Business

Master of Science in Supply Chain Management

The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in supply chain management, procurement, logistics, and operations management. The programme provides specialised training in supply chain strategy, procurement, logistics, inventory management, risk management, and supply chain planning.

Core areas include supply chain management, procurement, logistics, inventory management, supply chain risk, operations management, supply chain planning, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, case studies, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Maseno University as public institutions. UoN offers MSc in Supply Chain Management through the Department of Management Science and Project Planning. The programme is available in full-time and part-time modes over two years, combining coursework with research.

Students develop competencies in supply chain strategy, procurement, logistics, inventory management, risk management, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, case studies, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for supply chain management, procurement, and logistics roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 353,500 per year while JKUAT charges approximately KES 133,707 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as supply chain managers, procurement officers, logistics managers, inventory managers, operations managers, and lecturers across manufacturing companies, retail organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and consulting firms.

Skills Required

Supply Chain Strategy and Planning
Procurement and Sourcing Management
Logistics and Distribution Management
Inventory Management and Control
Supply Chain Risk Management
Operations Management
Supply Chain Performance Measurement
Demand Forecasting and Planning
Research Methods in Supply Chain
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Supply Chain Management and Strategy
Procurement and Sourcing Management
Logistics and Distribution Management
Inventory Management and Control
Supply Chain Risk Management
Operations and Logistics Management
Supply Chain Planning and Design
Demand Management and Forecasting
Research Methods in Supply Chain
Thesis Research

Certifications

KISM Professional Certification
CSCMP Professional Membership

Specializations

Procurement Management

Focuses on procurement management, covering procurement, sourcing, contracts, purchasing, and managing procurement and sourcing management.

Logistics Management

Examines logistics management, covering logistics, distribution, transport, supply, and managing logistics and distribution management.

Inventory Management

Covers inventory management, covering inventory, stock, control, management, and managing inventory and stock control.

Supply Chain Risk Management

Focuses on supply chain risk, covering risk, supply, chain, management, and managing supply chain risk and resilience.

Operations Management

Examines operations management, covering operations, management, production, processes, and managing operations and production management.

Supply Chain Planning

Covers supply chain planning, covering planning, supply, chain, design, and managing supply chain planning and design.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 353,500
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Supply Chain Management and Strategy
Procurement and Sourcing Management
Logistics and Distribution Management
Inventory Management and Control
Supply Chain Risk Management
Operations and Logistics Management
Supply Chain Planning and Design
Demand Management and Forecasting
Research Methods in Supply Chain
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Supply Chain Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines supply chain management, covering supply, chain, management, strategy, and managing advanced supply chain management and strategy.
Procurement and Sourcing Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers procurement management, covering procurement, sourcing, contracts, purchasing, and managing procurement and sourcing management.
Logistics and Distribution Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines logistics management, covering logistics, distribution, transport, supply, and managing logistics and distribution management.
Inventory Management and Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers inventory management, covering inventory, stock, control, management, and managing inventory and stock control.
Supply Chain Planning and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines supply chain planning, covering planning, supply, chain, design, and managing supply chain planning and design.
Supply Chain Risk Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers supply chain risk, covering risk, supply, chain, management, and managing supply chain risk and resilience.
Advanced Operations and Logistics Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines operations management, covering operations, management, logistics, production, and managing operations and logistics management.
Research Methods in Supply Chain
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, supply, chain, and conducting research in supply chain management, preparing students for their thesis.
Information Systems and Technologies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines information systems, covering information, systems, technology, supply, and managing supply chain information systems and technologies.
Strategic Supply Chain Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic supply chain, covering strategic, supply, chain, management, and managing strategic supply chain management and alignment.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sustainable supply chain, covering sustainable, supply, chain, environment, and managing sustainable supply chain management and practices.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a supply chain management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and supply chain knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Procurement Management
Focuses on procurement management, covering procurement, sourcing, contracts, purchasing, and managing procurement and sourcing management.
Logistics Management
Examines logistics management, covering logistics, distribution, transport, supply, and managing logistics and distribution management.
Inventory Management
Covers inventory management, covering inventory, stock, control, management, and managing inventory and stock control.
Supply Chain Risk Management
Focuses on supply chain risk, covering risk, supply, chain, management, and managing supply chain risk and resilience.
Operations Management
Examines operations management, covering operations, management, production, processes, and managing operations and production management.
Supply Chain Planning
Covers supply chain planning, covering planning, supply, chain, design, and managing supply chain planning and design.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Supply Chain Management programme combines lectures, case studies, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover supply chain management, procurement, logistics, inventory management, and risk management. Supply chain management sessions examine supply, chain, management, strategy, and managing supply chain management. Procurement sessions cover procurement, sourcing, contracts, purchasing, and managing procurement and sourcing. Logistics sessions cover logistics, distribution, transport, supply, and managing logistics and distribution. Inventory management sessions cover inventory, stock, control, management, and managing inventory and stock control. Risk management sessions cover risk, supply, chain, management, and managing supply chain risk. Operations management sessions cover operations, management, production, processes, and managing operations and production. Supply chain planning sessions cover planning, supply, chain, design, and managing supply chain planning. Demand forecasting sessions cover demand, forecasting, planning, prediction, and managing demand and forecasting. Case studies provide practical experience in analysing real-world supply chain scenarios. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current developments in supply chain management. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a supply chain management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses critical supply chain needs in Kenya's growing manufacturing and retail sectors.
Programme offered at multiple public universities with different fee options.
Graduates are eligible for KISM professional certification and CSCMP international membership.
Programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical case studies and real-world analysis.

