Career in Supply Chain Management & Logistics: What to study?
ANL ELINGA Container Ship by Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public domain
Supply Chain Management is all about getting things from A to B: materials, products, equipment. And in an increasingly globalised world, this field offers a promising career perspective. But what should you study for a career in Supply Chain Management or Logistics? Read on to find out:
The last few decades have seen tremendous growth in world trade: Products are manufactured in one place, then shipped and sold in other places all over the world. Globalisation has been the major driver of economic growth.
That means that for many large organisations, managing their supply chains has become increasingly important. In fact, many of the world’s most successful businesses owe their success to efficient supply chain management.
Career perspectives are ideal for graduates with a degree in Supply Chain Management or Logistics. Expect to work in a fascinating context with many international assignments. And things are going to become even more exciting in the coming years and decades: Innovations like autonomous warehouses, self-driving trucks and ships, drones, or even Hyperloop will certainly shake things up. A university education focusing on supply chain management will guarantee plenty of job options!
For most positions, companies will hire graduates from Business Studies or MBA programmes, as long as you have had the chance to take courses about SCM and Logistics. And because these subjects are so important to so many corporations, they are covered at least to some extent in virtually every general business study programme.
But of course, graduates from specialised Bachelors or Masters in Logistics will have a huge advantage over other applicants! After all, they possess a lot of expert knowledge already at graduation. There are many universities throughout Europe where you can get a Supply Chain degree. Our programme search helps you find the right Bachelor or Master degree programme.
While Logistics and Supply Chain management is an area that is significantly growing in popularity, there aren’t really any reliable rankings. Due to the fact that it is a very practice-oriented subject, it can be difficult to appropriately rank universities and business schools offering these courses.
One valid approach to finding competitive degrees in this field is by looking in or near cities that are logistics hubs. For example, large harbour cities such as Antwerp (Belgium) or Hamburg (Germany), or cities with important cargo airports like London (UK) or Amsterdam (Netherlands) are a good starting place to look for universities with promising study options. Make sure to also compare and check the curriculum of the courses you’re interested in, to determine they cover the areas you are most excited about.
Here is a selection of some of the best universities and business schools offering degrees in Supply Chain Management & Logistics:
Universities that offer Bachelors in Logistics & Supply Chain Management:
Universities that offer Masters in Logistics & Supply Chain Management:
Logistics and Supply Chain Management degrees can be extremely valuable when looking for a job in this field. Whether to pursue this subject at Bachelor’s or Master’s level (or both) depends on your specific educational background and career goals.
If you are already set on a career in Logistics or Supply Chain Management, taking a specialized undergraduate degree is a smart bet. These programs will enable you to acquire much more in-depth knowledge early on. This can give you a step-up on other students who take a more generalized Bachelor with only a few electives focused on Logistics or Supply Chain Management.
In addition, any SCM or Logistics Bachelor will still include subjects from other essential business areas in the first year or two, such as finance, marketing, and economics. However, by pursuing a more specialized degree, it will be harder to change careers later. Although, you may be able to adjust your curriculum if you become interested in a different career path, or if you decide to specialize in a particular sphere of SCM.
Overall, a typical Bachelor’s in this field will cover some or all of the following topics:
Master programs in Logistics and Supply Chain Management usually accept students with previous Business or Logistics-related degrees, such as Industrial Management. Certain Logistics MBA options also admit graduates with more technical backgrounds, such as Engineering.
These degrees will usually be centred on teaching you how to manage and transform the supply chain of any company, while covering technological breakthroughs in the Logistics sector, such as 3D printing or Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. After completing one of these programs, you will be able to make innovative decisions on business Logistics and apply research creatively in difficult scenarios. You will also become well-versed in how to deal with the complex challenges of managing supply chains, both domestic and international. Many of these degrees also usually include a significant practical component, helping you apply your learnings in real life.
For students that are not able to attend a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in person, there is an increasing amount of Logistics and SCM programs available online. These usually offer similar career prospects to traditional schooling, although networking with classmates may be more difficult in a distance course.
With a degree in Logistics or Supply Chain Management, you are well-equipped to work in a wide range of industries. In fact, it is not unusual for professionals to switch between industries after a few years of work experience: Many of the relevant best practices are the same or at least similar.
The following list shows just a few examples of the types of companies that would hire graduates from Supply Chain Engineering degrees or similar fields:
Your responsibilities may vary from position to position. The most typical job titles and tasks include:
If you want to learn how to make an impact on the dynamic and ever-changing business world, Supply Chain Management & Logistics is a great choice for you. Almost every aspect of modern life is affected by the Logistics sector, and careers in this field are highly promising. Here are some of the top reasons to pursue this field:
As mentioned, Logistics and Supply Chain Management programs include elements of other Business disciplines. If you are still unsure which sector you want to focus on, these other options are other great stepping stones to promising careers:
Take the next step:
Find Supply Chain & Logistics degrees in Europe
