MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Course Overview
Recent disruptions to global distribution networks have graphically illustrated the importance of logistics and supply chain management, raising the profile of this vital area of business and commerce. Complex supply chains, higher customer expectations and technological innovations are driving companies to seek graduates with specialist skills and industry knowledge. By studying for your MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management with the University of Bolton, you can develop this specialist knowledge while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus in the heart of the North West of England.With full accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), this postgraduate degree is an ideal choice if you're a business or computing graduate wishing to pursue a career in procurement, distribution and logistics, or supply chain management. Our expert team will support you in developing wide-ranging knowledge of business logistics and operations management principles and techniques, along with strong practical skills in applying these methods and technologies. We'll cover essential areas, including global trade and industry requirements, risk mitigation, sustainable business operations and the role of information within supply networks.
While studying at our town centre campus in the North of England, you'll explore and apply methods and techniques for business improvement in response to environmental, operational and ethical issues. Our expert team will support you in developing a detailed understanding of the industry and its different facets, including logistics, operations, strategy and information technology. We offer you critical insights into contemporary issues such as zero carbon logistics and technological advances such as blockchain, data analysis, autonomous logistics, and artificial intelligence. Our dedicated tutors will promote lifelong learning skills, creativity and critical thinking, so you're ready to adapt as the logistics and supply chain management industry evolves throughout your career.
Interpersonal and transferable skills are also vital, so we'll challenge you to develop sought-after communication, problem-solving, analytical, self-management, and decision-making skills. Our dedicated team will focus on helping you gain the skills employers value and a detailed understanding of the technologies and methods underpinning logistics and supply chain management.
Created with more than a decade's industry experience delivering supply chain programmes with partners in Malaysia, Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi, the MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course has a strong international focus to help prepare students for the needs of the global marketplace.
Highlights
- When you have successfully completed this course and gained three or more years of experience (previous experience in the field can count) in procurement and supply management, you'll be eligible to apply to become a member of the CIPS.
- This master's degree is tailor-made to help you build skills relevant to the current and emerging needs of the logistics and supply chain industry.
- The programme is designed to comply with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) professional body requirements.
- The programme has a strong international flavour to enhance your knowledge and understanding of today's global market.
- Our scholarly activity, research and well-established links with industry professional bodies help ensure our course content is industry-relevant and introduces you to the latest thinking and innovations.
- When you successfully complete the course, you'll be awarded an MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and have the opportunity for further study up to the PhD level.
Key Features
- Our MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management course is designed for the modern, global industry and covers all relevant elements, from sustainability and transportation of goods and services to the importance of risk mitigation.
- You'll have the option to take a study skills module at the beginning of the programme in preparation for master's level study.
- Towards the end of the course, you can apply your knowledge and skills in practice by preparing a dissertation covering a specific area of the logistics and supply chain management discipline. This will build your subject specialist knowledge and understanding and showcase your skills, ready to impress employers.
- We're committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. We'll encourage you to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in the industry and contribute to your professional development.
- Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- You should have a UK honours degree/postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
- Examples of relevant qualifications include a bachelor's degree in logistics and supply chain management, business administration, information systems or technology, accountancy, operations management, and human resource management, or equivalent Level 6 qualifications such as the CIPS Graduate Diploma.
- Work experience in a business or management capacity will give you an advantage.
- We'll also consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Logistics and supply chain management is emerging as a highly desirable sector for employment, offering scope for career advancement and exciting challenges as the industry keeps pace with technological advances. All types of businesses, big and small, need professionals to help them deliver products and services at the right time, place, cost, quantity and quality. Small companies may have one person in charge of these duties, while large corporations have entire logistics and supply chain departments.
Some typical job roles include analyst, inventory control manager, logistics engineer, production manager, purchasing manager, supply chain manager, systems support manager, customer service manager, global logistics manager and operations director. A logistics manager, for example, will need to be familiar with various software programs, as that is the most common way to keep track of product movement.
Typically, our graduates go on to work in logistics and supply management for a company, although the managerial and leadership skills acquired when studying for this master's degree can be applied to senior management job positions in many fields.
What can I do with this qualification?
After graduation, you might also choose to work in consultancy. As a consultant, you can work with a variety of different companies, both nationally and abroad, offering tips and strategies on how to streamline processes.
If you want to continue your studies after graduation, you could opt for a research degree (MPhil, DBA or PhD).
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use this qualification as a stepping-stone into various other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate. Some possibilities include:
- Business sustainability
- Environmental operations
- Operations management
- Project management
- Research and development
- Teaching and education
- Retail management
- Export/import operations
- Warehouse operations
- Consultancy
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). This means that once you have three or more years of experience in procurement and supply management, you can apply to become a full member of the Institute and use the letters MCIPS after your name.
Membership of the Institute offers you great opportunities and access to a vast resource relating to supply chain and logistics issues.
We're also preparing to seek recognition of the course from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 27 January 2025
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Teaching & Assessment
We take a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face sessions with online and practical work as appropriate. You can expect a range of learning and teaching methods, including face-to-face or online lectures, seminars, tutorials, discussion groups, and guest speakers. We'll expect you to devote a significant amount of time to guided independent study. This can include, for example, general background reading, online activities, assessment work and preparation for sessions.
The Greater Manchester Business School fosters an independent learning culture and offers a rewarding yet challenging learning experience. Our assessment strategy facilitates real-world learning and authentic assessment that serves several functions. The obvious and primary function is to evaluate your achievement. However, assessment also helps you organise and develop your learning. We'll provide feedback to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Assessments fall into two general categories: formative and summative. Formative assessments don't contribute to your overall module grade. However, they are integral to a module's learning strategy, so you must complete them. They will be marked, and you'll receive feedback on your level of achievement. Summative assessments, on the other hand, are activities for which the marks will contribute to your overall module grade. You'll also receive feedback on these assessments so you can see what you've done well and where you can improve.
We employ various forms of assessment, with the major ones being coursework (usually reports) and examinations.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Supply Chain Strategy
- Procurement and Operations Management
- Logistics Management
- Strategic Leadership
- IT for Supply Chain and Project Management
- Finance and Decision Making
- Dissertation
- Sustainability in Business Operations
- Research Methods
- Study Skills for Masters Programme
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 66% Practical exams 22% Written exams 12% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 80% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
