MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management Curriculum
The programme consists of 11 core taught modules, assessed through a blend of written examinations and continuous coursework. Taught modules run across two terms: Michaelmas Term (September–December) and Hilary Term (January–April). The final Trinity Term (April–August) is dedicated to your dissertation.
| Module | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Business Analytics | 5 |
| Logistics Operations, Systems and Finance | 5 |
| Global Supply Chain Management | 5 |
| Operations Management | 5 |
| Research Methods | 5 |
| Business Ethics | 5 |
| Project Management | 5 |
| Design and Planning for Sustainability | 5 |
| Global Procurement | 5 |
| Supply Chain Science | 10 |
| Sustainability Tension in OSCM | 5 |
| Dissertation | 30 |
Taught modules normally take place across Michaelmas and Hilary terms, with the final Trinity term dedicated to the dissertation.
|
September-December Michaelmas Term |
January-April Hilary Term |
May-August Trinity Term |
Note: Modules offered each academic year are subject to change. The modules listed above and below are the modules and timetable for 2026/27.
Module Descriptions
Business Analytics (5 ECTS)
Turn data into decisions. Learn how to apply descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics to solve complex business problems. Through hands-on exercises and real-world cases, you’ll build the analytical mindset and skills to lead data-driven improvements in operations and beyond.
How this fits your MSc journey: Empowers you to make evidence-based decisions across supply chain, operations and research modules.
Learning outcomes:
- Frame problems with data: Translate real-world challenges into analytical tasks.
- Summarise insights: Use descriptive statistics and visualisation to explore datasets.
- Predict outcomes: Build forecasting and regression models to anticipate trends.
- Optimise decisions: Apply multi-criteria techniques and decision tools for complex choices.
- Use analytics tools: Gain experience with widely used business analytics software and platforms.
Logistics Operations, Systems and Finance (5 ECTS)
Explore the activities, systems and financial considerations that make supply chain flows work in practice. You will learn the language and structure of the fast-moving logistics sector, analyse networks and operating models, and examine finance and investment appraisal in a logistics context.
How this fits your MSc journey: Complements the programme's supply chain, operations, sustainability, procurement and analytics modules by developing specialist knowledge of logistics execution and investment.
Learning outcomes:
- Distinguish logistics and SCM: Explain the specific role of logistics within wider supply chain management.
- Understand logistics systems: Describe terminology, operations, and the structure of logistics networks.
- Evaluate practice: Critically assess logistics strategies and operating approaches.
- Apply financial insight: Understand logistics, finance and investment appraisal.
- Develop sector awareness: Identify skills, performance requirements, and career opportunities in logistics.
Global Supply Chain Management (5 ECTS)
Build a strong foundation in managing supply chains across global markets. Through theory, industry examples and discussion, you will examine the flow of goods, services and information from inbound supply through internal processes to outbound distribution. The module introduces the concepts and decision frameworks needed to understand more advanced supply chain challenges.
How this fits your MSc journey: Establishes the core supply chain knowledge that supports advanced study across procurement, logistics, analytics, sustainability and supply chain science.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand end-to-end supply chains: Recognise and apply key concepts across inbound, process and outbound activities.
- Evaluate competitiveness: Assess how supply chain management influences organisational performance.
- Apply decision frameworks: Use transferable approaches across industries, contexts and locations.
- Solve practical challenges: Evaluate sourcing, operations and distribution issues and recommend responses.
- Develop professional judgement: Exercise initiative, responsibility and informed decision-making in global contexts.
Operations Management (5 ECTS)
Optimise how organisations create and deliver products and services. This module introduces the core theories, concepts, models and tools of operations management across manufacturing, service and end-to-end supply chain contexts. You will explore how inputs are transformed into valuable outputs and how operations can be designed, managed and improved to support organisational strategy.
How this fits your MSc journey: Provides the operational foundation for the programme, connecting strategy, sustainability, innovation, people, process design and delivery before these themes are explored in greater depth across later modules.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand operational challenges: Identify and contextualise the central issues facing operations managers.
- Apply core tools: Critically appraise and use relevant concepts, models and techniques.
- Communicate operational insight: Explain and apply operations management ideas in practical settings.
- Improve processes: Use structured approaches to enhance operational performance.
- Shape operations strategy: Develop and support an operations strategy using appropriate analysis.
Research Methods (5 ECTS)
Develop the knowledge and confidence to conceive, plan and implement empirical research in operations and supply chain management. The module covers research philosophy, theory, literature review, research design, data collection, analysis and responsible research. Its hands-on approach culminates in a proposal that provides a foundation for your MSc dissertation.
How this fits your MSc journey: Guides your research journey from an initial question to a rigorous proposal and prepares you to undertake independent dissertation work.
Learning outcomes:
- Formulate research questions: Define a clear question and justify an appropriate research design.
- Select suitable methods: Choose relevant data collection and analysis techniques.
- Conduct responsible research: Apply ethical principles and good practice in management research.
- Evaluate theory and design: Critically assess theories, methods and methodological choices.
- Connect research and practice: Recognise how rigorous research contributes to management knowledge and action.
Business Ethics (5 ECTS)
Challenge conventional thinking and explore the ethical dilemmas facing global businesses today. Learn how to address stakeholder conflicts, shape responsible strategies, and lead with integrity in a complex world. You'll examine critical theories, real-world cases, and emerging standards in sustainability and corporate responsibility.
