MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
MSc
Duration
12 months full-time
Entry requirements

We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent.

When assessing your academic record we take into account; your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification. 

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online >>

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course overview

Learn how to manage the creation and delivery of products and services in organisations across a wide variety of industries - public and private, small and large.

Open days

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Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £15,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

Refund Policy

Due to the competition for places and limited availability, our courses require a deposit of £1000 to cover non-recoverable costs and secure your place. The deposit will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

  • you fail to meet the conditions of your offer (see below for further information); and/or
  • you are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK (proof must be submitted)

If an offer has been made specifying an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions for a refund to be approved. The English Language test certificate provided with your application documents will not be accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as such a certificate will predate the offer.

If an offer has been made specifying an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require the official university documentation showing that you have not met this academic condition from the institution at which you have studied, as evidence for a refund to be approved.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse to refund of any deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Office
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-operations-project-and-supply-chain-management/
School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent.

When assessing your academic record we take into account; your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification. 

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements see entry requirements for your country .

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Your statement of purpose should cover the areas outlined below: 

  • Tell us why you are interested in the MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future
  • Describe what makes you an outstanding applicant and describe your potential to contribute to all aspects of the course.

How your application is considered

We can only process applications with the following documents:

  • valid English language qualification
  • first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
  • statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)

Deferrals

To defer your offer to the following year, you must contact your admission officer to get a copy of the deferral form.  You can only defer your offer for one year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Put your organisational skills to the test and learn to help businesses manage the production and delivery of products and services in an increasingly globalised marketplace. Operations management is all about how to organise the production and delivery of products and services.

  • Gain the knowledge and skills to ensure that processes run smoothly, particularly in the face of opportunities and challenges arising from the increasingly global reach of business 
  • Cover the service, manufacturing, public and private sectors, showing how operations management, project management and supply chain management work
  • Opportunity to concentrate on particular aspects of operations management, supply chain management, project management and process improvement
  • Prepare for a career as a professional operations, project or supply chain manager
  • Strong foundation for progression to a PhD or an academic career within the field
  • Opportunity to concentrate on particular aspects of operations management, supply chain management, project management and process improvement, helping towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply .

Aims

During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught modules during semester one and two total 120 credits and consists of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.

By agreement with the Course Director, one elective unit may be taken from another Masters course - note that all elective units are subject to availability, timetabling constraints and what you have studied previously.

Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits.  Certain units must be chosen in order to become a member of CIPS, and the dissertation must be on a procurement and supply-related theme. 

Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:

  • The future green supply chain in the retail industry: a shared value strategic perspective
  • Evaluation of cost performance in inventory management in reverse logistics
  • Using e-procurement to improve supply chain management practices

Special features

CIPS accreditation

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

On completion of the MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management course, students with three years' work experience in a relevant field of supply chain management can apply to become full members of CIPS.

  • As the course is accredited to CIPS, students with the required work experience will not need to take any further examinations to become full members of CIPS (as long as they have completed the required modules and the dissertation should focus on a procurement and supply related theme as part of the MSc).
  • Students without the required work experience (for example, recent graduates) can take the required modules and dissertation element of the MSc programme and on completion of three years relevant work experience can apply for full membership of CIPS. 
  • We are unable to answer individual enquiries about CIPS membership and you should apply directly to CIPS. Details of membership options can be obtained from the CIPS website .

Coursework and assessment

Assessment across the course units varies, and includes a combination of examinations, course work and group project assessment and presentations, in-class tests and assignments. A dissertation is also undertaken and normally ranges between 12,000 and 25,000 words.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Global Operations Management BMAN70081 15 Mandatory
Strategic Supply Chain Management BMAN70111 15 Mandatory
Professional skills: Research and Evaluation Methods BMAN70120 15 Mandatory
Strategic Project Organising BMAN70391 15 Mandatory
Business to Business Marketing BMAN70152 15 Optional
Business Improvement Tools Techniques and Systems BMAN70202 15 Optional
Global Supply Chain Management: Theories and Practice BMAN70292 15 Optional
Megaproject Leadership and Strategy BMAN72262 15 Optional
Operational Excellence: The Lean Production System BMAN73472 15 Optional
Supply Chain Logistics Management BMAN73672 15 Optional
Sustainable Supply Chain Management BMAN73692 15 Optional
Marketing Analytics BMAN74042 15 Optional
Essential Risk Management for Business MCEL63402 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 13 course units

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The course provides general training for those who wish to take up specialist positions in operations management. For example, one graduate works in the quality team on a variety of projects in business operations around customer satisfaction, and another graduate set up a new company, Xpediency, based in Shanghai, working with UK companies helping them to develop and take advantage of Chinese manufacturing excellence.  Graduates can also pursue a research and/or an academic career.

Recent recruiters

Accenture, Alpha Group Co. Ltd, GMF AeroAsia, Hilti GB Ltd, John Lewis, Johnson Matthey, KPMG, Manchester Airport Group, Nabilia-Werke J Stickling GmbH & Co, Saudi Aramco, SPS Tech, Turner and Townsend and Zibo Huangxing Chemical Fibre Co.

Read more about graduate career destinations >>

Read about our Postgraduate Careers Service >>

Read the latest information on visa changes and opportunities in the UK for international students >>

Accrediting organisations

Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply  

You have the opportunity to concentrate on particular aspects of operations management, supply chain management (helping towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply  (CIPS), project management and process improvement.