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Studies & Degrees in Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is the planning and control of everything that happens between a raw material and a finished product in the customer's hands. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines the supply chain as the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer, and describes logisticians as managing a product's entire life cycle, from design to disposal.

Students learn how to buy materials and choose suppliers, forecast demand and plan production, manage stock and warehouses, organise transport and distribution, and use data and information systems to keep all of this running at the lowest cost and risk. The first module of the supply chain master's at EAE Business School, for instance, covers the strategy and design of the global supply chain, forecasting, planning and manufacturing, and warehousing, transport and distribution. The BLS adds that degree coursework includes accounting, economics, procurement and other business topics.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. In the United States the subject is usually a major within a business degree. The Supply Chain and Information Systems B.S. of The Pennsylvania State University concentrates on the management of the supply chain networks that companies use to acquire, produce and deliver goods and services. Wright State University offers supply chain management as a bachelor's programme, a master's programme and a minor.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Universidad Camilo José Cela describes its Grado en Transporte y Logística as an official programme of four years and 240 ECTS credits, taught in person and in Spanish, starting in September.
  • Master's degrees. One-year specialised master's degrees are the most common route for graduates of other fields. The Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc at Cranfield University lasts 1 year, starts on 28 September 2026 and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). The University of Washington describes its Master of Supply Chain Management as a one-year, full-time, STEM-designated degree. Massey University in New Zealand lists 12 months of full-time study (180 credits) at its Auckland campus, and one of its admission routes asks for a relevant bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant professional experience. Kedge Business School in France lists a specialised programme in global supply chain management (ISLI).
  • Business school master's in Spain. The Máster en Supply Chain Management & Logistics of EAE Business School has 60 ECTS credits and is offered in Spanish and English in several formats: full time (10 months), part time (11 months) and hybrid (14 months). The qualification differs by format and campus: the school names a Máster Universitario of the Universitat de Lleida for one option and a Máster de Formación Permanente for others, so ask which one applies to the edition you choose.
  • Vocational training. In Spain the higher vocational qualification is Técnico Superior en Transporte y Logística, a 2,000-hour programme.

Where to study supply chain management

SpainExchange lists 35 active schools for supply chain management. The United States has 19, Spain and the United Kingdom four each, and New Zealand, Italy, Ethiopia, Peru, Canada, Denmark, France and Ireland one each.

Examples in the United States are The Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Maryland and Wright State University. In the United Kingdom the directory includes Cranfield University, London Metropolitan University and the University of Liverpool Online; in Spain, the Universidad Camilo José Cela and UIBS / Barcelona Business School. Other examples are Massey University in New Zealand, Kedge Business School in Marseille, VIA University College in Denmark, the University of Calgary and the Universidad del Pacífico in Lima.

Most programmes outside Spain and Latin America are taught in English. In Spain there are programmes in Spanish and in English; check the language of each edition.

Careers

Graduates work as logistics or supply chain analysts and planners, buyers and purchasing managers, warehouse and transport managers, and operations managers, in manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, transport companies and the public sector. The Spanish vocational qualification names roles such as logistics operator and warehouse manager.

The BLS projects employment of logisticians in the United States to grow 18 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 26,600 openings each year on average over the decade. It notes that logisticians typically need a bachelor's degree, although less education may be sufficient for some jobs, and that professional certification is not required but demonstrates competence. These figures refer to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

Is supply chain management the same as logistics?

Logistics (transport, warehousing and distribution) is one part of it. Supply chain management also covers purchasing, production planning, supplier and customer relationships and the information systems that connect them.

How long does a master's in supply chain management take?

Usually about one year full time. Cranfield University lists 1 year, Massey University 12 months and EAE Business School 10 months for its full-time format.

Do I need a business degree to apply for a master's?

Not necessarily; requirements vary. Some programmes ask for a relevant degree or for professional experience, so check the admission page of each school.

Can I study it in Spain without going to university?

Yes. The 2,000-hour Técnico Superior en Transporte y Logística is a higher vocational training (FP) qualification.