a project.
The module provides a basic understanding of how accounting information can be used to interpret the financial position and performance of a business in an international scenario. It will also develop key skills in relation to how accounting information can inform planning and control decisions in multinational companies. The key principles and international standards upon which financial accounting is based and the form and content of the main financial statements prepared by different types of businesses, with a focus on public limited companies will be studied. The importance of corporate governance in modern businesses and the financial situation and performance of a global corporation by means of ratio analysis will be analysed as well as the importance of cost information for decision making purposes. This module covers the key internationally recognised management accounting techniques that modern businesses use for short-term and long-term decision making.
Indicative areas of the syllabus include:
• Concepts underpinning accounting systems and financial statements
• The construction of the primary financial statements and their interpretation and evaluation
• Classification and behaviour of costs and their use in short-term and long-term decision making
• Responsibility accounting systems and performance appraisal measures, including the balanced scorecard and budgeting
The aim of this module is to enable students to apply basic statistical inference methods for tackling real-world business questions and equip them with basic knowledge of the Python statistical programming package.
The module covers two indicative areas:
1. Business Statistics: Students will learn about descriptive analysis of quantitative data, focusing mainly on how to effectively summarise data, and inferential analysis of quantitative data, which includes identifying key properties of a given dataset, deriving point and interval estimates, hypothesis testing, correlation analysis, and simple linear regression.
2. Python programming package: This will cover the Python programming language and introduce students to basic and more advanced concepts within Python, as well as how to use Python for performing statistical data analyses.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to optimisation modelling and solution techniques, typical applications areas within strategic/operation business planning, and the use of commercial optimisation software.
The module covers the following indicative topics:
• Linear Programming: Students will be introduced to the building blocks of optimisation (i.e. decision variables, objectives, constraints), how to mathematically formulate linear programming (LP) models, LP solution techniques, sensitivity analysis (e.g. range of optimality reduced costs, dual prices), and typical applications like production planning, scheduling, and portfolio selection.
• Network Models: This topic includes a range of concepts and modelling techniques for formulating classic network models, including transportation and assignment, shortest path, maximum flow, and minimum spanning tree problems, and common solution approaches.
• Integer Programming: This will cover integer linear programming (ILP) models, including binary integer models, classic exact and heuristic solution methods (e.g. branch and bound, greedy heuristics), and typical application areas of ILP, including capital budgeting, fixed charge production, and facility location.
This module provides the opportunity to specialise in a topic of your interest and to develop transferable intellectual and employability skills to enter the logistics and supply chain management job market. Working under the guidance of an academic supervisor, students will be offered the opportunity to work on an industry-based project to solve practical problems that require an application-oriented thinking. The problems are varied and interesting, such as routing and distribution, supply chain systems design, strategic role of procurement within an organisation, warehouse layout optimisation, strategic and sustainable sourcing and marketing decisions, offshoring decisions and evaluation and sourcing from international suppliers, contract management, demand forecasting and bus route network design. Students may opt to contact companies and arrange access themselves to collect relevant primary data or to conduct secondary research using documentary records, case notes, archives and other secondary data sources.
Duration: 1 year full-time
This flexible course is studied over one year full-time and consists of seven compulsory and two optional modules in Stage 1 with Stage 2 finishing with a piece of research.
The MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management programme is available with an optional industrial placement, which will require you to complete the Industrial placement Report.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
Your progress on this course is assessed by coursework only. Students wishing to undertake the optional industrial placement will be required to successfully complete all stage 1 modules. The Industrial Placement is assessed by the completion of the Industrial Placement Report.
Industrial placements are the perfect way for you to enhance your career prospects and deepen your understanding of a specific area of expertise. This MSc programme is available with the option to take an in-company or self-employed industrial placement of up to 12 months (visa dependent), allowing you to gain work experience in the UK or overseas.
Our lively and active postgraduate community is brought about in part by our strong research culture and by the close community between our staff and students. Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books and embed their research in their teaching.
Students have regular contact with their course and module conveners with staff on hand to answer any questions and to provide helpful and constructive feedback on submitted work.
