Study Supply Chain Management in the UK

Highlights

1. The UK offers globally ranked Master’s programs in Supply Chain Management, with top universities providing cutting-edge resources and practical learning opportunities.
2. Graduates from UK universities enjoy high employability, with starting salaries ranging from £61,200 to £211,000 annually, thanks to the growing demand for supply chain professionals.
3. Scholarships, funding options, and part-time work opportunities make studying in the UK more affordable for international students.

In the United Kingdom, getting a master’s degree in supply chain management typically takes one year; however, depending on the program’s requirements, it could take up to 18 months. If you are interested in applying for the program, you must possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and an IELTS score between 6.0 and 7.0. To ensure they have enough time to process their visas after sending in their applications for admission to the master’s program in SCM, applicants must submit their applications early.

A Master of Supply Chain Management degree from one of the United Kingdom’s universities will set you back approximately 40,500 GBP. This cost is approximately 41.7 million Indian Rupees for students studying in India. However, the total cost will be very different depending on which college the student chooses to attend. Finding scholarships in the UK that are available to overseas students could be of assistance to you in lowering the overall cost of studying in this program.

Because there is a shortage of skilled workers, supply chain management is becoming an employee market. Students who graduate from universities in the UK with a master’s degree in supply chain management have an advantage over their peers and can have a rewarding career. Students graduating from universities in the United Kingdom with a Master of Science in supply chain management have a potential annual salary range of 61,200 GBP to 211,000 GBP, according to some estimates.

Why study Master in Supply Chain Management?
Top Universities For Supply Chain Management

Why study supply chain management in the UK?

The demand for logistics and supply chain management professionals has skyrocketed in response to the relentless growth of online retailing. Michael Page claims that the number of adverts directed toward supply chain professionals is 219 percent higher than the average in the UK. However, just a few people can fulfill the conditions set forth by the recruiters.

Two institutions in the United Kingdom are ranked in the top 20 for Masters in Supply Chain Management, and eight universities in the United Kingdom are ranked in the top 40 for this degree.

• Graduates who enter the supply chain industry at an entry-level salary of approximately 61,200 GBP can see their pay increase to a maximum of 211,000 GBP after accumulating appropriate experience.
  
• As a result of the COVID pandemic, the number of job opportunities in the UK for professionals in supply chain management has increased by 31 percent. It is anticipated to increase even further in the future.
  
• Students at UK universities have access to world-class resources and cutting-edge infrastructure, enabling them to participate in innovative research and gain practical experience in various fields.

Top Universities for Supply Chain Management in the UK

Notably, colleges in the United Kingdom are consistently ranked among the top institutions worldwide that provide the finest master’s degree programs in supply chain management. The following are some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the United Kingdom that confer master’s degrees in Supply Chain Management:

QS World Rankings 2022	University	Course	Tuition Fee (GBP)
27	University of Manchester	MSc Operations, Project & Supply Chain Management	23,000
–	Cranfield University	MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management	24,500
77	University of Southampton	MSc in Supply Chain Management and Logistics	24,060
82	Durham University	Master of Supply Chain Management	25,500
95	University of Sheffield	MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management	24,950
103	University of Nottingham	MSc Supply Chain and Operations Management	25,000
226	University of Sussex	MSc Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management	21,500
383	University of Kent	MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management	20,500
485	Aston University	MSc Supply Chain Management	19,850
801-1000	Manchester Metropolitan University	MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management	16,000

Admission 

To be considered for admission to institutions in the UK, overseas students must meet several additional criteria, submit their applications promptly, and send in several supplementary papers. Because you are interested in obtaining a Master of Science degree in Supply Chain Management from the United Kingdom, your admissions procedure is outlined in its entirety below.

You can improve your chances of being accepted into the program of your choice at universities in the UK by submitting your applications for those universities online before the deadlines.

University	Application Fee (GBP)	Intake Season
University of Manchester	60	October
Cranfield University	NA	July
Durham University	60	October
University of Sussex	NA	August
University of Sheffield	Free	September
University of Nottingham	40	August
University of Kent	38	July
University of Southampton	Free	July
Aston University	100	July
Manchester Metropolitan University	NA	September & January

Admission requirements

The majority of educational institutions in the UK that grant master’s degrees in supply chain management stipulate that their students must have:

• A bachelor’s degree (Honors) with a grade point average of at least 60 percent that was earned from an educational institution in either the UK or another country outside of the UK.

• Students who hold a professional Bachelor’s degree and have work experience that is relevant to the position are also taken into consideration.
  

