MSc in Supply Management LUT University

The Master's Program in Supply Management provides expertise in strategic supply and supplier management. The program is unique in Finland and it corresponds to the growing needs of today's business by educating open-minded, innovative managers in the fields of supply management and purchasing.

Supply management is a cross-functional activity of a firm, requiring a broad understanding of international business. Your studies will integrate strategic management, international business, and relationship management in supply networks.

In this program, you will focus on supply strategies, global challenges of sourcing, and the development of purchasing and supply chains. Your studies will aggregate theories and concepts of business and technology and present recent applications and methods in the field, thus promoting your problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills. You will gain specialized knowledge about the elements of supply strategies and factors of interaction in supply networks.

The studies include interactive case studies, company assignments, group work, independent exercises, literature studies, and lectures. About 95% of the program's Master's theses are based on real-life business problems and are prepared for companies or public sector organizations.

The Master's program in Supply Management is a two-year program. It leads to the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, M. Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Admin.), which is 120 ECTS credits.

The studies connect two perspectives: the internal viewpoint of organizing and aligning supply management according to the firm's strategy, and the external viewpoint consisting of supplier relationships and supply network management. The program includes core, advanced specialization, minor, and language studies as well as a Master's thesis. Obligatory core and advanced specialization courses can be completed during the first study year. Read more in the study guide.

The delivery of courses is blended. The program is a combination of on-campus and online studies. Individual course descriptions mention the attendance requirements for the course.

Double degree study opportunity for LUT degree students

The program also offers a possibility for double degree studies. Students admitted to the Master's program in Supply Management at LUT may apply to the double degree program organized in cooperation with the following program's partner university: the University of Twente (the Netherlands).

Core studies, 42 ECTS credits

Include courses on strategic supply management and supply chain financing, sustainable global sourcing, supplier relationship management, and service business.

Advanced specialization studies, 18 ECTS credits

Include courses on risk management and supply chain improvement and external resource management.

Minor studies, at least 24 ECTS credits

Studies may deal with international marketing, sustainability, digitalization, business analytics, or international business and entrepreneurship.

Language studies, 6 ECTS credits

Excluding English.

Master's thesis, 30 ECTS credits

An advanced research project during the program's fourth semester. The Master's thesis is a part of the advanced specialization studies and requires approximately six months of full-time work.

As a graduate, you will take an integrative approach to different business disciplines and functions of a firm and will be able to analyze and solve complex business problems in the field of supply management.

As a graduate, you will have:

• competence in evaluating supply management and sourcing challenges and opportunities. You will be a supply management professional who can draw justified conclusions and analytically discuss the implications of produced research results;
• skills to evaluate consequences of business decisions critically from a responsibility perspective; you will have a profound understanding of discipline-specific responsibility issues;
• a professional network through practical assignments and a Master's thesis for a company.

Successful companies currently rely on the skills of supply management experts to keep their goods and services flowing to the market quickly, efficiently, and as cost-effectively as possible.

Many career opportunities will open up to you.

You will be able to find specialist and management positions in both the public and private sectors as well as in global and local companies in the fields of supply management, international business, logistics, supply chain management, and consulting.

Examples of such positions include global sourcing director, supply manager, category manager, and strategic buyer.