Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc

Overview

Operations, logistics, and supply chain management are now indispensable to the success of modern businesses. These fields are no longer merely opportunities to cut costs or enhance efficiency. They are now critical drivers of innovation and competitive edge. Our programme prepares you to help organisations and society achieve key objectives such as:

• enhancing resilience
• boosting sustainability
• improving visibility
• promoting digitalisation

Our programme is designed for students who wish to take up specialist positions in:

• operations management
• procurement
• inventory
• logistics, and supply chain across various sectors.

You’ll learn:

• operations strategy
• supply chain design and modelling
• digital supply chain and logistics
• multimodal transportation
• risk management
• sustainable development
• quality improvement
• data analysis
• project management
• research methods

You’ll develop the capability and skills to:

• identify supply chain risks and problems
• evaluate operational performance and logistics and supply chain processes
• develop strategic operations and supply chains

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

Our programme will shape your understanding of:

• quantitative and qualitative methods of planning, control and continuous improvement in operations, logistics, and supply chain management
• enhancing visibility in operations, logistics, and supply chains by digitalisation
• sustainable development and its implications in operations, logistics, and supply chain management

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Purchasing and Supply Chain Management	20
Operations Management	20
International Logistics	10
Quality Management, Tools and Techniques	20
Dissertation in Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management	60
Research Methods (OLSCM)	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Introduction to Financial Reporting	10
Project Management	10
Data Analytics for Managers	10
Supply Chain and Logistics Modelling and Control	10
Digital Logistics and Supply Chain Management	10
Strategic Service Management	10
Sustainable Supply Chain Management	10

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Our high-quality teaching is comprised of:

• research-led lectures
• real-world business case studies
• computer lab sessions
• interactive seminars
• industry talks

Our programme is modular in structure, comprising 180 credits. You’ll take six compulsory modules and three optional modules across the three semesters.

You’ll have the opportunity (subject to application and performance) to work with business partners on a consultancy project or work with a member of SCORCH to conduct a research project.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral presentation
• PC examination
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Research proposal
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

View profiles of the module leaders for this course:

• Dr Jiayao Hu (Degree Programme Director)
• Professor Christian Hicks
• Professor Jingxin Dong
• Professor Ying Yang
• Dr Paul Lewis
• Dr Haiyan Lu
• Mr Donald Halliday
• Mr David McGeeney
• Mr Nick Howey
• Dr Yan Jiang
• Dr Dan Millard
• Dr Mohammad Humyun Fuad Rahman

Your development

Upon completing the programme, you should be able to develop:

Professional skills

• Integrate evidence from a variety of sources to effect improvement in the operational performance of organisations
• Evaluate evidence critically, reach conclusions and present findings
• Solve problems within the context of the business environment with particular emphasis on operations, logistics and supply chain management by applying quantitative and qualitative methods
• Contribute effectively to the planning, design and implementation of projects

Practical Skills

• Implement appropriate operations strategies that maximise the contribution of operations management, logistics and supply chain management whilst optimising the interests of key stakeholders in various organisational environments
• Systematically collect, analyse and interpret data
• Effectively use bibliographic skills to review the literature, formulate research questions, apply appropriate methodologies for problem-solving, collect data, synthesise results and reach logical conclusions
• Provide advice about how to apply operations, logistics, and supply chain management tools, models and techniques to improve organisational performance

Your future

Graduate destinations

Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles, including:

• transportation specialist
• managing director
• head of operations
• enterprise risk manager
• resource delivery manager
• trading and operations manager
• materials control and operations analyst
• graduate procurement engineer
• project manager

Careers

This course prepares you for a wide range of careers with employers, such as:

• NHS
• Indonesia Port Corporation
• P&G
• RLC Group
• Steel Mont Trading Ltd
• PepsiCo
• China Communications Construction Company Ltd
• Petrofac Ltd
• KPMG
• LUKOIL Overseas
• Bosch
• Imperial Logistics
• Kuehne + Nagel

Careers support

Each year we arrange an industry visit and invite guest speakers from industry to share their experiences and insights with you.

Careers support

Each year we arrange an industry visit and invite guest speakers from industry to share their experiences and insights with you.

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course

Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.

• Business and Humanities Pre-Master's

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events