You can also get involved with extra-curricular academic and social activities with guest lectures, talks and workshops organised by our academic staff, research centres and the ASPIRE team. You can catch up with our most recent Open for Business Seminar Series.
Our Canterbury campus provides a welcoming environment and a close-knit student community. Kent Business School is based within the Sibson Building which opened in 2017 and its impressive design won the RIBA Regional and National Award. It houses well-equipped lecture and seminar spaces, as well as breakout spaces for group work, Bloomberg suite, computer labs, a dedicated MBA suite, and our ASPIRE Lab Space. There is also a café on site.
The School is conveniently located at the University of Kent’s campus, close to continental Europe and with easy access to London. World-famous Canterbury Cathedral is situated in the heart of the historic city centre, just a 25-minute walk or a short bus ride.
Kent Business School has close links with: ifs (Institute of Financial Services); dunnhumby, who partners the Consumer Insight Service in the Centre for Value Chain Research; Hong Kong Baptist University, with whom we offer a joint Master’s programme in Operational Research and Finance Business Statistics; University of Castellanza (Italy); Audencia Nantes Business School (France); Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences (Denmark); Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; University of Ingolstadt, Bayern (Germany); City University of Hong Kong; Renmin University of China, School of Business.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Kent Business School is a research-led business school. Our research strategy is developed around the core theme of sustainable innovation which cuts across the entire School. This theme can be seen as being divided into two sub-strands of research aimed at answering these main questions:
Kent Business School advances knowledge through constant promotion and support of innovative research. We have an impact on wider society through extensive collaborations with external partners which range from other academic institutions to a variety of local, national and international businesses as well as the NHS. Within this wider context, our main strategic aim has been geared towards establishing ourselves as a leading institution for research in sustainable innovation.
Kent Business School is a global leader in research and develops a wide portfolio of research related activities including workshops, conferences and research seminar series. This has led to a large number of international collaborations and to over 200 co-authored papers with international partners.
Specialising in public-sector critical accounting and accounting history.
Looking into a wide array of financial issues from derivatives pricing to real-estate modelling.
Innovating in wide-ranging topics such as operational research and systems thinking.
Studying issues surrounding consumer behaviours, product development and maintaining value supply chains among others.
People, Management and Organisation
Specialising in improving human resource management, organisational behaviour and leadership.
Strategy and International Business
Helping in the development of innovative business strategies for business all over the world.
Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation
Helping companies to solve complex strategic, tactical and operational problems.
Centre of Productivity and Workplace Performance
Contribute to the productivity debate and drive improvements at all levels; from the national economic output, to changes in the ways SME’s operate.
Centre for Quantitative Finance
Providing quantitative analysis of issues in the financial markets for businesses and policy makers.
Helping both academics and practitioners tackle the challenges emerging from the rapid development of new digital technologies
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Simulation, International Journal of Production Economics, Computers & Operations Research, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, European Journal of Operational Research.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Our Logistics and Supply Chain Management graduates find work in public and private sectors, both overseas and in the UK, in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
You gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate. We enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects to help you achieve your ambition.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. As part of the course, undertake an Industrial Placement or opt for an In-Company Scheme to work on a real business case study. Go on our Business Start-up Journey and transform your idea into a business through ASPIRE. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support for up to three years after graduation.
Additionally, the Postgraduate Employability Edge programme, available to PGT students at Kent Business School takes place from Welcome Week through to the end of the academic year and is designed to enhance your career prospects further.
This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
CIPS offers you complimentary student membership for the duration of the programme. Students who successfully complete this programme and meet the conditions specified may apply for MCIPS, the globally recognised standard for procurement and supply management professionals.
CILT is the UK‘s independent professional body for logistics, supply chains and transport. The CILT network connects members worldwide and is the greatest source of professional expertise for the industry. Accreditation and membership deliver significant benefit in terms of career prospects.
Students who graduate from MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management are exempt from the academic requirement for Chartered Membership, and while studying your student membership is paid for by Kent Business School.
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
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