Master's Programme in Supply Management
Extracting competitiveness and increasing sustainability for a company from its supply networks and chains requires special skills, competencies and tools for exploring and managing global supply networks.
The programme provides expertise on strategic supply and supplier management. It is unique in Finland and it corresponds to the growing needs of today's business by educating open-minded, innovative managers in the fields of supply management and purchasing.
Supply management is a cross-functional activity of a firm, requiring a broad understanding of international business. Your studies will integrate strategic management, international business and relationship management in supply networks.
In this programme, you will focus on supply strategies, global challenges of sourcing, and the development of purchasing and supply chains. Your studies will aggregate theories and concepts of business and technology and present recent applications and methods in the field, thus promoting your problem-solving, decision-making and analytical skills. You will gain specialised knowledge about the elements of supply strategies and factors of interaction in supply networks.
The studies include interactive case studies, company assignments, group work, independent exercises, literature studies and lectures. About 95% of the programme's Master's theses are based on real-life business problems and are prepared for companies or public sector organisations.
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Admissions guide 2025
What will you learn in the programme?
As a graduate, you will take an integrative approach to different business disciplines and functions of a firm and will be able to analyse and solve complex business problems in the field of supply management.
As a graduate, you will have:
- competence in evaluating supply management and sourcing challenges and opportunities. You will be a supply management professional who can draw justified conclusions and analytically discuss the implications of produced research results;
- skills to evaluate consequences of business decisions critically from a responsibility perspective; you will have a profound understanding of discipline-specific responsibility issues;
- a professional network through practical assignments and a Master's thesis for a company.
Degree structure and studies
The Master's Programme in Supply Management is a two-year programme. It leads to the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, M. Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Admin.), which is 120 ECTS credits.
The studies connect two perspectives: the internal viewpoint of organising and aligning supply management according to the firm's strategy, and the external viewpoint consisting of supplier relationships and supply network management. The programme includes core, advanced specialisation, minor and language studies as well as a master's thesis. Obligatory core and advanced specialisation courses can be completed during the first study year. Read more in this academic year’s curriculum.
What does blended learning mean in this programme?
The delivery mode is blended, which means the programme combines on-campus and independent online studies. Most of the obligatory studies involve contact teaching on the Lappeenranta campus. Some of the courses can be completed independently online. Students admitted to the programme should prepare to attend classes on campus when needed. Attendance requirements are indicated in the course descriptions.
Double degree study opportunity for LUT degree students
The programme also offers a possibility for double degree studies. Students admitted to the Master's Programme in Supply Management at LUT may apply to the double degree programme organised in cooperation with the following programme's partner university: University of Twente (the Netherlands).
Career prospects
Successful companies currently rely on the skills of supply management experts to keep their goods and services flowing to the market quickly, efficiently, and as cost-effectively as possible.
Many career opportunities will open up to you.
You will be able to find specialist and management positions in both the public and private sectors as well as in global and local companies in the fields of supply management, international business, logistics, supply chain management and consulting.
Examples of such positions include global sourcing director, supply manager, category manager and strategic buyer.