How this fits your MSc journey: Builds your ability to navigate ethical challenges across supply chains and corporate environments, vital for sustainable leadership.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand ethical foundations: Gain clarity on key concepts in business ethics, sustainability and stakeholder management.
- Solve real-world dilemmas: Apply ethical frameworks to develop responsible solutions to business problems.
- Analyse across functions: Explore how ethics interacts with sourcing, finance, marketing and operations.
- Communicate with impact: Build strong oral and written skills through group presentations and essays.
- Work across perspectives: Collaborate in diverse teams to deliver ethical and practical solutions.
Project Management (5 ECTS)
Master the principles needed to deliver change through projects in fast-moving business environments. You will examine why projects often fall short on time, cost and quality, and explore modern approaches, tools and strategies for improving outcomes. Topics span project organisation, stakeholder involvement, contracts, risk and strategic alignment.
How this fits your MSc journey: Develops practical project leadership capabilities that support transformation and implementation across operations and supply chain settings.
Learning outcomes:
- Deliver successful outcomes: Use project management approaches to achieve agreed objectives.
- Organise project activity: Coordinate work for organisations and clients effectively.
- Engage stakeholders: Build involvement and promote learning throughout the project.
- Manage contracts and risk: Address commercial obligations, uncertainty and delivery challenges.
- Align projects with strategy: Connect project execution to wider business objectives.
Design and Planning for Sustainability (5 ECTS)
Design supply chains that balance operational performance with environmental and social priorities. You will explore sustainability challenges, trade-offs and emerging technologies, then apply modelling and simulation using AnyLogistix to design and analyse green and circular supply chains.
How this fits your MSc journey: Builds on Operations Management and Global Supply Chain Management by adding practical tools and frameworks for sustainable supply chain design and planning.
Learning outcomes:
- Design sustainable systems: Develop a critical understanding of sustainable supply chain design and planning.
- Evaluate trade-offs: Identify the choices involved in balancing sustainability and performance.
- Assess emerging technology: Understand how new technologies can enable sustainability.
- Optimise performance: Apply analytical skills across a range of supply chain settings.
- Model green and circular networks: Design and analyse sustainable supply chains using appropriate tools.
Global Procurement (5 ECTS)
Discover how strategic procurement creates value across interconnected supply networks. The module examines organisational procurement processes, sourcing practices, supplier selection and performance management, alongside the tools and frameworks used across industries. You will consider the local and global forces that shape procurement and supplier relationships.
How this fits your MSc journey: Positions procurement as a core contributor to cost, quality, availability and strategy within effective operations and best-in-class supply chain management.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand strategic procurement: Explain procurement's role and importance within supply chain management.
- Analyse sourcing processes: Evaluate the core stages and practices of organisational procurement.
- Manage suppliers: Assess options for supplier selection, evaluation and performance.
- Apply procurement frameworks: Use relevant tools across different industries and organisations.
- Navigate global complexity: Critically assess the influences of shaping procurement design and management.
Supply Chain Science (10 ECTS)
Explore contemporary research and practice at the forefront of supply chain management. Through cases, exercises and analytical work, you will investigate current problems, research approaches and modelling techniques. The module develops your ability to formulate tactical supply chain challenges, implement suitable methods and critically evaluate the solutions produced.
How this fits your MSc journey: Builds the research awareness and analytical depth needed to address complex supply chain problems and prepares you to use academic literature and structured analysis in your dissertation.
Learning outcomes:
- Engage with current issues: Describe prominent research problems and practice topics in supply chain management.
- Understand research methods: Discuss approaches used to address contemporary theory and practice.
- Implement analytical approaches: Apply relevant methods to supply chain problems of interest.
- Formulate solutions: Examine problems systematically and develop appropriate models and responses.
- Critique findings: Evaluate analytical results and the conclusions drawn from them.
Sustainability Tensions in OSCM (5 ECTS)
Navigate the tensions, paradoxes and unintended consequences that arise in sustainable operations and supply chain decisions. Using paradox theory, systems thinking and causal loop modelling, you will learn to visualise feedback, recognise delayed effects and balance competing economic, social and environmental demands.
How this fits your MSc journey: Develops the systemic and critical thinking needed for conscious decision-making across organisational, supply chain and societal contexts, building on the programme's foundational modules.
Learning outcomes:
- Recognise causal relationships: Explain tensions and interdependencies in operations and supply chain contexts.
- Map complex systems: Develop and evaluate causal loop diagrams, feedback processes and delays.
- Navigate competing demands: Apply paradox theory to persistent sustainability tensions.
- Anticipate unintended effects: Assess consequences arising from decisions and organisational inaction.
- Think across levels: Reflect on implications for organisations, supply chains and wider society.
Dissertation (30 ECTS)
Pursue an in-depth investigation of a critical issue in operations or supply chain management. Demonstrate your ability to apply theory, conduct research and draw meaningful conclusions. This is your opportunity to create original insight and showcase your expertise to future employers.
How this fits your MSc journey: Serves as the capstone of your degree, combining research skills, subject knowledge and strategic thinking.
Learning outcomes:
- Define a meaningful question: Identify and frame a relevant problem or opportunity in your field.
- Review literature critically: Position your research in academic and practical contexts.
- Choose the right methods: Apply appropriate qualitative or quantitative approaches with rigour.
- Deliver insights: Present findings that are clearly analysed and practically relevant.
- Communicate effectively: Write and structure your work to a professional academic standard.