1. Kempten University of Applied Sciences
  2. Faculty of Business Administration
  3. Degree courses
  4. Master’s degree
  5. Logistics and Supply Chain Management

All a question of logistics

Do you aspire post-graduation to take the helm of planning and coordinating key logistical corporate processes? If so, our master’s degree programme in logistics presents an outstanding opportunity to focus on expanding your expertise in applied logistics management. The broad range of different logistics modules ensures comprehensive and practically relevant specialisations in the field, opening up all kinds of career options in specialist logistics companies or wider industry and commerce.

This master’s degree programme in Logistics builds upon the topics studied in business science degrees, but is also suitable for engineers and computer scientists. It teaches logistical specialist knowledge and an application-focused understanding of management while versing you in the technical and business skills required for managing logistics.<br/>  

At a glance

  • Award

    Master of Science (M. Sc.)

  • Study mode

    full-time

  • Standard duration

    3 Semester

  • ECTS credits

    90

  • Starts

    winter semester

  • Restricted admission

    yes

  • Taught in

    German, English

  • Faculty

    Business Administration

  • Study abroad

    optional

  • Maximum number of participants

    25

  • Accreditation

    FIBAA

Details about this course

This master’s programme is designed for full-time study, spanning seven modules over the course of three semesters, including the master’s thesis. 

You will spend the first semester focusing on the subjects of process management and strategic logistics management. The second semester covers the relevant information systems for practical applications, and you will develop specialist knowledge in the field of transportation. At the same time, you will examine the very latest topics in depth.

Each semester, you will work on several company projects in local businesses, providing the opportunity to directly apply your knowledge and gain valuable experience. 

You complete the programme by writing your master’s thesis in the third semester. Successfully completing this element demonstrates your ability to work scientifically on a defined problem in the field of logistics and then present and defend your conclusions with your peers.

The university awards students who successfully complete this programme the academic title Master of Science (M.Sc.).

Logistics is considered a cutting-edge interdisciplinary field subject to constant change and numerous external influences. This presents high-calibre career opportunities with stringent profile requirements for up-and-coming logistics managers.

There is great demand for highly qualified managers in the field of logistics. A master of science equips you for managerial positions with major responsibilities. Your master’s degree will form your gateway to senior roles and leverage promotion.

The admission requirement for this master’s degree programme in Logistics is a business sciences degree with a “good” or better overall grade or an equivalent higher education qualification / bachelor’s degree with at least 210 ECTS Credit, of which at least 25 ECTS must come from quantitative modules (mathematics, statistics, operations research or logistics).

You can already apply with 180 ECTS. Proof of the missing 30 ECTS must be provided within one year.

A language level of C1 in German and B2 in English is required.

Please note: The maximum intake of students to this programme is 25 per year. Candidates will be selected based on complete and timely application and submission of documents and according to the average grade for their first degree.

All the latest information and details on applying and the admission requirements can be found under Applications and admissions.

We ascribe to the values of openness, tolerance and acceptance. Our aim is to teach everyone involved at Kempten University of Applied Sciences about education in an international context. As part of this, we support university-wide, inter-faculty measures to promote international projects and cross-cultural interaction.

Are you interested in learning more about options for you to study abroad? More about opportunities for studying abroad. 
 

We compile all study programme and examination regulations centrally for you. There you will find all versions and changes. continue

Programme with extended practice

Study this Master's programme combined with in-depth practical studies! Your regular studies are combined with intensive practical phases, based on the course content. The offer is aimed at both regular, non-dual and dual Bachelor graduates who have completed a combined study programme or study programme with in-depth practice.
You can find more information about the offers here.

Modules at a glance

Module 1 – Logistics processes

Module 2 – Logistics management

Module 3 – Specific logistical focal points

Module 4 – Information technology in logistics

Module 5 – Transportation, handling and storage (THS)

Module 6 – Specific logistical focal points

Module 7 – Master’s thesis and group seminar

 

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Details about the course content

Module content

Module 1 – Logistics processes

Module 1 Logistics processes span the processes from procurement and production through to distribution and the customer, within which networking value-creation processes in our globalised economy warrants separate focus.

The first objective of this class is to teach knowledge of the latest developments and methods in the fields of procurement, production and distribution – also generating an understanding of the interplay between the logistics processes described here. This forms the basis for holistically solving networked and inter-departmental challenges.

You will learn how to quickly acquire all the relevant information to troubleshoot any issues in complex and incomplete decision-making scenarios, for example by allocating points in the value creation chain. The module on Logistics processes will enable you to abstract specific practical problems in the field of logistics processes and communicate the workings clearly and unambiguously to your peers and staff.

Module 2 – Logistics management

The importance of logistics to securing business success is undisputed nowadays. In fiercely fought markets, logistics open up new means of achieving competitive advantages by creating innovative solutions to material and information flows, while heavy cost pressure forces improvements in efficiency. However, many logistics managers focus too intently on operations and cost pressures and overlook strategic aspects and performance measurement in logistics.

