Sustainable Supply Chain Management (MSc)

How will I be taught?

We believe that learning is most effective when you engage with contemporary real-world challenges and critically reflect on them using diverse tools and perspectives. 

You’ll be taught through lectures, case-based seminars, applied workshops, and simulation exercises—ensuring that you develop a robust understanding of theory alongside practical application. 

You’ll collaborate with peers in team-based activities and debates, engage with scenarios drawn from industry, and reflect on the ethical, environmental and social implications of supply chain decisions. Several modules use real-life case studies, consultancy-style assignments, or game-based simulations to develop your ability to apply insights in authentic contexts. 

Our teaching is designed to develop not only your academic capability but also your professional confidence. You’ll work with a range of digital tools, stakeholder perspectives, and analytical frameworks, developing the capabilities needed for careers in sustainable supply chain leadership, policy, or consultancy.

How will I be assessed?

Assessments are designed to help you build confidence and apply your knowledge in authentic contexts. 

You’ll encounter a mix of individual and group-based tasks, including consultancy reports, presentations, reflective portfolios, simulations, case analyses, and research-led projects. These assessments are designed to test a broad range of skills—from critical thinking and stakeholder engagement to data analysis and strategic planning—ensuring your learning is both rigorous and professionally relevant. 

Formative tasks – such as quizzes, peer feedback and concept maps - are embedded throughout to help track your progress and prepare for summative assessments. 

The final dissertation or applied project allows you to synthesise the full range of your learning and apply it to a real-world sustainability challenge, demonstrating your capability as a future leader in sustainable supply chain management.

How will I be supported?

Learning

Course materials will be provided on Learning Central, our Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll also have access to libraries across our campus which hold over 1.1 million printed books, supplemented by online books, journals, resources and databases. 

If English is not your first language, then our Academic English Skills for International Students team offer classes and one-to-one tutorials to support your studies including reading, writing and presentation skills.

Wellbeing

You’ll be assigned a Personal Tutor, who can support you with academic and pastoral matters in a confidential and informal manner. Additional support is available through our Student Life teams, based in the Centre for Student Life. These teams include Advice and Money, Counselling services, Health and Wellbeing, the Student Disability Service including dyslexia support, and Student Visa Support.

Careers and Employability

The Student Futures team can enhance your career prospects by offering tailored support throughout your studies. You’ll benefit from expert advice on CV writing, interview techniques, and job applications. The team can support you with internships, placements, and networking opportunities, giving you valuable real-world experience. If you are an international student, Student Futures offers tailored support to explore part-time jobs, placements, and graduate roles in the UK and globally.

Community

You’ll become a member of the Cardiff Business School community, making friends and connections that will last beyond your studies. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in programme and school level events and activities that enhance your learning and broaden your experiences. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you. 

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate systematic understanding of the principles, theory, philosophy and practice of supply chain management.
• Demonstrate a systematic and in-depth knowledge of the concept of sustainability in a business context, and how this is influencing supply chain management.
• Critically evaluate contemporary debates in sustainable supply chain management as identified by leading research.
• Assess emerging empirical trends and issues in supply chains and the ability to analyse their impact on sustainability.

Intellectual Skills:

• Relate and apply the principles of sustainable supply chain management to practical environments.
• Evaluate and apply techniques applicable to problem solving and research in sustainable supply chain management.
• Critically evaluate and integrate interdisciplinary perspectives to design and manage sustainable supply chains.
• Critique, synthesise and evaluate contrasting perspectives and supporting evidence.
• Apply knowledge in an original way when researching sustainability issues in supply chains.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Evaluate the trade-offs and impacts of sustainable supply chain management decision making taking into account economic, environmental and societal impacts.
• Demonstrate originality and autonomy in tackling a range of different problems in the context of the sustainable supply chain management.
• Address with complex issues in a systematic and creative way.
• Analyse supply chain problems on the basis of rigorous data and communicate clearly their solutions to specialist or non-specialist audiences.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively by oral, written and practical means.
• Work effectively in a team and as an individual.
• Apply information literacy skills to locate, evaluate, and synthesize relevant information from diverse sources.
• Conceive, plan, execute and communicate outcomes of significant project or research work.