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Business at UEA
Find out more about studying Business at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Purchasing and Supply Chain Management with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Top 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Our MSc in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management with a Placement Year equips you to become an industrial problem-solver, with the expertise to deliver efficient, effective, timely, and cost-conscious products and services.
Designed for analytical thinkers, this course empowers you to harness the power of big data and artificial intelligence and apply it to the fast-moving world of purchasing and supply chain management.
You’ll benefit from our world-class, research-led teaching, delivered by the renowned Innovation, Technology, and Operations Management (ITOM) group. Working in collaboration with an extensive network of business partners, you’ll gain practical insights through guest lectures, real-world projects, and internship opportunities.
Alongside technical expertise, you’ll develop highly transferable skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and the effective use of digital technologies. You’ll also enhance your abilities in teamwork, leadership, and professional communication. In year two, you'll take part in a placement, gaining invaluable real-world skills.
Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to step into leadership roles on the global stage—equipped with the knowledge and skills to drive efficient, sustainable, and innovative supply chains.
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Placement Year
The placement forms a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in the second year. During the first semester of your second year, you'll continue the structured employability development programme, which includes an intensive period dedicated to securing a placement.
Placements typically take place with a UK company for eight to ten months. The University works in partnership with a specialist, award-winning provider to deliver a tailored package of support, giving you the strongest possible opportunity to secure a paid role.
While comprehensive support is available, securing an appropriate industry work placement in a relevant sector is ultimately your responsibility. You'll need to engage fully with your academic programme and with our specialist partner to maximise your chances of success.
If an industry placement isn't available, or you don't meet the academic requirements for the placement route, you're guaranteed the opportunity to complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations through one of UEA's placement partners. These projects provide valuable real-world experience and the chance to apply your learning in a professional setting.
Whichever pathway you follow, you'll graduate with practical, career-relevant experience that enhances your employability and prepares you for your next step.
Find out more about the Placement Year.
Accreditations
This course is accredited by both the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). This ensures that the course remains relevant, gives you access to learning materials designed for purchasing and supply chain professionals and will enable you to fast-track your membership of these globally recognised professional bodies.
Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Purchasing manager
- Supply chain manager
- Operations manager
- Supply chain analyst
- Supply chain consultant
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
You'll be ready to launch a career working in purchasing or supply chain company, or as a purchasing or supply chain management specialist within a business. You could also work as an operations manager, enterprise resource planning specialist or supply chain analyst.
Your skills will be highly sought after in both manufacturing and services organisations, and in the private, public and third sectors.
Alternatively, if you develop a passion for research, you could enter the world of consultancy or choose to undertake a PhD.
Study and Modules
Structure
This course combines rigorous theory with practical application, enriched by our cutting-edge research and strengthened through close industry engagement. You'll start building your theoretical and practical knowledge from day one, focusing on strategic and operational challenges that purchasing and supply chain management professionals are grappling with and exploring the portfolio of theoretical and analytical approaches to resolving problems and exploiting opportunities for improved purchasing and supply chain performance. You’ll study supply chain operations and logistics management, procurement, and marketing theory and practice. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the supply chain/logistics operations and procurement process.
You'll learn how supply chain networks are developed, using different analytical tools and simulation techniques. You'll analyse real-world scenarios and, in the process, develop critical transferrable skills, as purchasing and supply chain management are key ‘boundary-spanning’ functions in all organisations.
You'll have the opportunity to develop your research skills and study an aspect of purchasing and/or supply chain management in which you have a particular interest, by undertaking a dissertation or applied business project. This will help you stand out from your peers and enhance your prospects of building a successful career in your chosen field.
The applied business project will tackle a contemporary problem, in collaboration with a business sponsor from our extensive network of businesses.
To prepare for your placement year, you'll complete a year-long Employability Skills module designed to help you develop the skills and confidence to find, secure and succeed in your placement. You'll benefit from CV and LinkedIn workshops, interview preparation, one-to-one coaching and mock interviews, delivered through a blend of online and in-person sessions. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis, and you'll need to meet the attendance requirements to progress to year two.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you'll have the opportunity to complete an industry placement aligned with your area of study. During the first semester, you'll focus on securing your placement, supported by dedicated guidance from our specialist placement partner and six in-person workshops at UEA. If you don't secure an industry placement, you'll complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations, ensuring you still graduate with valuable practical experience.
At the end of the placement, you'll submit an assessment consisting of a portfolio of your placement search activities and a reflective report. This gives you the opportunity to showcase the skills you've developed, reflect on your professional growth, and identify your future career goals. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
By the end of the placement year, you'll have built your career confidence, strengthened your CV and professional network, and gained valuable experience to support your next steps, whether you choose to build your career in the UK or internationally.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partners at UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,500
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International Students: £25,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.