MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management Royal Holloway University of London

Whatever the industry, and whether operating globally or nationally, it’s more important than ever for businesses to manage their supply chains and ecosystems carefully in order to succeed. Companies, government departments, and international organisations cannot survive for long without rigorous, efficient and strategic management of supply chains and logistics. They need to demonstrate their resilience against disruption and adversity, the incorporation of new technologies, and the application of e-security, location, and outsourcing decisions in a world of rapid technological change, global industrial restructuring and retrenchment and onset of dangerous climate change.

Our focused and highly relevant curriculum is based on current thinking and real-world experience and needs in managing supply chains globally as technologies, markets and the international business and trade environment are changing fast. You’ll learn from senior academics and experienced practitioners, with input from CEOs and senior executives across a range of industries. These industry connections have informed the content and design of the course.

We recruit students from arts, sciences, manufacturing, business, management, and services and prepare them for successful careers across many industries: high technology manufacturing, engineering, electronics and computing, service sectors, fashion and clothing, food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals and bio medical, aid agencies, disaster relief and NGOs.

This MSc is accredited by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and is studied at our Royal Holloway London Graduate School, right in the centre of London.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience, and this is particularly the case as we continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as we can.

International Logistics and Supply Chain Strategy

This module introduces you to the concept and definition of logistics and supply chain management, how it is increasingly recognised as a competitive strategy and the influence of logistics and supply chain management to other major functional activities to a firm's success. Responsiveness, reliability, resilience and relationships are the basis for successful logistics and supply chain management. These key trends are explored through lectures and case studies to understand the theoretical insights as well as the effective practices faced by international supply chains.

Information Systems and E-Supply Chains

In this module you will be introduced to various information systems and technologies that can contribute to the efficient management of the supply chain. By examining the role of information in international supply chains, students will learn the need for information visibility and transparency across the supply network and the barriers to achieving it.

Transport and Network Design

This module introduces the concepts and techniques of network design and analysis and uses these to demonstrate how distribution networks are designed and optimised. The basics of managing logistics operations, transport options and warehousing and inventory management are assessed through lectures tutorial and case discussions. You will gain an understanding of optimisation, modelling and network design and working with third parties.

Customer Service and Channel Management

This module aims to introduce the concepts and techniques of marketplace dynamics and customer service excellence to demonstrate how channel management approaches are used, designed and optimised. You will be introduced to the concept of servitization and will be able to identify the shift from productization to servitization, the rise of omni chain retailing, impact on logistics, sharing economy and the rise of customer centric supply chains.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Supply Chains

This module introduces you to the concept of the circular economy and how it contributes to a more sustainable supply chain. You will be introduced to key aspects of sustainability and climate change and key megatrends impacting the supply chains of the future. Sustainability is a key concern to supply chain managers particularly since the globalisation of supply chains, where economics, ethics and the environment most widely known as the triple bottom line are critical in supply chain decision-making.

Business Research Methods

This module introduces you to the research methods as applied to project and supply chain management. You will learn to articulate and define management problems and develop an appreciation of the methods and tools to carry out an independent research project and writing up a dissertation.

Independent Business Research Project

This module is an independent research project. You may select a topic of their choice related to logistics and Supply Chain management which has to be approved by the Course Director. The project should demonstrate both the technical knowledge that is being acquired throughout this Master’s degree programme, and also the ability to integrate knowledge from different subject areas in order to apply it analytically to a business-related, problem.

Operations and Quality Management

The module is a specialist yet multidisciplinary module designed for students with an interest in examining international operations and quality management, and sustainable development, sustainability, and green environmental practices in an ever-changing global world. The module will consider both past practices and approaches of sustainable development, while examining the current and emerging challenges relating to Global Sustainable Development goals for organisations and communities.

Assessment

Over the 12 months of this course, you’ll take seven taught course units, attend various seminars and workshops and complete an independent business research project. And at the end of the year, you will apply the techniques and theories you’ve learned during the taught elements in a Masters level thesis of 10,000–12,000 words on a supply chain related topic. The dissertation will typically consist of a literature review followed by empirical work, involving either qualitative or quantitative research.

You’ll learn from highly experienced practitioners, including input from CEOs and senior executives from international firms across a range of industries. These industry connections have informed the content and design of the course, in a way that will not only build on your existing knowledge and experience but increase your chances of finding employment at a salary level higher than the graduate national average wage in your chosen sector.

All course information above was updated Autumn 2022 and all information was correct at that time. Please make sure you visit the course page on the Royal Holloway website or contact us directly for the very latest information if you are considering an application.

On our one-year Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc, taught at our Royal Holloway London Graduate School, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the forces at work and knowledge of sophisticated tools to strategically manage both large, complex, technology-based supply chains, as well as more traditional ones. You’ll cover logistics and procurement often across national boundaries, companies, regions, and time-zones.

Graduates of our supply chain courses have proven to be highly employable and pursued careers across a range of industries.

Roles in supply chain and logistics management can vary and are not limited to professionals who oversee the implementation and operations of supply chains, outsourcing, procurement, transportation, and logistics. A typical role could include taking ownership of a specific aspect of a supply chain project, ensuring that it is delivered to all stakeholders and meets the competitive needs of an organisation. You might be the person who provides detailed knowledge on a specific supply chain management discipline, or provides professional support services to a range of supply chain and procurement needs of an organisation, including international aid and disaster relief logistics management and planning.

With an MSc, you can progress your career in a wide range of positions in industry, make substantial contributions to multidisciplinary teams, strategically managing domestic and international supply chains, logistics, procurement, global sourcing, finance, technology acquisition, and risk management, amongst others. This will help you progress through an organisation into senior management positions or change career paths across industries, government, and NGOs. Some industries you could go into include:

• Electronics, Mobile Communication and Computing
• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
• Food and Agriculture
• Energy
• Supermarkets
• Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Industries
• Finance and International Banking
• Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Heavy Engineering
• High –tech Materials and Components Start-Ups
• Minerals, Oil &Gas
• Commodities Trade, Procurement and Distribution
• Shipping
• Airlines
• Music, Film Production, TV Production
• Government Departments
• International Aid, Disaster Relief and NGO