The subjects covered in this module address all these demands in full. The session on strategic logistics management looks at devising strategies, achieving competitive advantages and measuring performance. The subject of logistics controlling focuses on calculating costs and presents a further possibility for detailing and attributing logistics outlay in the form of process cost calculations.
The logistics simulation game provides a further practical opportunity for applying knowledge directly to the management of a company’s supply chain. The subject Leal aspects of logistics teaches additional managerial knowledge that enables students to understand the legal background in terms of employment, haulage and transportation law and apply this to the kinds of problems that might potentially arise.

Modules 3 and 6 – Specific logistical focal points

The overarching objective of this module is to provide the option of a flexible extension reflecting the potential diversity of logistics, which is inevitably limited to the essentials by the relatively short time frame of two semesters.

In the logistics seminar students work together on cutting-edge topics and present their findings. This teaches them how to quickly spot new developments in the world of logistics and produce practically applicable approaches.

A series of lectures covers both very specific theoretical issues and contributions by practitioners to round off the two accompanying modules. Business representatives enrich the master’s programme with cutting-edge contributions.

You will study two compulsory elective modules either focusing on specific aspects of logistics in more depth or offering the chance to broaden your horizons.

Module 4 – Information technology in logistics

Without using the appropriate tools and IT components, logistics proves unfeasible. This module therefore provides the necessary auxiliary aspects required to fully round off this master’s degree.

You will be given intensive training in ERP systems as a technical systems addition to what you have learned so far, while practising using highly sought-after tools on the ground, such as SAP or Microsoft NAVISION, directly enhances your subsequent career prospects. After all, knowledge of these particular tools is often cited in job ads.

Insights into the methods and instruments used in a business warehouse are practically an absolute must nowadays for fully trained logisticians. The wide range of data drawn from different sources and areas has to be structured in a way that is useful to the company. Furthermore, mapping the business warehouse on a SAP platform makes a useful addition to ERP systems.

Logistics simulations are used to properly round off this module. Complexity and diversity frequently open up a host of potential solutions. Limited financial resources prevent expensive experiments on the ground. Simulations can be used to identify sensible solutions early on and then optimise them accordingly.

Module 5 – Transportation, handling and storage

Material flow planning and warehouse/conveying technology very consciously draw upon aspects of classical “Transport-Handling-Storage” logistics.

You will learn that these conventional areas are indispensable for the overall success of state-of-the-art logistics. You will be aware of the rapid and interdisciplinary development in these fields and will be prepared for selecting suitable modes of transport for your supply and distribution tasks, while taking their environmental impact and social acceptability into account in your decision-making. In this respect, we will focus on the work of haulage companies and their interfaces with consignors.

In terms of material flow planning, we will enable you to recognise the interplay with factory planning and the design of production systems. You will be able to independently keep up to date with state-of-the-art material flow technology and to evaluate the contribution this technology makes to reaching overarching objectives, e.g. punctuality and inventory optimisation.

We will prepare you for the interdisciplinary collaboration that is indispensable to the filed of logistics – particularly with the technically slanted content of this module.

Module 7 – Master’s thesis

You can find further information on the master’s thesis in the dedicated section on this element of the course and in the Programme and Examination Regulations.

Module Handbook

For further information, please consult the Module Handbook for the master’s degree programme in Advanced Logistics.

Examinations

Modules 1 to 6 are all assessed by examination, consisting of two to three parts, usually in the form of written examinations. Other forms of assessment are used such as oral examinations and written papers.

In all, this adds up to four written assessments at the end of semester 1 in addition to three assignments throughout. Semester 2 involves five written assessments at the end following two assignments throughout.

The master’s thesis and accompanying group seminar (“colloquium”) are the assignments completed for semester 3.

Further information about examinations and the downloads for examination announcements (examiners/resources plan) and the examination schedule can be found here.

Master’s thesis

Succeeding in producing your master’s thesis demonstrates that you possess the skills to tackle a problem in the field of logistics using scientific methods within a given timeframe and to present your work both in writing and orally.

An practically-oriented thesis requires students to apply the models or methods that they have studied to business issues faced by a company. A theoretical thesis typically involves applying a partial theory or a model to a different theoretical construct, or alternatively refining a partial theory or model based on different scientific findings.

During the series of group seminars, you will explain how your work has been progressing, the current status and any outstanding issues. The final colloquium presentation is an integral component of this module and serves to verify the authenticity and status of your master’s thesis, also enhancing its quality.

Contacts

Do you have any questions about how the degree programme is organised or its academic content? Please feel free to consult the University Student Advisory Service or our degree programme coordinator:

Programme coordinator
Professor Martin Göbl
Email: martin.goebl@hs-kempten.de

For dealing with specific issues, such as recognition of performance, etc., there are various offices or committees within the Faculty of Business Administration. The following Info sheet will help you identify the right person to contact .