Against it

JKUAT fee data is estimated from MSc Strategic Management, not confirmed for Supply Chain Management specifically.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme.
Significant fee difference between JKUAT (KES 133,707/year) and UoN (KES 353,500/year).
MMU and Maseno specific fee data is not publicly available.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public134k to 354k

134k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology354k at University of Nairobi

Private238k to 700k

238k at KCA University700k at Strathmore University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 351K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). JKUAT ~134K (applyscholars). KCA ~238K (official PDF). Strathmore unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. KISM and CSCMP may offer scholarships and fellowships for supply chain research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
CSCMP Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 133,707Kenyan
Universities may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate supply chain students.
CSCMP Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
CSCMP and international supply chain organisations may offer scholarships for supply chain research and education.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant field. Lower Second Class may be considered with a postgraduate diploma or relevant work experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analyses, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering supply chain management, procurement, logistics, inventory management, and risk management.
Case Study Project
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through case study projects, demonstrating supply chain analysis, planning, and implementation skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a supply chain management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and supply chain knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, JKUAT, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Maseno University (public) offer MSc in Supply Chain Management. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in supply chain management. Graduates may interact with KISM for professional certification and CSCMP for international supply chain standards. The programme aligns with KISM and CSCMP global supply chain frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, JKUAT, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Maseno University (public) offer MSc in Supply Chain Management. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in supply chain management. Graduates may interact with KISM for professional certification and CSCMP for international supply chain standards. The programme aligns with KISM and CSCMP global supply chain frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Supply Chain Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages supply chain operations, covering supply, chain, management, operations, and managing supply chain management and operations.
Procurement Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages procurement, covering procurement, sourcing, purchasing, contracts, and managing procurement and sourcing.
Logistics Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages logistics operations, covering logistics, distribution, transport, supply, and managing logistics and distribution.
Inventory Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages inventory, covering inventory, stock, control, management, and managing inventory and stock control.
Operations Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages operations, covering operations, management, production, processes, and managing operations and production.
Supply Chain Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches supply chain management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP Supply Chain Management
SoftwarePrimary
SAP SCM for supply chain planning, execution, and management, covering supply, chain, planning, and managing supply chain operations and systems.
Oracle Supply Chain Management
Software
Oracle SCM for supply chain management and logistics, covering supply, chain, logistics, and managing supply chain and logistics operations.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Excel for supply chain data analysis and reporting, covering data, analysis, reporting, and managing supply chain data and analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, and managing research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Supply chain management is just about procurement.
Supply chain management covers logistics, inventory, operations, risk, planning, and strategy beyond just procurement.
This programme is only for business graduates.
Supply chain management is for professionals from engineering, agriculture, health, and public administration backgrounds, not just business graduates.
Supply chain management has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Supply chain graduates are in high demand in manufacturing, retail, government, NGOs, and consulting firms in Kenya.
This programme is the same as an MBA.
Supply chain management focuses specifically on supply chain strategy, procurement, logistics, and operations, while an MBA covers broader business functions.
Supply chain management is only about moving goods.
The programme covers strategy, risk, planning, information systems, and sustainability alongside physical logistics.
You need supply chain experience to study this programme.
While experience is beneficial, the programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking supply chain management skills.