University	GPA (Scale of 4.0)	Equivalent Percentage
University of Manchester	3.3	60-69%
Cranfield University	3.0	50-59%
Durham University	3.5	60-69%
University of Sussex	3.0	50-59%
University of Sheffield	3.0	50-59%
University of Nottingham	3.2	50-59%
University of Kent	3.2	50-59%
University of Southampton	3.2	50-59%
Aston University	3.0	50-59%
Manchester Metropolitan University	3.0	50-59%

Documents required

It is very necessary to provide relevant extra papers in support of your application. You will be required to provide the following items in order to finish the application successfully:

• Copies of the official transcripts that have been scanned.
• Certified copy of the degree or diploma.
• The requirements for the English proficiency test.
• A copy of the information page from the passport
• Two references from the academic or professional fields.
• Purpose statements.

GMAT requirements

It is okay to submit your GMAT results while applying to master’s programmes in supply chain management in the UK; however, doing so is not required. When reviewing applications, institutions in the UK place a primary emphasis on applicants’ grade point averages as well as the personal statements they submit. A strong statement of purpose needs to illustrate the following things: 

• Motives, interests, and goals for pursuing a postgraduate degree in supply chain management, as well as an explanation of how the applicant will profit from the course.
• Why the candidate should be accepted into the programme and what possible contributions they could bring to the programme they are applying for.
  

Language requirements

Test scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or scores that are equivalent to these tests, must be submitted by international students who have not received any formal education in English.

University	IELTS Score	TOEFL Score	PTE Academic
University of Manchester	7.0	100	66-73
Cranfield University	6.0	92	65
Durham University	6.5	92	62
University of Sussex	6.0	80	59
University of Sheffield	6.5	88	61
University of Nottingham	6.0	87	62
University of Kent	6.5	90	62
University of Southampton	6.5	92	65
Aston University	6.5	93	61
Manchester Metropolitan University	6.5	90	63

Admission decision

The universities carefully consider each application they receive before making their decisions. After receiving all of the completed applications, it typically takes universities between six and eight weeks to review the materials, after which they announce their choice. The majority of students are informed of the decision either through email or traditional mail.

In the meanwhile, students are able to monitor the status of their applications by logging into the online application portal they used. After the students have received the admission offer letter, they will be required to accept the offer by making an upfront payment for the tuition cost.

Student visa

Students will be required to submit an application for either a UK student visa or a Tier-4 visa as soon as they have received an admission letter from one of the universities. For courses that last longer than six months, students will need to apply for a tier-4 visa.

Students who are interested in attending a school in the United Kingdom are required to submit an application for a student visa at least three months before the beginning of their intended programme. This will ensure that there is enough time for the visa to be processed. The following conditions need to be satisfied in order to qualify for a student visa for the United Kingdom:

• Passport information.
• a recent photograph in the passport size.
• a letter of acceptance from a reputable educational institution in the UK.
• a certificate demonstrating an adequate command of the English language (TOEFL or IELTS).
• Documentation demonstrating that you have sufficient funds: either 1,015 GBP (outside of London) or 1,265 GBP (London).
• Bank statements, statements from a loan, or a letter requesting a scholarship can all be used to provide evidence of having sufficient funding.
• UK student visa processing period is typically 3 weeks and may take longer in busy times.

Cost of studying

The following are the primary costs that are included in the overall price of obtaining a master’s degree in supply chain management in the UK:

Pre arrival expenses

This mostly encompasses the costs that you will have to pay in order to meet the prerequisites for enrollment at one of the educational institutions located in the United Kingdom, and these include the following:

Type of Expense	Cost (Pounds)
Program Application Fee	60-100
IELTS Fees	160
Health Insurance	300 (per year)
TOEFL Fees	155
Visa Application Fee	348
GRE Fees	160
GMAT Fees	187
Airfare	547

Tuition fees

The following is a breakdown of the tuition costs for an Indian student to pursue a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management in the United Kingdom (Currency Exchange rate – March 2021):

University	Tuition Fee (INR)
University of Manchester	22,69,001
Cranfield University	25,25,000
Durham University	25,25,000
University of Sussex	21,21,000
University of Sheffield	14,90,000-16,14,000 depending on work experience
University of Nottingham	24,66,000
University of Kent	20,22,000
University of Southampton	23,73,000
Aston University	20,45,000
Manchester Metropolitan University	16,48,000

Cost of living

In addition to the cost of tuition, students will need to pay the following additional fees as part of their living expenses in order to study and remain in the United Kingdom. Investigating the specific costs associated with obtaining a higher education in the UK can help a student arrange their finances in a manner that is appropriate and look for financial aid to assist with the costs.

Expenses	Weekly Cost (GBP)
Accommodation	5,395
Meals	1,5925
Clothes	400
Transport	460
Other (eg books, equipment, mobile phone bill, socializing, laundry, photocopying, and printing)	2000
Total	9780

It is estimated that the total cost for students in India will be approximately 35 lakhs (tuition and cost of living). Students may feel as though this is too large of an investment for them, which is why the government of the United Kingdom and educational institutions in the United Kingdom provide numerous funding options to international students who wish to study there. You may qualify for financing based on either your merit or your financial need, and the grant you get may be enough to cover all of your tuition costs.

