Working people seeking to build their careers in logistics and supply chain management can now balance life commitments with career-boosting study, thanks to a new part-time Master’s degree at the University of Portsmouth.
The University’s well-established, CILT-accredited MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management degree will offer a part-time pathway from September 2025.
Balance work and study
The new part-time format features lectures scheduled on just one day each week. The course takes two years to complete. This structure has been designed to accommodate working professionals' busy schedules. This new option runs alongside the full-time MSc where lectures are scheduled on two days each week for one year.
Course Leader Dr Graham Wall explains: ‘We've developed this part-time option with UK professionals in mind. Many talented people want to enhance their qualifications and career prospects without stepping away from their current roles. This approach allows them to immediately apply new concepts in their workplace while studying.’
Skills that industry needs
The programme integrates business expertise with advanced mathematical analysis, equipping graduates with the tools needed for modern operational careers.
Students develop a well-rounded understanding of principles and practices, as they explore the flow of information between suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
With up-to-the-minute insights from industry, together with a curriculum informed by the latest research, students will discover actionable ways to streamline their company's activities for greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Every student will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software such as Simul8. They have the chance to apply highly data-driven mathematical models to decision-making in the supply chain, and develop proficiency in quantitative data analysis.
Real-world applications
The course places strong emphasis on practical applications through real-life case studies and logistics challenges. This includes the opportunity for some students to undertake industrial or work-based projects, working directly with companies that collaborate with the university's researchers.
Professional recognition
CILT accreditation ensures the curriculum meets rigorous professional standards, and brings graduates closer to Chartered Membership. This, together with the rigorous focus on developing problem-solving and communication skills, makes graduates of this course particularly attractive to employers.
The curriculum covers essential topics including logistics modelling, operations management, strategic logistics, and supply chain management – all taught with a strong quantitative emphasis on robust and effective decision-making.
Enhanced career prospects
Students explore a wide range of advanced techniques – from data envelopment analysis, to multi-criteria decision making, along with project management. They graduate with a demonstrable ability to formulate sophisticated logistics solutions.
‘Employability is embedded throughout the course design,’ adds Dr Wall. ‘Our students develop both the technical expertise and interpersonal communication skills that are increasingly valued in senior logistics positions.’
The programme concludes with a substantial project that can be tailored to students' professional interests or current industry challenges.
Applications for the part-time MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management starting in September 2025 are now open. For more information on the curriculum, entry requirements and how to apply, visit port.ac.uk.