Scholarships 

In comparison to the United States and Canada, the cost of earning a master’s degree in the United Kingdom is significantly higher. Therefore, in order for students to be able to fund the study, they should consider applying for one of the following scholarships that are offered specifically for supply chain management:

University	Scholarship	Value or Benefit
University of Manchester	Alliance MBS Masters Scholarships for UK/EU/International students	Covers full tuition fees
Cranfield University	Cranfield Scholarships	Covers part of the tuition fee
Durham University	Masters International Scholarship	Rebate of 6,000 GBP on the tuition fees
University of Sussex	Chancellors International and EU Business School Scholarships	5,000 GBP
University of Sussex	Sussex Graduate Scholarship 2021	3,000 GBP
University of Sussex	Sussex India Scholarship	3,000 GBP
University of Sheffield	International Merit Postgraduate Scholarship 2021	25% rebate on the tuition fee
University of Nottingham	International Masters Scholarships	Covers part of the tuition fee
University of Kent	International Scholarships for Taught Masters Students	8000 GBP
University of Southampton	Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation loan scholarships	Varies
Aston University	Global Excellence Scholarship	5000 GBP
Manchester Metropolitan University	Postgraduate Scholarship	2,500 GBP

In the event that you are unable to locate scholarships that meet your specific financial requirements, you have the option of selecting from a variety of other funding options for your education in the UK. Among these are choices like loans and work-study programmes, among others. International students who have been granted a Tier 4 Student Visa are authorized to work up to 20 hours per week throughout the academic year in a part-time capacity. While you are on break from school, you have the option of working full time, but you should avoid taking on a role that is intended to be permanent.

Career prospects

Because the United Kingdom is a market that favours employees in terms of roles and responsibilities in supply chain and logistics, finding work in the United Kingdom is becoming a piece of cake for graduates with similar educational backgrounds.

Students in the UK who have completed a master’s programme in supply chain management have the option of applying for the following job roles:

Job Title	Average Salary (GBP/year)
Supply Chain Analyst	26,000
Demand Planner	31,000
Procurement Manager	50,000
Business Analyst	27,000
Supply Chain Specialist	41,000
Supply Chain Planner	37,000
Logistics Analyst	25,000
Distribution Manager	41,000
Procurement Lead	52,000
Business Process Analyst	29,000
Project Manager	28,000
Operations Support Specialist	29,000

When doing recruitment, businesses look for candidates with specific skill sets that may meet the needs of the position. The following are some of the abilities that are most sought after by recruiters when looking for supply chain experts:

Skill	Average Salary (GBP/year)
Forecasting	39,448
Logistics	37,115
Inventory Management	41,134
Supplier Management	40,771
Purchasing	37,460

In addition to the qualities listed above, quantitative and analytical capabilities are two more skills that businesses look for in potential employees. Strong problem-solving skills, Abilities in information technology, including both general and specialized business software Knowledge of the procedures involved in a particular industry, such as shipping and receiving or inventory management, Communication abilities, particularly the ability to influence and persuade customers, as well as business acumen are required.

Third-Party Logistics Providers, Retailers, Consultancies, Manufacturers, and Government Departments and Agencies are all examples of the different types of employers that hire graduates with supply chain management degrees.

The following are examples of some of the most prestigious companies in the UK who hire recent supply chain management graduates:

Employer	Average Salary (GBP/year)
Amazon	57,688
Cisco	146,538
EY	81,774
GSK	61,949
KPMG	110,258
Rhenus Logistics	38,856
SC Johnson	28,554
Walmart	82,835
DCG Logistics UK Ltd.	28,000
Detecon Consulting Ltd.	46,219
JD Logistics	51,811
Johnson & Johnson	130,131
Parcelly	33,740

Supply chain management graduates can earn a substantial return on their investment by making a one-time outlay and, with an average salary of 133,000 GBP, they can get a return that is more than adequate. Getting a master’s degree in supply chain management in the United Kingdom will help students gain the expertise required to manage the designing and delivery of goods and services across a wide variety of industries. This will give students the opportunity to have a successful career, which is especially important given the current shortage of skilled workers in the supply chain industries. Because of the imposition of the two-year stay-back policy in the United Kingdom by 2021, the doors to the market for overseas students in the United Kingdom will open for a longer period of time and with greater ease.

Key Takeaways

• High Demand for Professionals: The UK’s supply chain sector is booming due to the rise in e-commerce and logistics needs, offering excellent career prospects for graduates.
• Top-Ranked Universities: Institutions like Cranfield University and the University of Warwick are recognized globally for their Supply Chain Management programs.
• Affordable Study Options: Scholarships such as Chevening Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships reduce financial burdens for international students.
• Post-Study Work Opportunities: The UK’s two-year post-study work visa allows graduates to explore job opportunities and gain industry experience.
• Practical Learning Environment: UK universities emphasize hands-on learning through internships, research projects, and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.